“I was,” she clarified, wondering how he knew that. She didn’t remember mentioning it. She must have; otherwise, how would he have known?
“And you dropped out?”
“To help my family.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, and his sympathy felt sincere.
“It happens that way sometimes. However, I’m a big believer that life turns out how it’s supposed to. I’m taking an online class and will eventually get my degree. I strongly believe God’s timing is perfect.”
He appeared not to know what to say.
Maisy couldn’t keep from smiling.
“That kind of trust is foreign to me. If it were me, I’d feel resentful.”
“Don’t think it was easy,” she countered. “I struggled for a long time and went through a period of self-pity. In the end, I recognized it was the right thing to do for the good of the family. Mom knew how hard it was for me to drop out of school and has been the one to encourage me to take a class here and there, so when I do return, I’ll be current.”
For someone like Chase, who never had to worry about money, it was hard to understand sacrifice.
“You’re good friends with Laura, right?” he said, turning the subject back to her friend.
Maisy couldn’t help being curious about where this was going.
“Yes, we talk all the time.” They talked for nearly an hour the night before last.
Chase seemed to be waiting for her to tell him more, as if he wanted to divert their conversation.
“I heard Laura mention that she was afraid Bella would make the same mistakes she did. What mistakes did she make?”
Maisy wasn’t inclined to share the details of her friend’s life. “That’s not my story to tell.”
“It seems to me your friend is carrying a heavy load. You mentioned she held down a couple of jobs. Sounds to me that she’s someone who could use a helping hand.”
“You’re right, she could. Laura said no one has complained to her supervisor. You didn’t report her, did you?”
“No, I was out of line. If anything, I owe her an apology.”
“Thank you for that. Laura needs that job. Her schooling as a nurse practitioner is much more extensive. She’s determined, though; I have every faith that she’ll eventually earn her degree.”
“Does Bella have any contact with her father?”
“None, which is probably a good thing, although with her mother working two jobs, Bella sometimes feels like both her parents have abandoned her.”
Maisy realized Chase had suffered the same sense of neglect when his parents divorced, and his mother had left him behind, and his father had ignored him. “I’m sorry,” she said, filled with remorse. “That must have brought up unwelcome feelings for you about your mother.”
“Not at all,” he insisted. “At the time Michelle’s life was spiraling downward, Dad and I were better off without her.”
Maisy didn’t believe that but resisted saying as much.
“Why all these questions about Laura?”
“No reason.”
“But you seem to know a lot about her life.”
“Lucky guess.”
“It seems more than that, Chase.”
