PART 3 I stared at the hospital bracelet in the lunchbox until the letters of my own name blurred. – Page 20

And your mother would not take money if she thought I needed it more.”

I believed that.

It sounded exactly like her.

I returned to the letter.

Avery, I know this will hurt. You may wonder why I let him stay so close but never told you who he was. The truth is ugly and simple: I was afraid.

I was afraid you would love him and lose him.

I was afraid you would continue reading …