“Despite all that she’s done to me, how many times she’s broken my heart, I can’t stop loving her.” It was the truth. I loved my mom. I always would. “But this time it’s been harder for me to forgive her. I didn’t think I even would but she . . . she left me a voice mail that surprised me. And I think . . . I mean, I know, that I do forgive her. I think I’ll always forgive her.” My eyes stung as I watched a tear roll down Maggie’s cheek. “She’s my mom, you know.” I walked around the counter and took hold of Maggie’s hand. “You’re her mom, Maggie.”

Her eyes widened and her mouth trembled. “But . . . but it’s different. I turned my back on her. How could she ever forgive me for that?”

“Did you turn your back on her because you stopped loving her?”

“No!” She wrenched her hand from mine and crossed her arms over her waist, huddling into herself. “No,” she whispered. “I . . . I let him make the choice for me.”

“Your husband.”

Maggie nodded. “I know no one should speak badly of the unwell, but my husband . . . it wasn’t a happy marriage. He’s very ill now. I have a full-time care worker who looks after him and he’s unable to communicate because of the stroke . . . and the sad thing is, it’s the most free I’ve ever felt since I was girl.” Her eyes rounded with horror. “I shouldn’t have—”

“Shush.” I gripped her elbows. “No judgment here. Nothing you say to me will ever leave this room.”

She swallowed hard. “I’ve wanted to make amends with Annie for years, but I was afraid of him, and then when he got ill, I realized I was more afraid that Annie wouldn’t forgive me.”

I contemplated Maggie’s situation for a moment, trying to organize my thoughts. Finally, I said, “I assume Annie is well aware of the state of your marriage?”

“Aye. Before she came out to us, when she was still a part of our lives, she defended me a lot to him. I need her forgiveness for that too. She was my protector when I was never hers.”

“But understanding what you were dealing with, perhaps Annie will be more willing to forgive you than you expect. It’s your silence that hurts. I can’t tell you if Annie will forgive you, but I can tell you that if you don’t try and ask her for that forgiveness, she can’t give it to you. Be brave and at least you’ll know, one way or the other. Don’t let yourself regret not doing anything.” I squeezed her arms.