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Sinking back down on ony just to touch it knoas inside There was no doubt or question that what it held was true Looking up at Steel, I knew that I wasn’t just going to end any hope he had of a future with Dixie, but that every memory he had of our father would also be altered forever The same asDixie" I spoke, then lifted the lid "Steel, I found this three years ago I didn’t intend to share it But I also never planned on one of irl" I then shookinto the box, I removed the letters, the paper folded and unfolded so"This is why she can’t be your girl either," I said, holding the letters out tome with fear in his eyes, as if he’d understood the truth before he even looked inside "What’s this?" he asked, his voice shaky, unsure

"It’s the reason why I left her The reason I can’t have her Why you can’t have her either"

Steel opened the first letter I couldn’t watch him as he read it I dropped oing to be forever changed Just as mine had been And I was powerless to save him from the pain

All the letters, but one, ritten by Dixie’show s him to take her away froether The passion in her words would’ve been , if not for the fact that each and every one was addressed to my own father A man I had once admired A man whose name I had been proud to bear A man I had mourned when he died A man who’d deceived us all

"This is" Steel said with effort, before I felt the h "I just can’t" he ," I told him as the acid in my throat burned

I’d memorized the last letter she had written to him Every as branded on my brain

Vance,

I won’t keep writing these letters to you Not if you’re going to continue ignoring ree with the words you said I believe we can have happiness together This child inside me deserves us both It will be a part of you just as those boys are You said you loved ain Co your child and you won’t speak to ain? I know she’s your wife but I have a husband too One I’ to leave for you

Does thatto tell him the truth? That I love you That this child inside me is yours Proof that the passion we have for each other is worthy of a chance I won’t keep you from your boys I know you love them as you should But you don’t love their mother You love me I know that

Be with me, Vance Fix the oing our separate ways My heart has been yours since I was fifteen It will always be Don’t leave me Don’t turn your back on our child That would destroy me

I love you forever and always,

Millie

My father cheated on my mother

Dixie was ain, the words in that letter replaying in my head I’d made love to Dixie I’d been inside her and it was like heaven I’d never experienced anything like it again Yet, it had been sick and wrong

"Did you show these to Mom?" Steel asked His voice sounded strained I understood what he was going through