She had spent twenty years trying to get words into the hands of a child she loved.

Now she understood that Paige was allowed to decide when to read them.

Later Denise showed us a photograph of Rose wearing a crooked paper crown at her own birthday party.

Paige laughed at her expression.

“I make that exact face when somebody tries to surprise me.”

I looked at the photograph and felt no jealousy.

There was sadness for the young woman who hadn’t survived to know her daughter as an adult.

There was also gratitude that Paige had grown up knowing she was loved.