Tearing it open, she unfolded a letter written in Daniel’s steady script. “My Maggie,” it began, “if you’re reading this, I’m gone. I’m sorry for the secrecy. I know you must have feared the worst. I’m sorry I made you wait so long.”
Her throat constricted as she read on. “It was not because I wanted to hide from you. I hid everything to protect you. In my life, I made many wrong choices. Some, even before I knew you. But I couldn’t drag you into a mess of my making.”