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Len believed in her

Izzy’s chest started to ache, and her eyes stung God, she was going to miss him

Two hours later, all Len’s belongings were stuffed into three bulging suitcases and waiting by the front door when he came home from work

The oblivious smile that curved his mouth the moment he laid eyes on Izzy cracked her heart in two Shame filled her, and she stared everywhere but at his happy-to-be-horin She could have told her mother no Could have refused to help her fill those suitcases Could have de insecurities and use her brain like a rational adult

But Izzy hadn’t She’d koed to her o, she’d learned standing up to her mother when Catalina was in one of those frantic fits was pointless Her mom would scream And not yell like a frustrated parent whose child did so No, this was an intense, lost all control, screeching like a banshee kind of screa Once, in a haze of ain had Izzy backtalked in those tense moments

Suddenly it was too ly words between herloneliness of the apart from the couch and flew at Len Her arms locked around his hefty waist, unable to meet in the back

“I’m sorry,” she sobbed into his soft stomach

“Shh, Izzy-bella,” he whispered into her hair He sounded resigned as if he knew this was co and wasn’t a bit surprised

But he did sound sad

“I love you,” she said, the words irth

“Oh, honey, I love you, too And I will ,” he continued “You’re such a strong girl, and you’re caring, and a beautifully talented artist You have so y hand over her hair “Make sure you turn that art into so someday, you hear me?”

She nodded against hiht “Will you be okay?”

“Sure, Izzy-bella I’ll heal Now you go on and get out of here for a while No need to stick around for the rest of this”

One last time, she squeezed her ar eye-contact because she couldn’t bear to see his pain, she kissed his cheek and ran out the front door, grabbing her backpack on the way