Now, for the first time, I had a how.
I asked the hospital for whatever records they still had from June 18, 2021. Visitor logs. Surgery times. It took them two weeks, but they sent a letter confirming the time of Loretta’s procedure and that I’d been listed as her designated support person on site that day.
And I found something even better in my folder from the safe deposit box.
One of the four emails I’d printed out was from Monica. Sent at 9:52 a.m. on June 18, 2021.
Hey Becks, Trev said he told you about the payroll thing. I’m heading to the hospital now. I’ll need your phone for a bit, okay? Sorry!! Love you. Tell Loretta hi.
I’d printed it four years ago because something about it had bothered me. I hadn’t known why.
I gave everything to Russell.
He read the email twice. Then he looked up at me, and for the first time, he almost smiled.
