I raised my fiancé’s ten children after he walked out on us — thirty years later, his lawyer showed up at my door and said, “He asked me to give you this envelope today.”

Ten children are a great deal for one person.”

“I know.”

“This will take time.”

“I know.”

“There’s no shame in stepping back,” she insisted.

I thought of the children.

“They already call me Mama,” I said. “I cannot walk away from that.”

My signature came out crooked because my hand wouldn’t remain steady.

The adoptions took years to finalize, but in my heart,continue reading …