You were trying to keep the workers employed, yes.

But you had already fallen in love with him.”

My grip tightened on the documents.

“Mom, I didn’t know whether it was love then.”

“You drove back from Charlotte three times just to ask the receptionist whether he’d recovered from pneumonia.

You sent the meals anonymously because you were afraid he’d think you were trying to win a contract.

You believed his company was going to reject the factory and you still cared whether he was eating.”

The words pulled me backward in time.