I chuckled. “I know. I just wasn’t sure I told you enough.” I leaned my head onto her shoulder and absorbed the weight of her head resting against mine.
“Probably not.” I felt her chuckle.
I took a strong breath and started to spill every piece of my shattered heart. She sat there and listened. Not interrupting or judging, just listening.
Once I went over what happened earlier that evening, I felt sick to my stomach. “I was hoping I wouldn’t get him in trouble. I was hoping I could help him. I just got this idea in my head that maybe he needed help and wanted to see me.” I shook my head in defeat. “But I was so, so wrong.”
Mom sat quietly putting her thoughts into place. “I’m sorry about your night, hon, but it also isn’t all on you.” She met my eyes, with raised brows. “You did deserve answers, and you did not intend to cause him trouble.” She pinched her lips and rubbed my hand. “You never know. Tonight might not be as final as you feel.” She wiped a tear from my cheek and pulled me into an embrace. I felt my gasping breaths matching her steady heartbeat, calming my storm.
“No, it is. I even told him I never wanted to see him again as I ran out.”
Mom continued to rub my back in soft circles. “Maybe.” She shrugged. “Time has taught me a lot of things, and one is that the wordneveris not as final as it seems. And if it doesn’t work between you and Grant, it wasn’t supposed to, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have more love coming your way.” She leaned back and looked at me. “Now, want to watch a movie?”
I nodded. “Yeah.” I stood and turned toward the living room. I walked in and sat on the corner cushion of the worn blue couch. Mom walked to the back of the room, grabbing my favorite green blanket from the stack and bringing it to me. “All right, which movie are we feeling tonight?”
I grabbed the soft blanket and tugged it tightly around me, hoping the warmth would fill the hole in my chest. The familiar scents wrap around me like a second embrace—lavender laundry soap, faint traces of sun-dried hay, and something indefinably Mom.
The blanket was healing, but mostly it was Mom that was healing, as she held me close, letting me know I was safe and loved no matter what. Her lips pressed against my forehead as I leaned against her, watching the opening credits to the movie.
Chapter Fifteen
The next twodays were full of tissues and chocolate—lots of chocolate—but I recovered.
I still loved Grant, but I could say I was glad I had tried.
I had learned about myself and that I could be myself and be loved.
I wanted Grant to be happy and also not in trouble for me showing up at his work. I felt I might never forgive myself if he ended up losing his business because of me.
I knew the Kismet Silvers movie showing was supposed to be starting soon, so I spent the day calling and driving all over to pick up the reels that had been set aside for me.
It wasn’t a lot, but they were playable, and that seemed better than nothing.
I asked Mom if she would go to the Kismet Silvers event for me one last time, and she surprised me by saying she already had tickets for tonight.
I put my car into park in Mom’s driveway and reached over to the passenger seat, grabbing the box beside me. It wasn’t a bad collection. I added my DVD ofMy Favorite Wifefor goodmeasure. I couldn’t find the reel, but I thought it might make Grant smile.
Okay, I admit it. I hoped it would bring him fond memories of us. I didn’t want him to remember us from our last interaction.
It wouldn’t fix everything, but hopefully it would fix things between him and Mr. Cole.
Mom opened the door with a smile. “Come on in. I’m almost ready.” Mom was possibly looking younger than me at the moment. She seemed content. She seemed happy.
I stepped out of my car and walked into the house, setting the box on the table.
“Are you sure, Mom? You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”
“Oh hush.” She smiled. “Stop being so dramatic. I was already planning on going.”
I pulled out my chair and sat. “Yeah, about that…”
“Oh no, don’t you start.” She raised her brows in challenge and placed her hands on her hips.
“Start what?” I asked in a high sweet voice. “I was only going to say that maybe you didn’t hate going to them so much after all.”
Mom rolled her eyes and went to grab her jacket. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that.” She pulled her jacket on and came up to me, bending to give me a hug. “I’m proud of you, Em. For trying to make things right with Grant, as well as giving love an honest try.” She kissed me on top of my hair.
“I’m still not sure I’m ready to go through that again anytime soon.”I crossed my arms over my chest.
