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I had to be vigilant, whichI needed to ditch the Gladys Kravitz routine and putelse—maybe while alked, Ellie and I could plan a road trip or soh Farh and Abelard

I needed a distraction

“Hi, Mo the door open for an elderly couple on their way out Even though she was technicallyher Mom since she married my dad

“Hi, sweetie” She smiled at me from behind the counter “What are you up to today?”

“Meeting Ellie here for coffee and then we’re going to take a poalk”

“Nice Want coffee to go or for here?”

I glanced around Plum & Honey only had a few tiny tables, but there was one open “For here”

“You got it” She placed two cups and saucers on the an to fill theht?”

Ih I knew she was referring to the party “Yes”

“Mariah seems sweet” She replaced the coffee pot in the machine

“She does”

“And young”

“She’s only ten years younger than Chip, Mom Same as you and Dad”

“I know” Shaking her head, she took a couple scones frouess I feel like twenty-four is very young tocommitment You hardly knoho you are yet”

I rolled my eyes “You hat, twenty-seven when you married Dad?”

“Twenty-eight”

“Okay, twenty-eight That’s only a few years’ difference”

“I know, I know” She laughed at herself “Maybe I’etting married at twenty-two”

My smile faded “That’s different Merrick was obviously not the right choice for a lifelong commitment, but it doesn’t mean I wasn’t ready to make one”

“I know” She held up her hands “And I re and want to make my own decisions, whether they werethe path, which is why I didn’t say anything negative to you about Merrick even though I knew all along he was not the one for you”

“Next ti up both saucers