“Come here.”
Livvy didn’t often hear that commanding tone from Maile. Her feet moved before her head could catch up.
She tried to straighten her shoulders as Maile surveyed her in the light. Head up, chin up, no tears. She was tough and strong, not some dumb girl screaming in her bedroom over a boy.
Maile’s eyes softened, and she held out her hand. “Oh, my love. What did that man do to you?”
Her lip quivered, and the next thing she knew, she was on her knees next to her aunt’s chair, her face buried in her lap as she sobbed. Maile’s calloused hand swept over her hair, keeping it from her wet cheeks.
Livvy didn’t know how long she wept there, her aunt stroking her, but eventually her sobs turned to silent tears. She turned her head to speak. “Does everyone know about me and Nicholas?”
“I don’t know about everyone. I ran into Darrell’s mother at bookclub, and she told me he saw the two of you together at the café.”
Darrell. The cheerful kid behind the café counter.
Maile continued petting Livvy’s head. “It was natural for you to want to see him again, honey.”
“I slept with him.”
“That’s natural too.” There was no judgment in her aunt’s voice.
“I thought we could resolve what was between us.”
“Is that really what you thought, my love?” Her voice was incredibly gentle. “Is that really why you saw him again? Or were you holding out some hope that this time it would all work out?”
Livvy started to say no, but her breath arrested.
It was never pity.
Then what was it?
She knew what she’d wanted him to say. “I’m so stupid.” Counter thought.I deserve compassion.
“No, you’re not.”
“It could never work out.”
“Neverisn’t a good word,” Maile said. “It’s complicated.”
“I think I still love him.” The words whispered into the dimly lit room, her worst truth fully revealed. “I can’t stay away from him, even when I try. Even when I know it’ll only hurt me. If that’s not stupid, I don’t know what is.”I deserve compassion.
“That’s love, not stupidity.”
“It’s irrational.”
“If someone told you love is rational, they’re a liar. Sometimes you can’t stop loving someone.”
There was such understanding in Maile’s voice,Livvy looked up. In her memory, her aunt had always been happily single, but there was a brooding sadness in her dark eyes that told Livvy she understood. “Did you love someone like that?”
“Yes. Her name was Jacinda.” Maile’s fingers separated Livvy’s hair and started braiding. “We were young. My parents disapproved. Your father told me he would give me money to run away with her. Start over fresh somewhere new. But I was scared, so I broke things off.”
“What happened to her?”
“I don’t know. She left for New York City. She came back a few times. Until one day she didn’t.”
“You could find out where she is now.”
“I don’t know if I’m brave enough for that.” Maile tugged on Livvy’s crooked braid affectionately. “I’m not quite like you.”
