The Girl in the Mist (Misted Pines 1)

I grabbed her ankle and gave it a squeeze before I continued.

“In the end, you have to learn to follow your heart and your gut. If something feels wrong, it’s likely wrong.”

I gave that a second to sink in, and I carried on.

“If Will’s too needy, and that feels draining or heavy, and that isn’t shifting, it could be that you can’t give him what he needs. That’s no reflection on you. Right now, his feelings are intense and there are grownups, me included, who have no idea what he needs. Mostly, Will needs to find it for himself, and not expect it from one person. If you want someone who feels less heavy, who makes you feel lighter, then get yourself free so you can find him.”

“His life is horrible right now,” she whispered. “If I break up with him, everyone is going to think I’m mean.”

“Everyone isn’t living your life. Everyone isn’t feeling your feelings. What I say next is the most important thing I’ve ever said to you, so please, my lovely, listen to me.”

I gave that a moment to make sure she was doing that.

When I saw she was, I presented it to her.

“You can’t live your life worrying about what everyone thinks. You will never make everyone happy.” I squeezed her ankle again. “The only person you need to make happy in this world is you. Your happiness will give happiness to people who love you. I’m not saying be selfish. I’m not saying you should do whatever you want without considering other people’s feelings or what your actions might mean. I’m saying, learn to know when it’s important. Really important. And make the right decision for you.”

“Do you think,” she whispered, “it’d be weak that maybe, you know, I can stay with him and then…?” Pause, before, “His parents are totally up his butt. He could ask for a Camaro, and they’d buy it for him. So he’s going to that big hockey camp up in Canada this summer. He’s going to be gone for six weeks. But before that, I’ll be in England with you and Dad. But when I come back, when school starts, I’ll be here, and he’ll be at UW. And maybe, you know, when I’m gone or when he gets back…”

She let that trail.

“Will that be the right decision for you?” I asked.

She bobbed her head. “I think so.”

Yes, even if she wasn’t in love with him, she loved him.

“Then I’ll stand by that with you.”

She didn’t say anything for a bit.

And then she said, “You’re the best, Delly.”

I pushed up to my feet, bent in and kissed the top of her head.

But when she tipped it back to look up at me, I caught her in a gentle hold under her chin.

“In the meantime, maybe find some time to talk to him. Tell him you’re worried about the heavy. Tell him maybe he should talk to his grandmother about finding someone skilled who can help him alleviate some of it. For him, the bottom line is, he’s not just being moody because he’s feeling like being moody. He’s dealing with some big things. And there are people out there who might be able to help.”

“Yeah, Camille told me it was high time he found a counselor, and I think the only one he’d listen to about that is me.”

I adored it that all my girls talked to each other, something they did, even Fenn all the way from Korea.

“I do believe you love him,” I told her.

“But I think I get the difference now, Delly.”

I smiled, let her go, walked out of the room, and felt grateful.

Because I loved that girl and I had her in my life.

Also because it had been a while.

And I hoped to God I was right.

But it appeared in this teenage-girl thing, I hadn’t lost my touch.

In other words…

I still rocked it.

I might have girls down.

But it was all-new terrain with boys.

However, regardless that I’d met them when they were grown men, I completely understood those doting mothers who had trouble not spoiling the crap out of their boys and finding it difficult to let them go.

I felt this as I stood, glaring in the direction of the log cabin, where Jason was.

Where he wasn’t was there, with us, even though Bohannan had opened the Crockpot five minutes ago and was breaking up the chicken in preparation to add the spices in step two of three to the enchiladas he was making that night.

Enchiladas Celeste wouldn’t be eating because she left ten minutes ago for her date with Will.

Enchiladas Jace and Jess wouldn’t be eating because, after they’d moved, they started cooking for themselves and only came when I demanded their asses on stools at the bar or chairs at the dining room table in The Big House.