PART 15:

Sleepovers became frequent, rotating between houses until it became hard to remember which toys belonged where. Evan’s toothbrush appeared in Lena’s bathroom. Her coffee creamer took up residence in his refrigerator. small migrations that spoke of something larger taking shape. But as Thanksgiving approached, reality intruded in the form of a phone call Lena had been dreading.

She was at Evan’s house helping Sophie with a art project while Evan picked up Maya from her playgroup when her phone rang. The number was unfamiliar, but the area code made her stomach drop. Portland. Hello, Lena. It’s Aunt Patricia. Lena’s hand tightened on the phone. Patricia was her mother’s sister, the only member of her extended family who’d sent a card when Emma died.

They hadn’t spoken since. Patricia, hi. This is unexpected. I know. I’m sorry to call out of the blue like this. Patricia’s voice was strained, but I thought you should know. Your mother is in the hospital. She had a heart attack 3 days ago. The world tilted. Lena sat down heavily on the couch, aware of Sophie watching her with concerned eyes.

Is she okay? She’s stable now, but it was serious. The doctors are saying she needs to make major lifestyle changes. Your father is well, you know how he is not handling it well. Patricia paused. Lena, they’ve been asking about you, about Maya. After 2 years of silence, now they want to know about us. Bitterness crept into Lena’s voice despite her best efforts.

I know I told them they had no right after how they treated you. But your mother, she’s been crying, saying she made a mistake, that she wants to see her granddaughter before it’s too late. It’s already too late, Lena said flatly. They made their choice. “I understand. I do. I just I promised I’d call.

What you do with this information is up to you,” Patricia sighed. For what it’s worth, I think you’ve done an incredible job with Maya. Emma would be so proud of you. Tears burned Lena’s eyes. Thank you. After she hung up, Lena sat staring at the phone trying to process. Sophie had abandoned her art project and was now standing in front of Lena, her small face creased with worry.

“Are you sad?” Sophie asked. “A little bit, honey.” “Do you need a hug?” Lena pulled Sophie into her arms, breathing in the scent of her strawberry shampoo. I would love a hug. Thank you. They were still sitting like that when Evan returned with Maya. He took one look at Lena’s face and immediately understood something was wrong.

Girls, why don’t you go play in the playroom for a bit? He suggested. I need to talk to Lena. But Daddy, Sophie, please. Something in his tone made both girls obey without further protest. Once they were upstairs, Evan sat beside Lena, taking her hand. What happened? Lena told him about the call, about her mother’s heart attack, about the sudden desire to meet Maya after 2 years of pretending she didn’t exist.

“What are you going to do?” Evan asked when she finished. “I don’t know. Part of me wants to tell them to go to hell. They abandoned us when we needed them most. Why should I let them back in now? That’s fair. But another part of me thinks about Maya. She deserves to know her family, even if they’re imperfect. And what if something happens to my mother? What if Maya grows up and resents me for keeping her from them? Also fair. Evan squeezed her hand.

There’s no easy answer here. I know. Lena leaned against him, exhausted. Why does everything have to be so complicated? Because life is messy and people are flawed and love is hard. Evan kissed the top of her head. But you don’t have to decide right now. Take some time. Think about what you want.

What’s best for Maya? I’ll support you either way. Even if I decide to let them back in, even if it brings all this family drama into our lives, even then. Lena, I signed up for all of you. That includes your complicated family situation. He pulled back to look at her. Besides, you think my family is perfect? My dad left when I was 12.

I’ve got a brother I haven’t spoken to in 5 years because of a fight over Rachel’s funeral arrangements. Everyone’s got baggage. When did you get so wise? Therapy. Lots and lots of therapy. He smiled. Which, by the way, I highly recommend. Helped me process Rachel’s death, figure out how to be a single parent, work through my fear of dating again. Changed my life.

Maybe I should try it. Maybe you should. Can’t hurt, right? That night, after the girls were asleep, Lena lay awake thinking about her mother. She remembered being young before Emma’s pregnancy, when their family had been whole and happy. Summer barbecues and Christmas mornings and her mother’s chocolate chip cookies.

Those memories felt like they belonged to a different life, a different family. But they were real. And underneath all the hurt and anger, there was still a daughter who missed her mother. She picked up her phone, typed out a text to Patricia before she could overthink it. Can you send me the hospital information? I’m not making any promises, but I’d like to know how to reach her if I decide to. The response came quickly.

Of course. And Lena, whatever you decide, you’re a good daughter, a good person. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. December arrived with the first real snow of the season. Maya and Sophie were beside themselves with excitement, begging to go outside before breakfast. Lena and Evan bundled them into so many layers they could barely move, then watched from the porch as the girls made snow angels and threw snowballs with terrible aim.

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