After what must have been hours, we had moved on from more serious topics to lighter ones, and I actually started to enjoy my mother’s company again. I found myself grateful she was here.

“So.” A mischievous glint formed in her eyes before she asked, “Who’s Frankie?”

A strangled laugh escaped my throat. “Really? Subtle change of topic, Mom.”

Her smile grew. “What? I couldn’t help but notice the beautiful woman at your bedside today was definitely not a nurse or a doctor.”

“She’s just a girl,” I said, making the understatement of a lifetime. “A girl who’s leaving soon. We both are. I’m headed out of Key Ridge next week.”

“Ahh.” Recognition flashed across her face. “Well, you’ve always been an adventurous soul. I thought maybe…the way you were looking at her.” She offered me a shrug. “It seemed different.”

My chest tightened, suddenly choked with the desire to go straight to Frankie and wrap her in my arms.

“She is different.”

My mother nodded. “If my story can teach you anything, it’s that you shouldn’t change for anyone. If it’s right, it’ll all work out. You shouldn’t have to force it.”

Her words hit harder than she probably realized. Because I’d have to change a hell of a lot to work out with Frankie. We weren’t meant to be in any sense of the word. We were temporary, just like my mother and father should have been.

But if that was all true, then why did everything feel so wrong?

“And over there is the ski hill.” I pointed to the now-green mountain. There were still patches of snow here and there but it was almost completely dried up at this point. “You sure you don’t want to get out there?” I joked, nudging my mom.

She laughed, her arm hooked in mine. “Please, I haven’t skied in decades.”

I smirked and shook my head. We’d already walked all around Main Street. My mom had popped into a few of the shops to get a few souvenirs—mostly baby clothes for Nathan and Charlie.

It felt good to spend this time with her, unburdened by some of the things that had been weighing so heavily on me. She seemed lighter too.

Things between us weren’t shiny and new, but at least we’d popped out some of the dents. It helped that I knew how badly she wanted to make things better with Nathan. She was actually headed back to Denver tomorrow to spend time with him and Charlie. She was glowing at the thought of her first grandchild. My family was fractured, but that didn’t mean it couldn’t be mended. A patch on a hole was better than throwing the whole boat away.

“Dinner?” my mom asked. “I’m starving.”

“Sure.” I checked my phone to confirm Frankie had gotten my text. “Let’s go.”

We walked toward the Italian restaurant in town, one of the nicer establishments. It always had a line and smelled amazing.