“She doesn’t want to talk right now.”
“Tell her I love her.”
“I will.”
“And Alex?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for going to get her.”
There was something in his voice that made my chest tighten.
“Always.”
I hung up.
Karen looked at me.
“What did he say?”
“That he loves you.”
She closed her eyes.
For a moment, I thought she might cry again.
Instead, she took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders.
“I need to stop waiting for Michael to decide what happens to my life.”
It was the first time she had said anything that sounded like a decision rather than a wound.
I smiled.
“Now you’re talking.”
She pointed a finger at me.
“Don’t encourage me. I might become difficult.”
“Karen, you raised Daniel. I know you’re already difficult.”
She laughed so loudly that the waitress glanced over.
And for the first time in twenty-two years, Karen Mercer seemed to be laughing for herself.
