Chapter 6 - The Envelope My Daughter Refused to Release
Harper opened her envelope again.
Inside were several photographs, two letters, and a small flash drive.
“Mommy said I should give these to you if I ever found you.”
My mother suddenly reached toward the envelope.
“Harper, give that to me.”
I moved between them.
“Don’t touch it.”
Diane stopped.
The guests were watching silently.
I asked the wedding coordinator to find a quiet room and help Harper get some water.
Then I turned toward my daughter.
“Would you feel safer if we talked somewhere private?”
She shook her head.
“I want everyone to know Mommy didn’t leave because she was bad.”
Her words broke my heart.
For almost two years, my little girl had been carrying the burden of defending her mother.
I unfolded the first letter.
It was written in Natalie’s familiar handwriting.
She explained that someone had accessed her email account and sent messages without her permission.
She had tried repeatedly to contact me, but every attempt seemed to fail.
Then she discovered that the address she had been given for my temporary apartment was incorrect.
The letter ended with a sentence I read three times.
Graham, I never wanted our daughter to grow up believing her father didn’t love her.
May you like
I pressed the page against my chest.
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