Snapshot

by Kay Cove

Dear Dottie, I can imagine what’s going through your mind at the moment. If you’re angry with me for reading your letters, I’m sorry. Perhaps you think I’m angry with you for the contents. I assure you, I’m not. Actually, I’m thinking of how little I know you after four decades of marriage. How much you like to write, your favorite flower, your worries and fears in the office. I suppose I never took the time to get to know you all these years together, which is why none of your beautiful, heartbreaking love letters are to me. I know the man I am. I am a product of my parents and their parents before them. Maybe that’s why I was so drawn to you. Somehow, I sensed you could break the cycle. My original intention was to become more like you. In the end, I fear I changed your heart more than I allowed you to change mine. And for that, I’m sorry. You deserved better, my sweetheart. I never thanked you for being loyal when you could’ve strayed. Where I was weak, you were strong. You gave me a family when I thought I’d never have one. And please know, Dottie, in my way, to the best of my ability, which I know has been unimpressive, I do love you. I miss our daughter every day. She may be Jacob’s, but she’s also mine. We shouldn’t have hidden Melody’s adoption. It was never a shameful thing. Becoming her father was the pride and joy of my life. And now, Dex is just as much a piece of me. In a way, the son I always dreamed of having. I am so proud of him. He only has the good parts...