“She’s fine,” she said aloud, hoping to convince herself. “She said she’d phone after the five-thirty meeting, and it’s only—” Donna glanced at her phone again. “Six forty-five.” Her pulse skipped a few beats, guilt seeping through the cracks of her carefully assembled armor. What if Stephanie ditched the meeting? What if she’d gone to a bar with her friends instead? What if—
Donna closed her eyes, inhaling through her nose then exhaling slowly through her mouth, allowing the heat of her breath to warm her from the inside out.Stephanie needs to take responsibility for her own sobriety. You can’t babysit her every second of the day.The mental reminder made sense, but Donna still couldn’t shake the heavy weight in the pit of her stomach. What if Stephanie needed her and she wasn’t there?
Her phone vibrated in her palm, and she jumped, nearly losing her grip. Her daughter’s name appeared on the screen, yanking her thoughts from Stephanie but cementing the feelings of guilt. “I’m so sorry,” she blurted in lieu of a greeting. “I shouldn’t have been so careless. I never meant to—”
“Mom, it’s okay,” Cassie interrupted, her words tempered with kindness. “I know you didn’t mean for that to happen. I should have realized that my phone call from the doctor’s office the other day would’ve sparked questions. I was so caught up in myself and the baby, I didn’t give much thought to anything else.”
Donna’s heart melted at the mention of her grandchild, and she sank onto the edge of the four-poster bed. “How is the baby?”
“About the size of a prune.” Cassie laughed softly, and Donna suddenly ached to see her, to hold her.
“How are you feeling?”
“Exhausted.” Cassie paused a beat before adding, “And nervous.”
There was something in her voice—a fragile vulnerability—that reminded Donna of when Cassie was a little girl, and a long-forgotten memory popped into her mind. Cassie was seven, about to attend a new school for the second time that year, and she’d been so afraid, she’d locked herself in the bathroom of their studio apartment. Donna—still hung over from the night before—hadn’t known what to do. She’d knelt on the other side, using her most soothing tone, but couldn’t cajole Cassie out of hiding. Impulsively, she’d unclasped the pendant from around her neck—a gift from her father and the only reminder of her former life that she’d allowed herself—and slid it under the door.
“This is a magic necklace,” she’d said, making it up as she went along. “As long as you wear it close to your heart, everything will be okay.” She’d held her breath, her head throbbing, until the door cracked open. Cassie tiptoed out of the bathroom, her large green eyes tentative but hopeful, the tiny silver silhouette of a sparrow tucked beneath her T-shirt. Every day afterward, Donna recalled seeing the thin metallic chain peeking from her collar, until one day—she wasn’t sure when exactly—it disappeared, vanishing into the void like every sliver of happiness before it.
Shaking away the memory, she said, “It’s normal to be nervous. A lot of things are going to change. But it’s going to be okay. Better than okay. It’s going to be great.” She was a little rusty with the pep talks, but she meant every word.
“About what you said… about wanting to help… what did you have in mind?”
“I don’t know exactly. I’d thought I could stay a while and help out any way you need. Maybe I can learn to cover some of your shifts at the café so you can rest and get things ready for the baby?”
“What about your job at the restaurant?”
“I told my boss I’d be visiting you for a while.” She kept her tone light. Cassie didn’t need to know how that conversation had ended.
“And your apartment?”
“I’ve sublet it to a friend.”
“And you’re sure about this? I know Poppy Creek isn’t your favorite place…”
Donna swallowed. While she had her fears and reservations, she didn’t see any way around it. If she wanted to be near her daughter, this was where she’d have to be. “I’m sure. I’d really like to be here for you, if that’s okay.”
A long, agonizing silence followed, and Donna held her breath. Cassie had every reason to refuse her offer. She didn’t deserve her trust or respect, and she certainly hadn’t earned the right to be involved in her life. All she could hope for was grace.
“I’d like that, too,” Cassie whispered.
The feather-soft words brought tears to Donna’s eyes, and she lifted her gaze to the ceiling, keeping them at bay.
“We’d love for you to stay with us,” Cassie continued. “Unfortunately, our guest room is in shambles at the moment, since we’re turning it into a nursery, but we can set up an air mattress in the office until we figure out something more suitable.”
“I don’t want to create any more work for you and Luke. I already checked in to the Whispering Winds Inn.” She glanced around the room again, still finding it hard to believe her good fortune. The spacious suite seamlessly paired luxury with comfort, and she adored every detail, from the cozy reading nook alcove to the deep clawfoot tub. The nightly rate had to be astronomical, but when she’d searched the website, she couldn’t find the suite listed anywhere.
“In the Zephyr Suite?” Cassie asked.
“Yes, how’d you know?”
“Just a hunch.” Cassie’s tone hinted at a smile. “Can we have you over for dinner, at least? I need to run to the store, but I could whip up—”
“Why don’t you and Luke come here?” Donna interrupted, not wanting Cassie to go to any trouble on her account. “The Westerly has an impressive menu, and I’d like to treat you both to dinner.”
“Honestly, that would be lovely. I was bluffing. I had no idea what I’d cook for dinner.” Cassie laughed, and Donna didn’t think she’d ever heard a sweeter sound. “I’ll check with Luke, but we can probably be there in thirty minutes, if that works for you?”
“That would be perfect.” They exchanged goodbyes, and Donna hung up the phone feeling more hopeful than she had in a long time. But her optimism evaporated the instant she eyed the blank screen. Still no call from Stephanie.
