Hadlee woke from her nap to find her mom laying next to her in the bed, playing with her hair. She scowled crankily, “creepy much?”
Tears in Briar’s eyes seeped from the corners spilling into the pillow under her mom’s cheek, “I’m so sorry.”
“For what?”
“For not hearing you. For not seeing what you were going through with Eric when it was right in front of my face. For not being the mom you deserve. For not being the person you could turn to and talk to when you’re heart is breaking.”
“Mom,” Hadlee saw the tears and felt her own form.
“Can I cuddle you?”
She nodded and curled into her mom’s shoulder as the other woman slipped her arm under Hadlee’s neck and pulled her closer.
“I love you so much and I’ve failed you so deeply.”
She wasn’t ready to forgive quite yet despite how muc
