At the age of 13, she gave birth to a child, and 18 years later, on her daughter’s birthday, she received a letter from the hospital after which the girl’s father admitted for the first time that he had been hiding the truth.

There was a long silence.

Then the woman whispered, “I have waited eighteen years to hear your voice.”

Emma closed her eyes.

“I’m not calling to talk about Lucas.”

“I see.”

“I’m calling because my father left me a photo of you and a letter. He told me you wanted to meet your granddaughter.”

Helena started crying.

“Yes. I wanted to. But I was a coward, Emma. I let my husband decide what was right. I told myself that silence was the only way to keep peace in the family.”

“What about keeping me safe?”

The question hung between them.

Helena did not defend herself.

“I should have stood up for you,” she said. “I should have challenged my husband. I should have done more than just cry over the wrongs done to me. I can’t ask you to forgive me for that.”And this time Emma believed her.

That evening Sophie spent almost an hour looking through the photos.