Mr. Harris laughed through his tears.
“She knew me very well.”
Then Sophie asked something that changed the room.
“Did she want me?”
My husband turned toward her.
“Sophie.”
She stared at the photograph.
“My first mommy. Did she want me?”
Suddenly, I heard Richard’s words from seven years earlier.
“Just don’t let her grow up thinking they didn’t love her.”
“Of course she did,” I said.
Sophie looked at me.
“But how do you know?”
I opened my mouth.
Nothing came out.
Mr. Harris looked back at the letter.
“There is more.”
He crouched beside Sophie.
“Do you want me to read it?”
She nodded.
His voice shook.
“Sophie is the best thing we’ve ever done. I didn’t know you could love somebody this much when you’ve only known them for four days.”
Sophie stayed still.
Mr. Harris continued.
“I keep looking at her and thinking I wish my little brother could meet her.”
He couldn’t continue.
He didn’t need to.
Sophie looked at the photograph, then climbed into my lap.
I wrapped my arms around her.
After a while, she whispered, “Mom?”
“Yes?”
