“Nottoolong.”
“Did you get any sleep?” sheasked.
“Not really. I’ve beenthinking…”
“Oh.” She bit the edge of her lip. “Aboutus?”
“Yes.”
“And have you come to any conclusions?” sheasked.
“I want to meet your daughter,”hesaid.
“You do?” Her eyes went wide and filled with glisteningtears.
“I do. There’s still a lot that we have to figure out, but I’d like tomeether.”
“Thank you.” She wrapped him in a tight embrace. When she pulled away, a single tear slid down hercheek.
“Don’t cry,” he whispered. “You should behappy.”
“I am. I just wasn’texpectingthis.”
“Why not?” he asked, genuinelycurious.
“You kept talking about how much you hated liars and I lied to you. A lot. I wasn’t sure if you couldforgiveme.”
“I’m stubborn,” he said. “But I also know when to admit I’m wrong. Promise me onething.”
“Anything.”
“Promise me that you won’t ever lie to me again,”hesaid.
“Never again,” she said. “Neveragain.”
* * *
Cindy’s fingerstrembled as she dialed her parent’s house. They were going to think she’d lost her mind. How could she possibly explain everything that had happened in the last few months? They didn’t know anything about her plan tomeetDrew.
“Hello?” hermomsaid.
“Mom,it’sme.”
“Cindy, honey, where are you? We’ve been worried sick. Are you ready to comehomenow?”
“I’m not coming home. I’m moving toMontana.”
“You’re what?” her momasked.
“I metsomeone.”
“Anotherman?”
“Yes. But he’s nothing like Liam. Drew’s sweet and kind andpatient.”
Silence.
“Mom?” Cindyasked.
