I nearly dialed 911 on the tattooed teenager holding a screaming baby inside an empty 1 AM laundromat. Then his bag tore open, and my stomach sank with utter shame.

though I had never known him to pray.

“She likes her,” he whispered.

I said nothing.

“She doesn’t know what Rachel did. She doesn’t remember being left. She just sees a woman who colors ducks green and knows songs I don’t know.”

His eyes filled.

“I thought I was protecting her from Rachel. What if now I’m protecting myself from Emma loving someone else?continue reading …