Page 137 of Every Chance After

“Of course.”

“I want time with Tilly—just me and her.”

“Absolutely.”

“If your disorder gets out of control again—if Itell youit’s out of control—you must promise me…” I swallow the lump in my throat and almost can’t say the words, but I need her to know how serious I am. “…you’ll stay and get help and entrust Tilly to me.”

With a deep breath, she nods. “Yes, Marnie. I will. I promise.”

I look for signs of deception, some hint that she’s only saying what I want to hear. But I don’t find any. Instead, she looks relieved.

“Okay,” I say after a short silence, repositioning the chair. I take my place again. “Please, cut my hair, Mom.”

She wipes her cheeks. “It’d be my pleasure.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t read your letters,” I offer as she brushes my long locks.

“Eh, I get it. Why settle for Hallmark when you deserved a mother? Hope you saved them, though. I put money in those when I could.”

I scoff-laugh, rolling my eyes. “I had no idea. Well, reading them now will be like a treasure hunt.”

She takes a deep breath. “Thanks, sweetheart. I don’t deserve a second chance, but I’m grateful for it.”

I melt, nibbling my bottom lip and hoping she means it. She seems different than I remember, and even if she isn’t, I can’t miss a chance to have a family again. “That’s good, Mom, because I’m the queen of second chances.”

“Don’t you worry about a thing. I’ll find Tilly and me a place. It’s not like we can all fit here for long.”

“I won’t have it much longer, anyway. Mercy Pike’s replacing me with her sister, Charity.”

“Geez, I bet Charity’s as generous as a rabid raccoon if Mercy’s any indication.” Mom laughs, rolling her eyes. “I’ll find a place for all three of us if you want. Or help you find your own place. I’m not here to intrude, Marnie. I have money, and Mel’s offered me a job. I promise, you won’t need to take care of us. But Tilly needs a family. She needs her big sister. Maybe you need us, too.”

I smile as she continues her work. Grady fills the emptiness of my losses and loneliness, but Mom’s words cover the small gaps, spreading warmth and joy all through me. Maybe I shouldn’t trust her. Maybe this is only temporary until the next “better place” she races to find. But for now, in this kitchen, with the sun streaming in, her fingers running through my hair, and a sister snoozing on my couch surrounded by happy cats, it’s a chance I’m willing to take.

“I know a place you could go,” I say, thinking of the beautiful swamp and my band of misfits. “You can stay here until we get things sorted.”

“Thanks, honey.” She fluffs my long, wavy locks. “So, what’re we thinking? Just a trim? Long layers? A new look?”

“Um, long layers would be nice.”

“So, let’s play salon like we used to,” she says. “Tell me all thehot gosslike my clients do.”

I giggle. It was a game we played when I was little, and I didn’t want to get my haircut. She’d sit me down and tell me outlandish stories from the salon, using funny voices. “What do you want to know?”

“Mel tells me you aren’t at Sunny’s anymore. What happened there?”

I start talking, like she’s switched my lever from a trickle to a waterfall just by being here. I tell her everything—my relationship with Ashe and the Sullivans, the accident, and all that’s happened like a news broadcast. She listens. She gasps. When I tell her I can’t have children, she stops her work and swallows me in a massive embrace.

“It’s not a problem. It’s an opportunity,” she says. “The world is full of people to love and good work for you to do. You will have a full, wonderful life without them or, if you want them, there’s no such thing ascan’t. Not for Marnie Strange.”

“Thanks, Mom. That makes me feel better,” I say because it’s true.

“A man worth your time will love you for who you are, not what you can give him,” she adds, waving her scissors. “Dang, those rotten Sullivans.”

“Grady loves me like that.”

“You really like this guy?” When I nod, a warm smile emerges under her fiery hair. “Then, so do I. I promise I won’t be snippy next time. He’s just looking out for you. I respect that.”

“He’s invited us for dinner tonight.”

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