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Now, let me tell you about the Christmas that changed everything. My name is Vivian Thorp, and I want to tell you about the moment my daughter broke my heart with 13 words. Thirteen little words that would change both our lives forever.
I was standing in the imported food section of Whole Foods, selecting the finest Belgian chocolates for what I thought would be our family Christmas gathering. At 58, I still turned heads wherever I went, something that had never really faded, though I’d learned to carry it with more grace than I had in my 20s. My silver hair fell in perfect waves past my shoulders, and my emerald green cashmere coat hugged a figure that yoga and good genetics had been kind to.
We only want close family around. I stood there, Belgian truffles forgotten, in my manicured hands, reading those words over and over. Close family.
Close family. I was her mother. I had carried her for nine months, raised her through every fever and heartbreak, put her through college, helped with her wedding, babysit her children when needed.
But apparently, I wasn’t close family anymore. My fingers moved before my brain could stop them. I typed back simply, “No problem.
Have fun.” Then I set my phone to silent and continued shopping—though now I was buying for one. You see, what Melanie didn’t know—what she couldn’t have known—was that her rejection came at a time when I had more reasons to celebrate than ever before. Just 3 months earlier, I had inherited something extraordinary from my dearest friend and business partner, Margaret Ashworth.
The story doesn’t end here — it continues on the next page.
Tap READ MORE to discover the rest 🔎👇
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