Her expression suddenly changed.
“What’s your first name?”
“Robert.”
She covered her mouth again.
I thought she was simply overwhelmed.
Before I could ask what was wrong, a nurse approached with an update about Sophie.
Gianna thanked me once more and hurried away.
She was simply overwhelmed.
***
I went home later that day, collapsed into bed from exhaustion, and slept almost the entire day.
The following morning, someone knocked on my door, and it was the stranger.
I walked over and opened it. I probably should have asked who was there first, but I was still in a fog.
“Dr. Miller? Were you the one who operated on the little girl after the accident yesterday?”
I swallowed nervously.
“Yes.”
Someone knocked on my door.
He let out a relieved breath, his shoulders dropping.
“My name’s Sebastian,” the man explained. “I’m the director of a family support organization.”
I looked toward his car.
“How did you find my address?”
“Your daughter worked with our organization. Years ago, you sent us a memorial donation after she passed away. We still had your mailing address.”
He let out a relieved breath.
My chest tightened.
“You knew Emily?”
“Very well.”
I frowned.
“Why are you here?”
“Because someone wants to tell you what your daughter did for her.”
I stared at him.
“You knew Emily?”
“Who?”
“Gianna. Sophie’s mother.”
That surprised me.
“Why couldn’t she call?”
“She thought you’d understand better if you saw something first.”
I hesitated.
“Where are we going?”
“To our community center. It’s about 15 minutes away.”
That surprised me.
I glanced at his folder.
The woman in the picture looked familiar, but I hadn’t seen enough to identify her.
Finally, I nodded.
***
During the drive, Sebastian asked whether I’d eaten.
“No, you literally woke me up,” I answered.
He shook his head.
I glanced at his folder.
“Your daughter would’ve scolded you.”
I almost smiled.
Emily used to tell me that breakfast was essential.
After several minutes, Sebastian spoke again.
“She was an extraordinary woman. She helped more people than you probably realize.”
I almost smiled.
“What does that mean?”
He looked down at his folder.
“Gianna should explain.”
I didn’t like being kept in suspense.
But whenever Sebastian mentioned Emily, I felt obligated to see this through.
“What does that mean?”
***
We stopped outside a brick building with a blue door.
The sign above the entrance displayed the name of a family support center.
Sebastian led me inside.
There was a reception desk, several offices, and a room filled with children’s books.
Photos covered one wall.
Sebastian led me inside.
I approached them.
Then I stopped breathing.
My daughter was standing in the middle of a group of volunteers!
She was smiling, her arm around a younger woman.
I hadn’t seen that image before.
“That’s my daughter,” I whispered.
Sebastian nodded.
I stopped breathing.
“She helped establish our program for young parents.”
I stared at him.
“Emily told me she volunteered here. She never mentioned that.”
I looked at her photo again.
For a moment, I could almost hear her laugh.
“She never mentioned that.”
“Gianna’s waiting.”
He led me down a hallway.
Inside a small office sat Sophie’s mother.
She stood when she saw me, and I finally realized she was the woman in the picture Sebastian had shown me.
“Dr. Miller!”
I looked around.
“Gianna’s waiting.”
“What exactly is going on?”
Gianna gestured toward a chair.
“Please sit down. There’s something I should’ve told you yesterday.”
***
“First, how’s Sophie?” I asked.
Gianna smiled.
“She’s still in intensive care, but the doctors are encouraged.”
I felt relieved.
“Please sit down.”
Gianna folded her hands.
“Six years ago, I was 17 and pregnant.”
I waited.
“My parents weren’t supportive. I had nowhere stable to live, and I was terrified.”
She looked toward the doorway.
“Someone told me about this center. I came here hoping they could help.”
“I was 17 and pregnant.”
She picked up a photo that featured my daughter.
“That’s when I met Emily.”
My throat tightened.
