“I appreciate it.”
“Marjorie, I’ll always make time for you. How are you?”
How are you?
Three such innocent little words.
I’d come here for help, and Mel would help me. She always did.
So I would be truthful.
“Not good. Not good at all.”
“Tell me what’s going on.”
That was Mel’s way. Get straight to the point and then let me take the lead. She knew I’d tell her everything in my own time.
“I almost had a relapse this morning.”
“Oh?”
“The razor blade.”
“The same one?” she asked, her eyebrows arched.
I swallowed as I nodded. I’d told her I’d gotten rid of it. Instead, I’d tucked it in the inside zippered pocket hidden in the bottom of my purse.
“You still have it?”
I nodded again, pointing to my purse.
“First,” she said, “don’t beat yourself up about this. We all have setbacks. It’s part of the healing process. You didn’t actually cut yourself, right?”
This time I shook my head.
“Good. That’s a win.”
“I don’t feel like I won anything.”
“Life hasn’t been the easiest for you, Marj. You’ve had to come to grips with your inadvertent role in Talon’s abduction and the truth about your mother and father. Now you’re taking care of Jade and the boys. That’s a lot of responsibility.”
“Responsibility I’m glad to take on.”
“I know that. We all do. Doesn’t make it easy. You’re a young woman, Marj, and your life is out there. You’re putting everything on hold. It’s a very selfless thing for you to do.”
“I thought…” I stared out the window at the ranch that was my home.
“You thought…what?”
“For about five minutes, I thought my life might be here.”
“It is, of course. What I meant was—”
I held up my hand. “I know what you meant, Mel. I do. But something else happened, something I thought might keep me here in Snow Creek. Even here on the ranch.”
“What are you talking about?”
I sighed. “Bryce Simpson.”