“You’re the best mother for me.”
She grabbed my hand and squeezed. “That seems a more attainable goal.”
“Then that’s what I’ll be looking for: the best person for me.” A little voice deep within whispered that I’d quite possibly found the best person for me and that he lived next door. I told that part of me to hush, then tuned back into what Mom was saying.
“—and who knows? Maybe Connie is my best person, a perfect-for-me person. I sure think so. I hope so.”
“Well, don’t come to me for marriage advice,” I said with a snort.
She sank down beside me on the couch, then took both of my cheeks in her warm hands. “Baby, you went into your marriage with trust and love, and I hate that someone took that from you. But we have Dylan, and you’ve been a great mom to him—”
“Except for the drunken video.”
“We’re going to let the video go. This is the last day you’re going to say you’re sorry for that.”
“It is?”
That seemed highly unlikely.
She kissed my forehead and dropped her hands from my face. “Probably not, but that’s my goal for you: to live your life unapologetically.”
I smiled. “I like that.”
“Good. Now let’s watch someJeopardy.”
Joy bloomed within me. I had been forgiven.
Mom had never left.
And Rachel, although mad at me, had taken in my mother. She, too, had believed in my ability to come to my senses long before I knew I’d walked away from them.
“Oh, baby. Don’t cry,” Mom said.
“It’s just that I’ve made such a mess of things, Mom.”
“Nothing that can’t be fixed, and I think everyone’s entitled to do something crazy when their heart’s broken.”
I nodded and handed her the remote. Mom cued up the show, but before she pressed play, I had one more confession to make.
“Mitch came by yesterday.”
She froze.
“He wanted me to take him back.”
“And?”
“I said no.”
She sagged back into the couch. “I mean, I want you to do whatever it takes for you to be happy, but I don’t think Mitch would be on board with your living unapologetically.”
“No.” I reached for a tissue from the box on the coffee table and blew my nose. “I think he just realized how easy I made things for him. I think that’s all he wants.”
“Maybe.”
Lucky jumped up on the couch between us, effectively scooting us to the cushions on the end. She turned in a circle and then lay on her back, belly up.
“Shameless,” Mom said as she rubbed Lucky’s belly and was rewarded with loud purrs.
