“The envelope came back after Mason was born.

I had already spent months trying to find a way to reach you.

When I saw that note, I believed you knew.

I believed you had decided not to be involved.”

“Did you ever speak directly to my mother?”

“Once.

She said you needed a clean start, and then she ended the call.

After that, I didn’t want to spend the first year of my son’s life begging someone to care about him.”