ed clarity. My hands trembled as I dialed my mom’s number, tears streaking my face.

She answered after the second ring.

“Claire? Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”

“Mom,” I choked out, “did you know? About the man who caused the accident—Tyler’s grandfather?”

There was a long pause.

“Claire,” she began softly, “we didn’t tell you. You’d already been through so much.”

I pressed the phone harder to my ear, the lump in my throat making it hard to speak. “Mom, I don’t understand.

How could you hide something like this from me? All these years, you never thought I had a right to know?”

My mom sighed deeply. “Claire, we were trying to protect you.

After your brother’s death, you were devastated. You stopped talking for weeks, barely ate. Telling you everything wouldn’t have helped you heal—it would’ve made things worse.”

“But you let me believe he just got away with it!” I said, my voice rising.

“I lived with this idea that he never paid for what he did.”

“Sweetheart,” she said gently, “he didn’t get away with it. He went to prison. The court ruled it wasn’t entirely his fault.

Your brother was speeding, Claire. Both of them made mistakes that day.”

Her words hit me like a punch in the gut. “Why didn’t you tell me that either?”

“You were just a child,” she said softly.

“You adored your brother, and we didn’t want to tarnish his memory for you. We thought we were doing what was best.”

I bit my lip, trying to hold back tears. “I met him today, Mom.

Grandpa Terry. He looked me in the eye and wished me a happy life, and I had no idea. How could you let me walk into that?”

“I didn’t know he’d be there,” she admitted.

“If I had, I would’ve told you. But Claire… maybe this is a chance to heal, for all of us.”

Her words lingered in the air, heavy and bittersweet. “You think I should forgive him?”

“I think that’s something only you can decide,” she said.

“But don’t let this ruin your happiness, Claire. Tyler loves you, and you deserve a fresh start.”

I felt my anger soften into sadness. My parents hadn’t meant to hurt me.

They’d been trying to protect me.

I sat in silence after the call, thinking about the day’s events. Grandpa Terry had greeted me warmly at the wedding, his eyes kind, his hands steady as he wished me and Tyler a happy life together.

I thought about Tyler too—how honest and compassionate he’d been, even when my anger lashed out at him.

Grandpa Terry had made a terrible mistake, but he’d also faced the consequences. He’d served his time and lived with remorse.

I took a deep breath.

I loved Tyler, and his family was my family now.

When Tyler came into the room, I took his hand. “I’m still hurt, but I want to move forward. With you.

With your family.”

He pulled me into his arms, relief washing over his face. Together, we chose healing over pain.

Source: amomama