I laughed through fresh tears. “I suppose I did.”

Sabrina drew a deep breath. “I need you to hear one last thing.” I nodded. “I didn’t leave Ava with a stranger.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I left her with the only mother I’d ever known.”

I pulled Sabrina into the hug she had waited twenty years to receive. Outside, the rain had finally stopped.

Chapter 10 — The Kind You Find Twice

A week later, I stood on my front porch watching Sabrina buckle Ava into her car seat. This time there were no frightened goodbyes. Only promises to visit every Sunday.

Helen waved from across the street. “So… family?”

I smiled. “The kind you get to find twice.”