Chapter 107 A Letter From Lilly

When Judy went to her room, Hensey and Emma were left in a state of anxious suspense. The weight of unspoken facts hung between them like a shroud, and every moment was full of the chance for revelation. Before the heavy silence could swallow them up completely, Judy came back. She walked hesitantly toward Emma while holding a letter tightly in her hands. She put it out to her daughter, and her face showed a mix of fear and acceptance. Emma's eyes narrowed as she took the letter, and her fingers shook a little as she opened the fragile paper. "What is this?" she asked, and there was a hint of fear in her voice. When Judy met Emma's eyes, her sad eyes became less sharp. "This is a letter your mom wrote before she... before she died," she said in a voice that was barely above a whisper. When Emma's birth mother was brought up, her heart squeezed, and a flood of mixed feelings threatened to overwhelm her. She whispered, "You are my mom," her voice choked with emotion. Emma opened