“Why didn’t you tell me about that letter?”
“Because every time I thought about explaining the adoption, I became frightened. Then you started school. You made friends. You grew older. And the longer I waited, the more impossible the conversation seemed.”
I shook my head slowly.
“You were trying to protect our relationship by keeping the truth from me, but the secret became something that could hurt our relationship.”
“I know.”
I looked between them.
“Did either of you ever think about what would happen if I found out from someone else?”
Margaret closed her eyes.
“Yes. And that possibility frightened me even more.”
I let out a long breath.
“I’m not angry that I’m adopted. I’m angry that everyone decided I couldn’t handle the truth.”
Sarah stepped closer, then stopped.
“May I ask you something?”
I nodded.
“Would it be all right if I hugged you?”
That question broke something open inside me.
