dropping the bowl—and then her eyes went wide and both her hands slapped over her mouth, and her whole body shook as she eked out, “M-Merritt?” The sound of her voice nearly broke him. Merritt smiled, so relieved he wouldn’t have to explain who he was. So happy that she still recognized him, after all this time. “Hi, Mom.” She wailed and ran to him, throwing her arms around his waist, burying her face into his chest. “Oh, Merritt! My boy! My boy!”
