I Arrived Early for My Sister’s Wedding Hoping No One Would Notice Me

two front teeth, sitting on Grandma’s porch swing with a Popsicle stain down the front of my yellow shirt. My father, my real father, was crouched beside me making rabbit ears behind my head.

On the back, in his handwriting: Nellie and my Nell. Summer of ’98.

Nellie was what he called his mother.

My Nell was me.

I had to set it down.

Then I read the letter.continue reading …