“There was a lot of pain, a lot of history,” she admitted. “I thought it was best to leave the past behind, but it seems he didn’t.”

Suddenly, all those Sundays seemed to mean so much more. He had been reaching out to me in the only way he knew how, silently supporting me from a distance. I felt a mixture of sadness, confusion, and a surprising sense of connection to this stranger who was, in fact, family.

“Jess, are you oka?” my mom asked, her voice gentle.“I will be,” I replied, trying to process everything. “I just need some time to think.”The next Sunday, I was prepared. He walked in, wearing the familiar plaid shirt, looking even more fragile than before. This time, I knew what to do. After I served him his usual coffee and pie, I sat down across from him.“Can we talk?” I asked softly.