My stepfather adopted me and took care of me after my mother p@ssed when I was 10. After 8 uneasy years together, I was finally ready to pay him back. As I was packing my bags to leave for college, my stepfather came into the room with tears in his eyes. "HERE'S A LETTER YOUR MOTHER ASKED ME TO GIVE YOU ON YOUR 18TH BIRTHDAY," he said, his voice trembling. After reading the letter, tears fell from my eyes. "NANCY, I CAN EXPLAIN. PLEASE GIVE ME A CHANCE," he begged. "This explains everything!" I