Frozen in the doorway, I considered leaving, but then a woman emerged. Her expression shifted from confusion to shock, her hand flying to her mouth as tears filled her eyes.
“Meredith?” I whispered, the name slipping out like a long-forgotten melody.
Her voice was quiet but laced with bitterness. “No one’s called me that in years.”
I stared at her and then at Miranda, the resemblance undeniable. The curls, the determined gaze—pieces of a puzzle I didn’t know existed suddenly clicked into place.
“You left,” Julia said, her voice trembling with anger. “You accused me of things I never did, and you never let me explain. Then you disappeared.”
The weight of my past mistakes crashed over me. My sister had fabricated lies about Julia, convincing me she was after my money. Fear and pride had clouded my judgment, and I’d walked away without looking back.
“I was wrong,” I admitted, my voice thick with regret. “I believed lies and destroyed what we had.”
Her eyes hardened. “You didn’t just destroy us. You left without knowing I was pregnant.”
The room spun. I looked at Miranda, her wide eyes reflecting innocence and curiosity. “Daddy?” she asked softly, the single word piercing through my composure.
“I didn’t know,” I whispered, kneeling to her level. “If I had…” My voice faltered, inadequate to convey the depth of my remorse.
Julia’s arms crossed defensively. “You can’t just show up and expect everything to be fine. You’ve missed eight years.”
“I know,” I said, standing to face her. “But I want to be here now—for Miranda, for you. I’ll do whatever it takes to prove I’m staying.”
Her skepticism was evident. “Words mean nothing.”
“Then let me prove it,” I said firmly. “I’ll leave my company, move here, and rebuild the life I should’ve fought for eight years ago. Just give me a chance.”
Miranda’s smile lit up the room, and Julia’s guarded expression softened, though her eyes held doubt. “We’ll try,” she said cautiously. “But it’ll take more than promises.”
Relief coursed through me. It wasn’t forgiveness, but it was a beginning. As Miranda hugged me, I felt something I hadn’t in years: hope. The ocean breeze carried away the remnants of my old life, leaving only resolve. This time, I would stay—for the daughter I never knew and the trust I was determined to earn.