“The rabbit.”
She hadn’t done that since she was little.
Rachel walked toward her car alone.
Before getting inside, she turned around.
“I do love you.”
Hope didn’t answer.
Rachel drove away.
Rachel walked toward her car alone.
For a long time, Hope and I stayed on the front steps.
Finally, she said, “Are you mad at me?”
“Yes.”
She nodded.
“I figured.”
“I’m hurt. And I wish you’d trusted me.”
“Are you mad at me?”
She looked at Bunny.
“I never told her she was my mother. I told her you were my mother. Every time she pushed too hard, I told her.” She paused. “I think being strong-armed into abandoning me really messed her up.”
I sighed and kissed the top of her hair.
“Maybe.”
She gave a wet laugh. “So… my birthday is going great so far, isn’t it?”
“I think being strong-armed into abandoning me really messed her up.”
