“Adoptive?”
The word sounded like it belonged to another man’s life.
He nodded gently.
I sat back against the bench.
“My parents adopted me?”
“Eleanor’s letter explains what happened.”
I forced myself to continue.
I was young, frightened, and alone. I had no husband, little money, and no family willing to help me. I was struggling to care for my baby when a kind couple offered to adopt him.
They had been unable to have children of their own. They promised to love him and give him a stable home.
I told myself I was doing what was best for him.
I placed my son in their arms, believing that one day I might explain everything to him.
Before I let him go, I kept half of a small gold necklace. I placed the other half with him.
I told myself that if we ever met again, the two halves would bring us together.
