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“Mohed “I hated the military life”

“I knoeetheart, and I’m so sorry for that But soet It’s not easy It’s hard work but you have to keep at it”

“Nothing seeht now”

“It takes courage to get what you want,” Beth said “Courage and patience Which you have or you’d never have gone out there in the first place”

“That wasn’t courage, Mohed “That was desperation”

“You’ve always sold yourself short, Julia You’re er than you think you are”

“And you’ve always seen things in , Mom”

“You left hoe work You’ve raised that darling boy all on your own”

Julia laughed “You’re right I’est woman on earth”

“Don’t be flip, Julia It’s long been time for you to decide your worth You’ve let other people do it for you for too long”

Julia sucked in a deep breath, tasting the truth on the air Her worth? It was true She’d let Mitch convince her she orthless and now Agnes was doing the same And Jesse—he’d told her she deserved more but then he walked away from her

What did she think?

What did she determine her worth to be?

She was certainly worth more than the way Jesse had treated her yesterday, that was for sure

Maybe it was time to listen to her mother More importantly it was time to listen to herself

“Thanks, Mom,” she whispered “That’s what I needed to hear”

“I love you,” Beth said

“I love you, too” Julia sighed, feeling her mother’s absence like a thorn under her skin