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Now she’d have to say goodbye, not knowing when she’d see him again.
“That’s the one,” Renee squealed, thrusting her pointed finger between the two seats.
Owen stopped the car in front of a white trailer with flower boxes outside the windows and an explosion of colorful plants in a small garden by a square concrete stoop.
Shock rooted her to the seat. Her mom had actually kept alive the flowers Marie had toiled over before she left home. That was a first.
The door flung open, and her mom ran down the two steps to the manicured lawn. Her dark hair was cut in a short bob, and the green eyes, so much like her own, sparkled with unshed tears.
Marie heaved a sigh and released her seatbelt. “Here we go.”
Owen grazed his fingertips against her arm. “I’m right here.”
His words soothed her nerves and broke her heart at the same time. He was here now, and his presence brought her so much peace, but soon he’d head back to Water’s Edge without her. Only time would tell if they could make a long-distance relationship work.
Renee jumped out of the car and ran to her mother, throwing her arms around her.
Wanda clung to Renee, tears falling from her eyes. She rocked back and forth, her lips moving as she spoke against the side of Renee’s neck.
Marie stepped out of the car and waited for Owen to grab Nora’s carrier before slowly approaching her mom.
Wanda kept one arm wrapped around Renee’s waist and faced Marie. “Welcome home, Honey. It’s so good to see you and that precious little one. I’ve missed so much time with her.”
Marie tensed her shoulders. “Hi.”
Wanda extended a hand toward Owen. “Deputy Wells. It’s so nice to meet you.”
He shook her hand and offered her a warm smile. “Please, call me Owen.”
She shuffled her feet against the loose pebbles of the driveway. “I wish you would have called, Marie. I have so much I need to tell you. Things I couldn’t say before.”
Marie snorted. “We said plenty the other night. I’m not sure I can listen to much else.”
Owen pressed his palm to her back. “Give her a chance. Please.”
Marie cast him a hard look, then focused on her mom, mentally preparing herself for whatever lame excuse she’d concocted this time. “Just say it. I’ve had a rough few days and need to get Nora settled.”
Wanda drew in a deep breath and closed the distance between them. She grabbed Marie’s hands, and Marie fought the urge to pull away. “I know I haven’t always been the best mother. I’ve had a hard time dealing with life, and it wasn’t fair to expect you to always clean up my mess. But this time, I swear it was different.”
Marie took deep breaths in through her nose to keep all the emotions brewing in her stomach from spilling from her tear ducts. “It’s always different.” Her voice cracked, and she dropped her gaze to her feet.
“You don’t understand. This time I was working with the police.”
Marie’s heart galloped in her chest. “What? How?”
“I hate that Bill manipulated you, but what he saw was me selling drugs to a person the police needed to gain more information about. I agreed to work with them so I wouldn’t go back to jail after the last time I got in trouble. But I couldn’t say anything. Not to you or Renee. No one. But if you would have come to me about the video Bill showed you, I would have told you.” Her voice caught, and she rubbed a hand over her throat. “I could have stopped all of this from happening.”
Marie turned to Owen and widened her eyes. “Is she serious? Did you know this?”
Owen grimaced. “I found out the night of your accident.”
“That’s why you wanted me to call my mom. So she could explain.”
Owen nodded.
Marie glanced back at her mom. A million questions raced through her mind, but only one mattered. “Does this mean you’re clean?”
“Yes. It’s been over a year. Longest I’ve gone since you were a child.” Wanda’s chest puffed.
