Page 94 of The Girl I Once Loved

Her expression is pained, and she seems to choose her words carefully, fearing my reaction to anything she has to say. "For the way I handled things with Noah. For convincing him that you leaving Thatcher’s Bay to follow your dreams was the right thing to do."

I feel a lump form in my throat, and I turn my gaze back to the garden. "How could you do it, Mom?" I whisper, my voice barely audible. "How could you make him believe that I was better off without him?"

She reaches out and places a hand on my shoulder, her touch gentle and reassuring. "I thought I was protecting you, Skylar. I thought I was doing what was best for you and your future."

I pull away from her touch, unable to mask the bitterness in my voice. "And what about what I wanted? What about what Noah and I had? Did that mean nothing to you?"

Tears well up in my mother's eyes, as she looks down at her hands, which are folded in her lap. "I didn’t understand then, Skylar. I was so afraid that if you stayed here, you would end up throwing your future away. I didn't want you to make such a mistake."

I turn to face her, my anger and hurt boiling over. "You don't get it. You don't get any of it. Noahwasmy future. He was my happiness. And you took that away from me."

She reaches out to wipe away a tear that had escaped down my cheek.

"I know that now, Skylar. In fact, I’ve known since that poor boy sent you away. I watched his misery for these last few years, and I prayed that you weren’t suffering as much as he was. That my meddling to ensure you achieved all your dreams, didn’t end up hurting you, more than it did protect you. But each time I talked to you on the phone, and I heard your voice, it broke something inside me. Because I could hear your sorrow, your grief, even when you were telling me life was wonderful. I knew then and there what a huge mistake I had made. I realize how much you loved him, and I'm so sorry for what I did."

I shake my head, unable to hold back the tears any longer. "Sorry isn't going to give me those seven years back."

My mother wraps her arms around me, pulling me into a warm and comforting embrace. "I know, sweetheart," she whispers. "I wish I could change the past, but all I can do now is be here for you and support you in whatever way you need."

The tea grows cold, but neither of us cares. We just stay there, in that peaceful garden, lost in our own thoughts. My mother's apology had been a long time coming, but it’s the necessary step I need towards healing the fractured pieces of our relationship.

Finally, I find the courage to speak, my voice tremulous. "I missed him, Mom. Every single day, I missed him."

My mother nods, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I know you did, Skylar. And I'm so sorry for the pain I caused you."

The garden seems to come alive around us as we sit there, bathed in the soft, fading light of the setting sun. My mother's hand remains firmly wrapped around mine, a silent promise of support and understanding. I can't deny that her apology has stirred something within me, sparking a glimmer of hope that had long been buried beneath layers of pain and resentment.

As I gaze at the riot of colors and shapes that surrounds us, I can't help but be amazed at the transformation my mother has achieved. Each flower, each blade of grass, seems to be bursting with life, thriving under her tender care. It was a stark contrast to the barrenness that had settled in my heart over the years, a stark reminder of the love I had lost.

"You've done an incredible job with the garden, Mom," I finally admit, my voice tinged with genuine admiration.

She turns to me, a mixture of surprise and gratitude in her eyes. "Thank you, Skylar. It's been my way of finding solace and beauty in the midst of…life."

I nod in understanding, realizing that my mother needed an outlet for her own grief and regret. It was something we had both been grappling with in our own ways, and perhaps, this garden was her attempt to make amends as well.

The air is filled with the gentle sounds of nature—the chirping of birds, the distant hum of insects, and the rustling of leaves in the breeze. It’s as if the world itself is trying to comfort us, to remind us that healing is possible, even in the face of heartache.

I look at my mother, her eyes watering, and I can't help but feel a sense of empathy. I wasn't the only one who lost something precious. She had lost something too—me. She had lost the chance to have me as a part of her life, to watch me grow and change. Her actions had been driven by fear, by the desperate need to protect her child, and in doing so, she had unwittingly caused us both immense pain.

"I know you were just trying to protect me," I say softly, breaking the silence between us. "But I wish you could have trusted me to make my own decisions, even if they meant making mistakes."

My mother's grip on my hand tightens, and she nods, her voice thick with emotion. "I should have, Skylar. I should have had more faith in your judgment."

The sun has dropped even lower on the horizon, casting long shadows that stretch across the garden. The world seems to slow down around us, as if it were offering us a moment of respite from the chaos of our lives.

"I don't know if I can ever forgive you, Mom," I admit, my voice raw with honesty. "But I want to try. I want to find a way to move forward."

My mother's eyes shimmer with unshed tears, but there is a glimmer of hope in them too. "That's all I could ever ask for, Skylar."

We sit there, in that tranquil garden, bathed in the fading light of day, and for the first time in a long time, I feel a sense of peace beginning to take root within me. The wounds of the past will take time to heal, but maybe, just maybe, forgiveness is possible.

As the sky deepens into shades of purple and blue, I allow myself to believe that this garden, with its vibrant blooms and lush greenery, is a symbol of the new beginning that lays ahead of us. And in that moment, surrounded by the beauty my mother had created, I allow myself to hope that I could find my way back to love and happiness once more.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Skylar

Over the past few days leading up to Daisy’s wedding, I’ve taken to wandering around the island. Trying to think through everything with the ocean breeze brushing against my skin.

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