Page 58 of Keeping Secrets

“Yeah.” She took a gasping breath, and more tears fell down her cheeks. “I don’t even know why I’m crying.”

“It hasn’t been long at all, Keely. I know that you’ve made a good life for yourself there, and that’s beautiful. But everything that you went through… Sweetheart, you were right in the middle of that this time last year. You’ve been through so much. That stuff doesn’t just disappear the moment you’re past it.”

“But it’s over,” she said through her tears.

“It’s over,” Michelle agreed. “You’re through it. But it will keep coming up. You’ll keep remembering.”

“I don’t want to remember.”

“But you will. You just have to keep forgiving yourself.”

“I don’t know how.”

“Just keep trying, sweetheart. Do you need me to come meet you?”

“No.” Keely was deeply touched by Michelle’s offer to drop everything and come find her. Her sponsor had a full and busy life herself; it was enough to give her the time and attention that it took to sit through this phone call, never mind driving all the way out here.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.” Keely held the phone away as she blew her nose. “I’ll be okay.”

“Where do you go from here?”

“Back home.”

“I don’t think you should be alone right now,” Michelle said gently. “Is there a friend in town you can call?”

She thought immediately of Chloe’s smile, of the warmth of her kitchen. “Yeah.”

“Good.”

“But I have work to do. I have recipes to test out.”

“For that party you’re catering?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s okay to give yourself a day. Or if baking will help you feel better, maybe just do that with your friend. I’m sure she’ll be happy to help you eat all the test batches.”

“Yeah,” Keely said with a laugh. “Okay.”

“What else do you have going this week?”

“I have a second date tomorrow.”

“With your brother’s friend?”

“Yeah, with Travis.”

“Where are you going?”

“We’re going to a state park just north of Pelican Point. We’re going to hike up the coast and see some elephant seals.”

“Sounds amazing.”

“Yeah.”

“You’re doing great, kiddo. One day at a time, okay?”

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