Page 27 of Never To Forever

“I didn’t know my mom’s death hit you that hard,” I say in a low voice. Obviously, I knew she was close to Mom, but what I saw out there in the cemetery was a display of grief as deep as my own.

Marie lifts her eyes to mine, her lashes glistening faintly in the muted light. “She meant a lot to me,” she says softly. “More than I think you realize.”

I frown, leaning forward and resting my elbows on the table. “What do you mean?”

She hesitates, her fingers tightening around the glass now. “You were older, Garrett. You had your own life. College, the oil fields… you didn’t see how much she did for me when I was a teenager. Just how she was with me when I was younger.”

I sit back, Marie’s words settling over me. She’s ten years younger than me. By the time she and Haven were in high school, I was long out of the house.

“I guess I didn’t,” I admit. “Want to tell me what all she did?”

Marie exhales, a sad smile curving her lips. “After my mom passed… it was hard, but I was so young it didn’t fully sink in until I got older. Dad remarried when I was nine, and, as you know, Meredith didn’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for me. Your mom… she saw that. She’d invite me over even when Haven didn’t. Bake cookies and ask about school. Hug me when I had a bad day, and I didn’t have anyone else to talk to. She taught me how to be a woman—gave me the talk, explained periods, showed me how to do my makeup and hair.”

Her voice cracks a little, and I feel like someone’s tightened a vise around my chest.

“Marie...” I start, but she shakes her head, cutting me off.

“It’s okay. I’m just trying to explain. She wasn’t just your mom, Garrett. She was mine, too, in a way.”

Sadness and vulnerability lace into her voice, causing my heart to hurt. I’ve always thought of Marie as this fiercely independent woman who lets nothing or anyone get to her. Knowing she leaned on my mom in such intimate, vital ways….

Marie’s smile turns bitter. “My family is so fucking complicated.” She tightens her grip on her beer, not looking at me. “I love my siblings. I really do. But Meredith? I can’t stand her. She’s always treated me like an outsider. And Dad… I don’t know. He’s just abandoned me in favor of his new family.”

The words come out fast, like she’s just been waiting for a chance to spill all this.

She takes a breath before adding, “I miss having a mom every day. I missed out on so much growing up without mine. If it weren’t for your family—for Laila—I don’t know how I would’ve made it through. Without her, I would’ve been utterly… alone.”

My stomach twists at her raw vulnerability. Marie never talks like this… not to me, at least. She’s laying it all out for me, and I’m not sure what to say to make it better.

“You’re not alone,” I manage, my voice rough. “You’ve got Haven and me.”

Her eyes snap to mine, wide and searching. For what, I’m not sure.

“Do I?” she whispers.

The question makes my heart hammer. I’ve always thought of Marie as Haven’s best friend. She’s just always been there. A fixture in our lives. Have I ever made her feel like an outsider? Like she doesn’t belong with us?

“Yeah,” I say firmly. “You do.”

Marie looks at me, and I can see doubt easing from her expression. She reaches for her drink again, taking a small sip before setting it down with a soft thud. Did I say something wrong? Why does she doubt that I’ll be there for her? My heart aches and I want to assure her that, no matter what, I’m not going to stop caring for her.

“Hey.” I reach across the table and grab her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Youdo. Haven and I will always be here for you. I promise.”

She stares at me, and her expression softens as relief brightens her gaze.

“Thanks,” she breathes, her lips curving into a faint smile. “That means a lot.”

The evening stretches on after that, and Marie and I fall into a comfortable rhythm, talking about school, work, and more general topics that are light and easy. She’s been open enough with me tonight, and I don’t want to push her any further. I want to make her smile again and help her relax.

“You’ve got a way of making everything sound like it’s not such a big deal,” she says at one point, her eyes shimmering and her lips curled into a grin. She’s moved closer to me, slipping around the U-shaped booth to sit on my side.

Chuckling, I shake my head. “I think you give me too much credit. I just don’t let things bother me for too long.”

She presses her shoulder against my good one. “I could learn a thing or two from you.”

“Maybe,” I say softly. “But I think I could learn a thing or two from you, too.”

She blinks up at me; her plump lips parting in surprise. “You think so?”

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