Page 207 of At the Edge of Surrender

Mom

How is it going?

I hesitated,my teeth raking my bottom lip before I forced myself to tap out a reply.

Me

Really well.

Mom

Do you want to fill me in a little on what that means?

I could feel her prodding from across the miles. Her care and her concern.

Me

It means you were right in asking me to do this because he did turn out to be exactly what she needs.

I wavered, unsure, my fingers hovering over the screen, waiting for her response, though I could almost feel she was waiting for me to elaborate. Like she already knew. But she’d always had a way of tapping into exactly what I wasfeeling.

Me

Is it wrong if he’s exactly what I need, too?

The dots danced and played for the longest time before her response came through.

Mom

No, Emery, it’s not. I wondered. Thought that I sensed something between you two. And you deserve to be happy. Whatever that looks like. And if he’s what that makes you, then you take it.

I swallowed around the rocks in my throat.

Me

What about Ivy Threads?

Mom

You get to choose your priorities in this life, Emery. Whatever your heart is calling for? You listen to it. You chase joy and grab onto it wherever it’s waiting for you. It’s your time, my sweet girl. I’ve felt your spirit waiting to be freed for a while now, and it’s time. Don’t you dare feel guilty for finding love or happiness because I promise you that is what your sister would have wanted. I know you know that. Embrace it.

I could almost feel my mother curl her arms around me.

Me

I love you so much.

Mom

I love you, too. More than you know. You and that little girl. Now go and wrap your arms around that joy.

“Put it right there in the basket.”

Standing on a stool at the island, Maci carefully set the container of the little finger sandwiches that we’d spent the last hour workingon into the basket, her tiny tongue coming out in concentration as she nestled it beside the container of fresh fruit.

“IfinkI got it really good, Auntie Em. This is definitely going to be a super fun picnic. Do youfinkmy mommy wishes she was here?”

Her rambled, casual words pierced me like a knife.

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