think it was?!” he exclaimed, still shaken.


    To my dearest Grace,


    I know things have never been well between us. And I know that losing you as a child was difficult for both of us.


    I looked into the court records of your adoption and managed to find this address. I will be there by May 2nd, 1964 to hopefully reconnect and make amends with you.


    With love,


    Your mother


    Tera


    mother?”


    now to reach out…? Fifteen years after she abandoned me?” Grace whimpered, tightening her hold.


    is a long time. Maybe she''s gotten better since then…? Nothing seems malicious in the letter.”


    sickening.”


    not be leaving Grace unsupervised with her. Gadalik… I''m trusting you will help me with this?”


    Dad!”


    “Is my daughter up?”


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    baby? So o’ course I went an’ asked her. She said y''all got separated on a camping trip when you were little, and she never saw you since. But, you see, my buddy works with record-keeping down at the courthouse, and when I mentioned your name to him, Grace, he pulled your files up right away! Said you were adopted in 1949 by one Gavin–”


    hm! Point is: I''m glad to meet you, Miss Grace. And you, too, Mr. Gavin. Thanks for looking after this li’l girl instead of leavin’ ‘er for the bears.”


    Gavin.” Tera and Gavin stared each other down. “Funny. I barely noticed you were there.”


    What''s that supposed to mean?


    possibly–”


    I''ll take care of her.


    That one is my dad''s; the old horse has been in his family for twenty years so far! Dad was even riding him when he, uh, found me.” She paused awkwardly, then continued, “And the dappled gray one is Gadalik''s. But the white one is mine! I''ve had her for almost eight years! Have you ever ridden before, Mom?”


    did say you were a spook! And seven years? Wow, you two must have quite the history!”


    please get on with the tour?” Tera interrupted.


    happy to hear what she has to share.”


    Excuse me, boy?” the older woman challenged him. “She should be happy I agreed to go on a tour to see these–err–animals. I did not agree to listen to endless blabber!”


    hot out here," she complained, flipping her hair off her shoulder. "And my feet are killing me; I didn''t think I''d be dragged everywhere outside in a long dress and heels.”


    Gavin… What do you do?” Tera asked, despite clearly despising the man.


    love to see them!”


    yes, but–”


    Ian! We agreed to just pop by for a short visit to see how Gracie’s doing. I''m sick of you prattling on and on! Now let''s go.”


    again.”


    right now.”


    date a single mother, either! I had no help!”


    me, all because of her!”


    had to discover I had a kid. I told him she went missing all those years ago, but instead of taking my word for it, he had his courthouse buddy pull up the files on her! What was I supposed to do after that? Tell him I didn''t want to see my newfound daughter?”


    exactly what you were supposed to do: tell the truth!”


    else!”


    What? What do you know?! You''re just some creep who picked up a little girl who was alone in the woods!”


    numerous times to reach you through the courts before he adopted me, but you–you never…” Her anger morphed to despair and tears fell down her cheeks. “You never cared about me. And you obviously still don’t.” She looked up at her adoptive father. “I… I think I''d like some milk, now.”


    dare you make me out to be the bad guy?! Now you''ve sabotaged another relationship of mine! You''re a curse! This is all your fault!”


    You did. I never knew how selfish and uncaring you were until today.”


    you–”  Tera was hyperventilating with sheer outrage at this point. “Fine. Fine! You want to take their side? You can stay with them.”