Again, Helen sighed. “Only you can decide that, but I do think it is what your mom wanted. Why else would she have told him after all these years?”
“Maybe you’re right. Thanks for listening.”
“Anytime, Callie. Really.”
For a solid hour after getting off the phone, Callie worked, or at least tried to work, on correcting papers. Unfortunately, her eyes kept getting pulled back to the envelope that Dylan left. He said Warren wanted her to have a copy of the letter Mom sent him. Dylan seemed to think it might help her make a decision. Could he be right? Then again, should she even read it? Mom had sent it to Warren Sherbrooke, not her. If her mom wanted her to know what it said, wouldn’t she have sent her a copy too?
Read it. See what it says, a little voice repeated over and over again. If Warren wanted her to have it, then it was okay to read it.
Callie picked up the letter and opened the envelope. Before she changed her mind, she unfolded it. She almost cried at the sight of her mom’s familiar handwriting. After taking a deep breath, she started reading.
Dear Warren,
I hope this letter finds you well. Several times in the past, I’ve sat down and started this letter only to tear it up. This time I’m determined to finish it and tell you all the things I should’ve a long time ago because I may not get another chance.
First, please know that I never stopped loving you. Not a single day has gone by that I have not thought of you. The years we spent as friends and the months we spent together as much more meant the world to me, and I have always cherished them. So many times since our last night together, I’ve wished that I handled things differently. Honestly, I’d go back and change things in a heartbeat if I could.
A year after I left you, I almost reached out to you so I could correct my mistake. I even had my overnight bag packed and my train ticket for New York booked. The afternoon I was to leave, I spotted a picture of you and Elizabeth on the cover of The Star Report. The two of you looked so happy and perfect for each other that I didn’t want to interfere, so I never made the trip.
I hope you believe me when I say I made the decisions I did back then because I thought it was the right choice for everyone.
The remainder of this letter is difficult for me to write, but you have a right to know the truth. Actually, you had a right to know a long time ago. It was wrong of me to keep the truth from you.
Warren, we have a daughter together. Her name is Callie Taylor. She’s grown to be a wonderful, caring woman. I couldn’t ask for a better daughter. Every time I look at her, I am reminded of you and the wonderful friendship we had. She looks a great deal like you. She even has your blue eyes. Callie lives in Slatersville, Massachusetts, and she teaches at Reagan Elementary School. I am including both her home address and her email address in this letter in case you want to contact her.
I know I’m asking a lot, but I hope you can somehow forgive me for my actions. I never meant to hurt you. Even if you cannot do that, I hope you will make Callie a part of your life.
Love always,
Ruth
Callie wiped the tears from her cheek and then folded the letter back up. So many unanswered questions and emotions bombarded her that Callie knew she’d never get any more work done tonight. After putting the letter back in the envelope, she turned her attention to Lucky, who sat near her chair.
“How does a walk sound?” Lucky stood and started whining. “I’ll take that as good.”
***
“So you’re telling me your father is alive?” Lauren McDonald said louder than Callie would’ve liked. The two of them were in Callie’s classroom eating lunch the following day. Lauren wasn’t only Callie’s closest friend, but also a fellow teacher at Reagan Elementary School.
While she hadn’t intended to tell Lauren about her mother’s secret yet, she couldn’t keep the information bottled up any longer. She simply needed to talk more. Her conversation with Helen hadn’t been enough, and she trusted Lauren more than anyone else.
Tucking several strands of ash blonde hair behind her ear, Lauren rested her chin on her hands and leaned forward. “Why didn’t she tell you before?” She didn’t give Callie a chance to answer her first question before continuing. “You guys seemed so close. It’s hard to believe she kept this from you.”
Tell me about it. “I wish I knew all the answers.” Callie frowned. “The only thing I know is Senator Warren Sherbrooke and my mother were involved thirty-two years ago.”
A sudden gasp escaped from Lauren. “You didn’t tell me he was your father!”
“Yes, I did.” Callie thought she mentioned it, but the look on Lauren’s face said otherwise.
Lauren shook her head adamantly, causing her long pink earrings to dance wildly. “What else did you forget to tell me, chickie?”
She’d left out Dylan Talbot’s visit too. “My father sent someone to my apartment.” For some reason, she didn’t want to mention Dylan’s name. Maybe it was because she still found it hard to believe he’d really been in her apartment. “My father wants to meet me, or at least that’s what his messenger said.”
“So when are you going to see him?”
Callie shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know, maybe never.”
Lauren’s light brown eyes grew wide. “Why not? It sounds as if he’s sincere. I don’t think it’d hurt to give him a chance. Worst case, he turns out to be a jerk and you wasted a few hours of your day. There are worse things than that.”