I could’ve broken his hand. My grip was so hard. I felt sick with every step I took toward the hospital and Mom’s room. It sounded so great and exciting when I first heard about Teddy Starks, most of all the fact that Sam was not related to me at all. But now that reality was setting in, I wasn’t sure how to feel.

What if he doesn’t like me? What if I’m not what he expected? What bearing is he going to have on my life and mom’s? There were so many questions going through my ...