“But every person who might disrupt your life cannot become another disaster you have to prevent.”
“Annie did disrupt my life.”
“She did.”
“She lied.”
“Yes.”
“She left.”
“So did you.”
The words landed cleanly.
“I came here.”
“Exactly.”
Mom touched my arm.
“You didn’t stay in Pelican Key pretending none of it mattered. You came home. You are talking to us. You are wearing a woman’s very expensive shirt.”
“You don’t know what it cost.”
“It has stitching on the inside.”
“That proves nothing.”
“It proves I wouldn’t put it in the dryer.”
I laughed quietly.
“I’m not telling you to forgive Annie,” she said.
“Good.”
“I’m not telling you to trust her again.”
“Also good.”
“But do not use Molly as evidence that caring about someone is a mistake.”
“I don’t.”
“Good.”
A pause.
“I use her as evidence that time is unreliable.”
“That sounds more like you.”
She moved toward the door.
“Breakfast at eight.”
“I’m an adult.”
