Page 2 (2/2)

Above his bed was painted MICAH

"Do you think the people who used to live here left it for ive it back?" he asked, a hopeful expression on his face "And look, Moin the room I didn’t knohat to think This was not what I had expected, but then again, I hadn’t expected to be given this house, either A white envelope caught ainst the wall on top of the dresser, withover to it, I wiped at the tear that had escaped, and I tried to hide my face from my very observant five-year-old The envelope was sealed, so I slid er underneath and opened it up

Sienna,

This is your home now It doesn’t make up for the past or for the years I wasn’t there when you needed ive you I don’t expect to buy your forgiveness This room is as much for s Christifts just because he is h Not while I lived with your father

I won’t speak ill of your father--that is not what this is about I loved hiood man, but he was a proud man and I had to respect that I believe in my heart that if he had it to do over, he would have done things differently I hate that he never got to randson

Please tell Micah that the room is his with love from someone who hopes she can meet him one day When you are ready, of course If you are ever ready I just ask that you can find it in your heart to forgive me I want to be a part of your lives

My address and phone nuive me a call, I would love that Or maybe send me some photos of Micah I have a photo album full thanks to your aunt Cathy He’s a beautiful one, but then, so is his ?" Micah asked as he tugged on the bottom of my shorts

I folded the letter and tucked it inat him

He reached out and wiped my face with his little hands "It’s okay if we can’t stay here Just so I’m with you," he said The sadness in his eyes hurt rabbed his hands and squeezed theave it to us did all this just for you These are happy tears, not sad ones," I told hirand hiht now But her words and this room meant a lot It didn’t h to do this did help et to keep this? All of it?" he asked, looking around at the rooain, his eyes onder We had even shared a bed up until now

"Yes All of this is yours Just yours You have your own space now Your own bed Even your own closet"

Micah walked over to his bed and ran his little hand over the quilt He knehat a basketball was I had bought him one with my first paycheck It was a part of his father I wanted him to have "Did the person who did this for me know my daddy was the best basketball player in the world?" he asked, glancing back at onna be happy here, Moo back to his toy box I watched his my mother had left him Then I slipped out of the room to check out the rest of the house

In the letter she’d sent with the house key and the deed, she’d toldthe furniture behind The place where she was living noas furnished I wasn’t sure how I felt about sleeping on my parents’ bed, but all I’d had was athe door to the master bedroom, I froze before relief washed over me It was my old bed, dresser, and vanity EvenI wouldn’t want their things The quilt on the bed was the sao It was pale pink with big daisies all over it

I was home

Present day

DEWAYNE

I pulled my truck into my parents’ driveway and parked beside my dad’s truck Normally, I tried to come over and visit once a week The past teeks, however, I just hadn’t been in the mood Momma had broken down and cried the last ti us all that it was the six-year anniversary of my little brother’s death

The only way I kne to deal with that was to get ain Until I was past the pain, and the e to stay sober for the past two nights, I decided I had better get back over here to seefor me

That wo after me I wasn’t scared of much, but Tabby Falco was someone I feared Loved all five feet three inches of her, but I was terrified of her

Glancing across the street, I noticed a beat-up white Honda Civic It had seen better days Nina Roy had o, just a feeeks after her husband’s death Moone to Florida The place had sat e in? If so, that car didn’t ht have to stop by and make sure my parents were safe