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“It’s really true,” she whispered when they were gone, and I turned back to her “You’re homeand with Ethan Callahan?”

I stared as she shook and hung her head

“Calliopehow? You knohat those people—”

“Twenty years,” I interrupted her, stepping from the pews into the center aisle toward her “It’s been twenty years since we’ve spoken, Mother And the first thing you think to say is It’s really true and Calliopehow?”

Her brown eyes widened in surprise “You’re right It’s been a long time How are you?”

“Well, now that you are not beating hed, but, she did not find it as humorous

Instead, her hands trembled, her face bunched up in pain, and I assumed she also remembered our past “Calliope…I…I…”

“You’re sorry?” I finished for her

“Yes So sorry—”

“I don’t forgive you,” I answered, and she lifted her head to ain The shock in it was also funny, but I didn’t laugh And it took her a second to collect herself I allowed her to do so

“Right Of course It was…I was…I was sick, Calliope But I’m different now—”

“I do not care, Mother,” I replied, stepping closer to her Reaching up, I brushed her bangs from her face “I also do not like this hairstyle on you”

She snickered “Bellarosa did it for me”

“That explains that Bellarosa does not really have the best taste,” I replied with a laugh, droppingit in place

Her eyes shined with hope and joy “You don’t have to forgive ive me a chance to make up for so much lost time You can come home We can have dinner, catch up—”