I gave up 22 years of my life Raising my triplet nieces – ad what they did at their college graduation made me fall to my knees

I didn’t. But I stayed.

I missed things too.

• A cousin’s wedding in Denver because Claire had the flu.
• A fishing holiday that I promised myself for 10 years.
• The opportunity to have one  family own.
• And Diana, the woman I love.

Diana was patient for a long time. More time than it should have been.

I missed things too.

“I’m not asking you to choose,” he said one night at the front door. “I’m asking if there’s room.”

“There isn’t,” I said. “He’s not the guy you deserve.”

She nodded as if she already knew. He left a sweater. I never gave it back.

I kept the triplets, not because they asked me to, but because someone had to.

“I’m asking if there’s room.”

***

Daniel appeared as the weather does.

A birthday card once, with no return address.