“You already are. We’ve been doing really well. Please stop feeling guilty for something we’re past.”

The relief of knowing their relationship had improved was huge and lifted Gretchen’s spirits. Now if she could just get to the same place with Jax. Her next question made her feel slightly ill. “Have we been figuring out the divorce? What we’ll do with Caleb or anything like that?”

“Oh, Gretchen. You don’t have to worry about any of that right now.”

“Don’t I? Jax will be out of here the first chance she gets.”

“You need to focus on healing and keeping calm. I’ll be here even if Jax flies the coop.”

“That’s not fair to you. What about your life and your job? Do you work?”

Amanda shook her head. “I was an assistant for a bit, but then Mom passed. I’ve been able to live off the income from my inheritance.”

“I forgot about the family money. Did we split the house, or did she leave it to the church, like she always threatened?” Gretchen said with a snort. God, her mother was such a piece of work.

“I’m still living in the house, and this is yet another thing I wish you remembered. Mom didn’t leave you anything. She said you got more than enough when she helped you buy your house.”

Gretchen sat stunned. She didn’t think the chasm ran that deep, but what did she really know anymore?

“But,” Amanda continued, “I insisted I give you what you were rightfully entitled to. You refused, I pushed, and we agreed to put it in trust for Caleb.”

The unpredictable control Gretchen had over her emotions started to slip. “This is all so weird. I can’t even explain it. It’s like I’m living in a dream.”

“I can’t even begin to imagine, and I can’t promise everything will be okay, but I am so happy you got a second chance.”

Gretchen went to Amanda and hugged her. The position was awkward as she stood and Amanda sat, but she needed the comfort. She needed reassurance and to feel safe. She thought of Jax. “Do you think she could ever give me a second chance?” she whispered to Amanda.

“Anything is possible.” Amanda pulled back and picked up Gretchen’s coffee. She handed her the lukewarm mug. “You’re even drinking coffee again.”

“Thank God!” Gretchen laughed and let the lightness of the moment carry her through the day.

Chapter Sixteen

24 days, 15 hours, 31 minutes

Gretchen finally convinced Amanda she’d be fine for twenty minutes by herself. Caleb needed to be picked up, and Gretchen wasn’t in the mood to hop in a freezing car and go to his preschool. A building full of screaming kids? No, thank you. After several rounds of back-and-forth, Amanda surrendered, but not without insisting Gretchen carry her phone with her at all times, even if she was walking from one side of the room to the other. She was beginning to feel like the elderly woman in the Life Alert commercial.