had just died. Nancy was stunned. Emma had once been her friend… and the woman Patrick had truly loved in school. Nancy confessed to Amanda: years ago, when Patrick broke up with her for Emma, she had lied about being pregnant to get him back. The lie worked. Emma left town, and Patrick never saw her again — until, clearly,

much later. Now, Patrick was gone. Emma was gone. But their daughter remained. “I want to make this right,” Nancy said. “I’ll raise her. Maybe this is how I earn forgiveness.” And she did. Years later, when she told the girl — now a teenager — the truth, the response broke her heart in the best way: “You’re still my mom. Always have been.”