He’d remembered that?
French toast was her favorite. Arthur’s too. Not Simon’s, though. Her brother would always complain when she made it, which would make her feel guilty about doing something she enjoyed, just for herself, even if it was kind of for Arthur, too. So she’d make sure to cook pancakes as often as she did French toast, even if she didn't really care for pancakes.
When Micah found out she loved French toast, he would make it for her all the time. Often, he’d bring a Frenchtoast sandwich for her to school, usually with fruit, although occasionally he’d put bacon or eggs. But he knew fruit was her favorite.
And he’d remembered that.
Remembered it and made it for her.
What did that mean?
Why was he being so nice to her?
It wasn't like she’d been welcoming in any way to him yesterday. His presence was like nails on a chalkboard, and she already had too much to deal with. She was trying not to be outright rude to him, but she was also not going out of her way to be polite, much less friendly.
Yet he’d worked side by side with her yesterday, trying to clean up the mess the intruders had left behind. And then this morning he made her breakfast.
Was this his way of trying to apologize?
Honestly, she’d rather he just came right out and told her he was sorry for bailing, but it had been too much for his nineteen-year-old self to handle.
That might make a difference.
Would it?
If he apologized, would it make things better?
Going back to the way they’d been before was impossible. How was she supposed to ever trust him to be there for her in the future when he’d left her in the past while she was at her most vulnerable?
The simple answer was that she couldn’t.
But that didn't mean she had to hold onto the anger and resentment. Maybe if he apologized for leaving, she would be able to lay to rest some of the past. That might even help her move forward. Possibly even allow her to try dating again, put herself out there, and try to believe that not everybody was likeMicah. Most people supported those they claimed to love when those people were hurting and needed help.
As much as she didn't want to initiate that talk, it was embarrassing to have to bring up what he’d done, and it made her feel weak and pathetic to have to explain how much it had hurt, maybe it was something she needed to do.
For so long she’d run from the past, done everything she could to avoid thinking about it or dealing with it. But that hadn't helped. Not really. She was still deeply affected by her rape and Micah’s abandonment, and it was getting in the way of her living.
Ava was moving forward, sooner or later Chelsea would too.
Did she want to be left behind?
Did she want to spend the rest of her life being tied to the worst thing to ever happen to her while everybody else found happiness?
Of course, the answer to that was simple.
She didn't.
Maybe Micah’s unexpected arrival in her life was exactly what she needed to finally cut the ties of the past and be free to move on.
April 30th
7:18 A.M.
“Maybe you should waitin the car,” Teresa suggested when he pulled up outside her mom’s place thirty minutes later.
That caught him by surprise.
Micah had had a good relationship with both her mom and her brother Arthur. In fact, Arthur had looked up to him almostlike he was a big brother, and he’d enjoyed that role. Back then, Arthur had been ten, but his mental age had been closer to three. He wasn't sure if that had changed over the years, but he knew the now twenty-five-year-old man would still be as sweet as he’d been all those years ago.
