Rebecca was clutching the yellowed envelope to her chest like a shield.

“I never wanted to give you up, Caroline,” Rebecca said, her voice shaking violently. “When you were born, and we found out about your arm, Thomas changed.”

“He said a child with special needs would ruin his career prospects.”

“He told me that if I kept you, he would file for divorce immediately.”

Caroline sat perfectly still, her eyes fixed on the rearview mirror where Rebecca’s face was reflected.

“He said his family had the best lawyers in Virginia,” Rebecca continued, her breath catching in her throat. “He promised he would drag me through the courts until I didn’t have a penny left.”

“I was twenty years old, Helen,” Rebecca said, looking at me with pleading eyes. “My own parents had disowned me for getting pregnant. I had no money, no job, and nowhere to go.”

“He gave me an ultimatum. Either I let him arrange for you to adopt Caroline, or he would abandon me and leave me destitute with a newborn baby.”

I felt a cold sensation settle deep in my stomach.