Page 49 of Clashing Moon

“I was a chubby kid. Food was a source of comfort.”

She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I left you there with him.”

“He told me I was too fat for any man to love,” I said. “And I believed him.”

“You know how wrong he was, right?”

“Yeah, I guess I do. The way Rafferty looks at me helps.”

“That’s a fine man. A smart one too.”

“I thought you didn’t want me,” I said quietly. “Which made me feel like he was right. Even my own mother couldn’t love me. But when I found those cards, everything I thought I knew lifted, and I could finally see the full truth. You loved me. You wanted me. All this time.”

“Desperately.”

“A fresh start. We have a chance now,” I said.

She held out her arms and I went to her, letting her hold me as the healing process began.

12

RAFFERTY

By the time Sally and Arabella were done talking, it was already dark outside. Jacob suggested we stay overnight and drive home in the morning. The night before, after Arabella had asked me to join her, I’d called my nurse and instructed her to handle what she could without me and to reschedule the rest. Arabella had done the same. Thus, we happily agreed. It was only afterward that I wondered if they had more than one guest room.

When Sally mentioned there was only one available, but the couch was comfortable, Arabella quickly answered. “We’ll share a room.”

All right then.

If she didn’t have any worries about sharing a bed, I sure didn’t either. Pop and Mama had taught me never to look a gift horse in the mouth, so I was merely thankful for my good fortune. The thought of being near her throughout the night, this time in a warm, cozy bed, made my head swim. I really needed to keep myself in check, but it might be an impossible task.

Before we’d arrived, Sally had cooked up a pan of lasagna. The scent of tomatoes, herbs, and garlic as it warmed in their cozy kitchen made my stomach growl.

Sally carried the dish of lasagna to the table while Arabella brought in a Caesar salad and chunks of warm, crusty bread. The women looked so much alike. It was almost startling. One would never guess that Sally had struggled with drug addiction. Her face was virtually unlined, and her hair was thick and shiny. If she dyed it, I sure couldn’t tell—a classic beauty, just like her daughter.

Jacob said a prayer before we ate, thanking the Lord for this miraculous turn of events and for bringing us all safely back together.

“All right,” Sally announced when we’d all said our amens. “Dig in before it gets cold!”

We passed the dish of lasagna around the table, each of us helping ourselves to a generous portion.

“Tell me about school,” Arabella said to her brothers. “Daniel, you’re premed, right? Rafferty and I were the same.” She explained that she’d gone to veterinarian school while I’d studied people medicine.

“Yes, I’m graduating this spring,” Daniel said. “And hoping to get into med school for next fall.”

“His MCAT scores were very good,” Sally said, sounding proud.

“Do you have your eye on where you want to go?” I asked.

“Anywhere that will take me,” Daniel said.

“Wherever it is, I hope it won’t be too far away,” Sally said.

“I’m in film and drama, myself,” Michael said. “Not quite the noble cause of saving lives, but it has its moments.”

“Hey, someone’s got to make those medical dramas look realistic,” I said.

“Right?” Michael asked, grinning. “How ironic would it be if I made a show about doctors when I’m the only man in this family who didn’t study medicine?”

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