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"What is that, honey?"
"It's a notebook my mom once gave me. She loved life quotes, and she weaved a few famous ones together and wrote a passage to me. I've read it a few times this week. Do you want to read it?"
I take the black journal, open to the first page and stare at the handwritten page. "Do you want me to read it out loud?"
She nods.
"My dear Sam. Here are a few words from me to you that I hope you will take with you in your life.
"Life isn't a merry-go-round; it's a roller coaster. It won't always be smooth, it may not always be pretty, but it will be an adventure, one not to be missed. And more important to remember, my sweet Sam, is that people make mistakes in their life. I'm no different. I've made mistakes. But when people mess up, try to forgive them. Be the one who nurtures and builds. Be the one who is understanding and has a forgiving heart, one who looks for the best in people. Because when you forgive, you in no way change the past—but you surely will change the future. Decide that no matter what comes your way, no matter how difficult, no matter how unfair, you will do more than simply survive. You will thrive despite it.
"I wish you, my dear Sam, the brightest and happiest future. A big hug and endless kisses, your mom, Jessica."
I stroke a tear from my cheek. "Oh, Sam. This is a special and beautiful message." I place the journal on the bed and grab her hands. "You hope your father will forgive his mom, don't you?"
Samantha nods and bites her lip.
"Honey, Cole isn't at that stage yet. Maybe he'll never be, and we need to respect that. But, if you are at that stage and choose to forgive your grandmother, that's okay too."
"Thank you for not getting mad at me."
I get out of bed when she stands up and touch her shoulders. "You can always come to me." She sends me a broad smile and hugs me. "Now, let's get ready; otherwise, you'll be late for school."
* * *
As I walk to work,I stop as an uncomfortable spine-tingling sensation emerges in my body. My eyes wander over to the diner and other stores across the street.Where are you hiding, motherfucker!There are people and cars passing by, but nothing out of the ordinary, so I bridge the last several feet to the store in a hurry. Once inside, my anxiety fades as a cheerful Amanda welcomes me.
"Hey, girl. How is Cole doing?"
I stop beside her and watch how she arranges the gorgeous new summer collection. "Cole doesn't want to talk much. He's focusing on work, and every morning he's blowing off steam in the gym."
Amanda glances at me. "I can't blame him. He's been through an emotional rollercoaster. Does it mean you don't have mind-blowing sex anymore?"
I grin. "Oh, girl, that is still intact."
"Damn. You two are so perfect for each other. God, I wish I had magical powers and that if I did this," she says, lifting her hands in the air and clapping them together, "that my true prince would walk into my life and I could have mind-boggling sex."
Both our heads snap to the store door when it rings. My eyes shift back to Amanda's, whose brown orbs have nearly popped out of their sockets as she watches Brian walk inside.
"Hey, ladies."
"Wish granted," I whisper while letting out a chuckle.
She clears her throat and crosses her arms in front of her chest. "W-What are you doing here, Brian?"
He stops at a rack of dresses and lets his fingers trail over the fabric while his eyes wander over Amanda. She swallows as he speaks. "Nick said you've got a problem with the kitchen sink."
"Yes, and my brother promised he would come by to look at it."
"That's right. But he and Cole are in meetings all day, and I had time. And out of the three of us, I have the most experience with fixing a sink."
Amanda's eyes wander over her brother's best friend, and when he catches her checking him out, he winks.And they said Cole and I have chemistry. These two could light up an abandoned cruise ship in the middle of the ocean. To break the tension, I walk to Brian.
"Has Cole spoken about his mom with you?"
Brian shifts his attention to me. "His mom is a heartless, soul-sucking witch. After what she did, he deserves to be bitter and angry. Let him put things in perspective in his own time, Alisha."
I let out a deep huff. "Yeah, you're right."
