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“Can I brush your hair?” Paige asked

“You certainly can” She handed over the brush and e sat on the bed, and she sat on the floor, facing the mirror

With Paige in the rooirl’s father had done to her in front of thatfor the rough man The oner Her nights spent with hihts of her life She loved it when he sneaked into her roo, he’d wake her with a kiss before he left for the day

“They’re having Moe said

“I heard Your teacher told me”

“Would you come?”

She looked at Paige, and saw the hope in her eyes “Would you like me to be there?”

“I don’t want to be alone I hate being alone, and I would ask Dad fortest, and I think I could do well”

“You’ve been practicing a meant a lot to her

“They always laugh at me because I don’t have a mother”

“You know, Paige, I wasn’t very close to my mother either”

Paige looked at her then “You weren’t?”

“She’s not coe shook her head “Think of your Granny She’s always stopping by, co to see how you are I often wished for a mother like that”

Her hter had to be na that pain aside, Maddie focused on the little girl in front of her, as running the brush through her hair

Paige’s eyes filled with tears “They all know my mommy didn’t want me”

Pain swept through Maddie as the tears fell “Paige,” she said, turning toward the little girl

The brush was put down, and Paige pressed her hands toward her eyes “She doesn’t love me”

Maddie cli her close “Then your mother is incredibly stupid”

She didn’t care if she crossed the line right now Paige was a funny, sweet, kind, ae’s mother had done, Maddie knew she could never turn her back on any of her kids

“She left me, Maddie She doesn’t even coo to her I know Daddy says she’s busy, but she’s never sent a card, or anything I don’t even knohat she looks like”