If you’re reading this, one of the guys kept a promise for me.

I know you. By now you’ve carried too much and told everybody you’re fine.

You were the brave one long before I got sick.

If Letty ever does something that breaks your heart open in the good way, don’t close it again out of fear.

Let people love you.

— Jon

I folded the note and pressed it to my chest.

Outside, the air felt cold and clean. Jenna stood by the curb with Millie, one hand resting between her daughter’s shoulders like she was afraid to let go.

I walked over first.

“Dinner tonight,” I said.

Jenna blinked. “What?”

“You’re coming over. No arguments. I know every trick for feeding someone who says they’re not hungry. I got very good at it.”

Her eyes filled instantly.

Millie looked at Letty. “Can I come too?”

Letty gave her a small smile. “Only if you don’t hide in the bathroom anymore.”

Millie smiled back. “Only if you stop cutting your own hair without supervision.”

“That’s fair.”

Jenna laughed through tears, and something in all of us softened at once.

On the drive home, Letty held Jonathan’s hard hat in her lap.

“Do you think Dad would’ve cried today?”

I smiled through fresh tears.

“Absolutely. Then he would’ve denied it.”

Jonathan hadn’t walked back through our front door.

But somehow, because of our daughter, his love had.