I hadn’t set foot here in almost a year now, not since the day everything was ripped from me by my father.
By the time I reached my grandmother's little house, I could already hear laughter spilling out of the open window.
My heart swelled before I even knocked.
"Mommy!"
The front door flew open and a small body hurtled into me. I crouched down just in time to catch her — my little girl, her curls bouncing, her cheeks sticky with jam.
"Hi, baby," I whispered, hugging her so tightly it almost hurt. God! I’ve missed this so much "Did you miss me?"
She nodded furiously, her small arms wrapping around my neck. "Grandma says I ate too many cookies."
I laughed, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Of course you did."
"I miss you so much, Hope."
I squeezed my little girl tighter, burying m
