Sophie cried.
“What do you need to do now?”
“Say sorry.”
Then she took my hand before walking over to Lucas.
Rebecca had written:
I watched your daughter reach for your hand while you were still holding her accountable.
She wasn’t afraid of you.
She trusted you.
I stopped reading.
Claire moved a little closer.
“You okay, Mom?”
I nodded.
Barely.
The letter continued.
Years later, Rebecca became seriously ill.
Her children’s father had already died.
None of her relatives could care for all 6 siblings together.
She began discussing possible placement options with Mr. Reed and child-welfare professionals.
That was when she remembered me.
Then she learned that Andrew, Lucas, and Sophie had died.
Rebecca wrote:
When I heard what happened to your family, I crossed your name out.
I barely knew you. I had no right to ask a grieving stranger to take 6 children.
But when I imagined my children being separated, I kept remembering your daughter reaching for your hand.
So I wrote your name down again.
I looked at Mr. Reed.
“She actually wrote my name somewhere?”
He nodded.
“Not as a chosen guardian. She understood she couldn’t do that. She listed you as someone the agency might consider contacting if family placement failed.”
I continued reading.
I am not asking anyone to give Julia my children.
That choice is not mine.
I only ask that if my children cannot remain together, and if Julia is ever considered an appropriate possibility, someone allow her to know they exist.
Do not tell her that I asked.
If she ever says yes, I want the choice to belong to her.
My hands began shaking.
I looked at Mr. Reed.
“So how did Rachel become involved?”
“After Rebecca died, I gave her request to the placement agency.”
He continued.
“The agency already knew Rachel professionally. Because Rachel lived near you and knew you personally, she was asked to make a very limited inquiry.”
“What did they tell her?”
“Only that you had been identified as someone who might be worth approaching if you were willing to hear about a sibling group.”
