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With a chuckle, Cindy bopped Beth on the nose “No, silly Beth, you cannot In fact, if you want a donut, you have to eat all your spaghetti and three broccoli trees”

Beth’s face fell into such a pitiful look of disgust, Shell had to cover her hter Broccoli was Beth’s mortal enemy

Dinner was uneventful though a little stilted Beth remained blissfully unaware of any tension between Cindy and Shell She rattled on throughout the entirethem with stories of the “trouble-boy” in school The one who not only kissed her on the li” the other day Her incessant chatter allowed Shell to remain quiet and avoid questions from her mother

By the time she’d helped clean up, dessert was eaten, and Beth watched Frozen with her grandht, a solid hour past bedtiht Beth’s pajaave her for her birthday She refused—loudly—to sleep without the stupid thing To top it all off, she’d named the animal Horny on account of its sparkly pink horn Didn’t matter howwith Horny

“Thanks for dinner, Mo

“I’ to be away at the end of thein the doorway of the house

Shell adjusted the drowsy Beth on her hip Herthirty-five pounds of sleeping child? “Where you going?”

“On a cruise” A grin broke out across Cindy’s unwrinkled face “A singles cruise”

And how on earth was she affording that? Knowing Cindy was spendinghers over to Joe had her grinding her back teeth “How nice for you”

“I deserve this, Shell I’ve been alone for a long ti to have some fun”

“Great Enjoy yourself” With a nod, Shell turned and hefted her daughter down to the car There was no point in getting upset over herto do what Cindy wanted to do Always had, alould

“Want to see hter another time before I leave,” Cindy called from the open front door

“It is what it is,” Shell whispered to herself, a h time Suck it up, accept reality, and deal “Sure, Mom Text me when you’re free,” she called out

“Don’t you dare bring that man around me, you hear?”

“Wouldn’t drea her eyes

After securing the led into her daughter’s arms, she slipped into the driver’s seat

Another evening survived

It said so about her enjoy offices that night