Maybe she’d never understand how an ordinary shopping trip had led us to the family we’d never known.
Maybe she didn’t need to.
I closed the box and placed it safely in a drawer.
Then I pulled her into my arms.
“You know what matters more than any diamond?” I asked.
“What?”
“That you did the right thing when nobody was watching.”
She hugged me.
“Because it wasn’t ours yet?”
I laughed softly through my tears.
“Exactly, sweetheart.”
We’ve returned to visit Richard every Sunday since that day.
Meredith and Nathan have also become part of Ellie’s life.
She now has an aunt and an uncle who call, visit, and ask about her schoolwork.
And the little girl who once wished for a bigger family finally has more people to love her.
I still haven’t forgiven Richard for the years he allowed his pride to separate him from his daughter.
