“Meryl… what are you doing here?”
“Owen wrote to me,” I said. “He told me to follow you.”
“I should’ve told you,” Charlie began.
“Then tell me now.”
He wiped at his eyes. “I’ve been doing this for two years now. Coming here after work, putting on that ridiculous outfit, bringing toys and little gifts, and doing whatever I could to make those kids laugh, even if only for a little while.”
“Why?” I breathed.
“Because of Owen.”
The words hit me so hard that I forgot how to breathe for a second.
“I’ve been doing this for two years now.”