We Thought Our Mother Abandoned Us—Until I Heard My Adoptive Mom Say, “Everything Went According to Plan”

remembered that Noah hated raisins and that I loved lavender tea. She sent old letters she had written but never mailed. She invited us to Port Haven whenever we could visit.

The first photo we gave her was taken outside her flower shop.

Noah stood on one side of her, I stood on the other, and Emily held both our hands like she was afraid the world might continue reading …