My Daughter Passed Away Giving Birth, and I Raised Her Son Alone – 10 Years Later, a Strange Woman at Her Grave Said, ‘I Made Your Daughter a Promise. Now It’s Time You Knew the Truth’

Before I could answer, Lucas shouted from the bottom of the hill.

“Grandma! I found it!”

My grandson was running back from the car, waving the birthday card he’d made for his mother.

The woman looked toward him.

“Don’t open this in front of him.”

“Who are you?”

“My name is Trudy.”

“That tells me nothing.”

My stomach turned.

Lucas was getting closer.

Trudy pushed the envelope into my hand.

“My number’s on the back.”

***

Teagan had been eighteen when she told me she was pregnant.

I asked about the father more times than I could count.

“Does he know?”

“Mom, please.”

“What’s his name?”

“You shouldn’t have to do this alone.”

“Please stop making this harder.”

We went in circles until talking only made things worse.

Then, the day Lucas was born, a doctor came into the waiting room and sat beside me.

“I’m so sorry. We did everything we could.”

“The baby?”