“You guys look so good!” I say while they twirl around and make kissy-faces in the air. “Love it!”
“You were so good in that interview. Did you mean all of that?” Bridgette asks, plodding down the steps.
Eden links her arm with mine. “Of course she meant it, Bridge,” she says defensively.
“Oh,” Bridgette turns around, almost pale-faced, “I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant … how are you so forgiving with Joy?”
Taking a deep breath as we walk down the driveway, I stop short when I see Matt standing at the gates. The girls stop, too, and no one says a word. I don’t want to move, in fear that he’ll flee, scared like a bird at the feeder. His face is as grey as it was that night in the strip club, though I can reasonably assume he’s not drunk this time. Sure, I see him in class a couple of times a week, but outside of that—nothing. I don’t know if he’s playing a sport this season, but his shoulders do seem to have regained most of the muscle they’d lost over break. Eyes aside, he looks just like the Matt I thought I knew. But who is anyone, anyway, without their eyes?
As much as I don’t want him to flee, I can’t stand here and do nothing. I have to try. I’ll always try.
I take one step forward, my eyes still locked with his. Matt doesn’t run, but I wish he did. He slowly turns on his heels and trudges away one painfully slow step after another.
Bridgette and Eden give me the courtesy of waiting until he’s out of sight before they close in on my sides, each with one arm around my shoulders.
“I forgive Joy everyday,” I answer Bridgette’s question with fear rattling my voice, “because I need to be reminded that forgiveness is possible. That anyone, at any time, can be forgiven for any thing.”
They can, Kennedy. They can, and they will.
You will.
He will.
I will.
Acknowledgements
I want to thank Charles for taking this risk, and making even bigger sacrifices in order for me to see this series through. Whether it’s five books or twenty books, I know you’ll be by my side. Thank you to my wonderful beta readers willing to stick this out, even if it’s a genre shift for some of you. Your excitement, questions, and insights are invaluable. And, thank you to all my readers, old and new, who are lacing up for this journey, too.