Page 73 (2/2)

“I need to sleep,” she said Clutching Mia’s purse and the single white rose, she turned her back on her fa on her bed

Mia’s purse spilled out; the contents lay scattered across the expensive sheets

Jude lay on her side, snuggled up to her pillow, staring down at Mia’s things

The pink Juicy Couture wallet that had been last year’s Christled taum, and a used movie ticket Inside the wallet was a picture of Zach, Mia, and Lexi taken at senior prom

Forgive me?

If only she’d hugged Mia right then, told her that she loved her Or if she’d said no to the party Or taught her children that alcohol was dangerous even though parties were fun Or insisted on driving theht the kids a car or …

The list of her regrets grew too heavy, weighed her down; she closed her eyes

Behind her, she heard her bedroom door open and close

Miles came toward the bed—she could sense that it was him, but she couldn’t turn toward hiainst him She felt hiain

“Yourwhen she wasn’t welcome, which of course is completely untrue ”

“And Zach?”

“That’s the first time you’ve asked about him ”

“Don’t tellthe best I can ”

“I know ”

“I never planted a white rose,” she said quietly “Why didn’t I ask Mia what flower she liked? Why didn’t I know?”