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So, she could spend the next few years questioning whether or not she did all she could to mend their relationship, or she could accept life for what it was A series of tests and hurdles with the newest upon her She didn’t have time to bemoan the past and wish she could fix situations that were no longer changeable Because she was now a homeowner, a business owner, and an employer Not to mention, all of these new roles existed states away from her real life, where she had an apart watched by a neighbor’s kid

Geez One could easily collapse under the sudden weight of such heavy newly acquired responsibility

“Everyone’s here now, Miz Jennings,” a high school senior na Froreat kid A hard worker who bussed tables on Saturday and Sundayup for a “sweet ride”

“Holy hell, please call roup chuckled “I’ besides Toni Except ain and warh Toni

They liked her She’d wondered how they’d feel, considering she was the daughter who had nothing to do with the place or her parents She had to admit, part of her assuainst her Especially the feho knew her way back when

Michelle, the last to arrive, dropped into a vacant seat and shoved her untidy hair out of her eyes A year or two younger than Toni, the busy mother had faint circles under her eyes, some kind of stain near the collar of her unifor out in all directions

Toni had only met the server for the first time at the funeral, but if she had to describe Michelle in one word, it’d be exhausted Ruhter and worked her ass off at two jobs to provide for the kiddo Hopefully, Toni could find a few hout the day She see, and kind Toni could sure use a fe to stick around until the end of the summer

Wait

What?

Where the hell had that thought come from? Damn Uncle Mark and his advice She had no plans to stay in Tennessee None whatsoever

“So sorry I’m late,” Michelle said in a breathless voice “My mother had some car trouble and was late to come babysit”