Abby
smiled
at
her
only
child
as
she
handed
her
a
dish
to
dry.
“Yes.
He
asked
and
I
accepted.
Corey
and
I
met
and
fell
in
love
the
year
before
I
entered
Harvard.
My
parents
had
already
decided
my
future
was
with
your
father
and
I
was
the
obedient
daughter
who
wouldn’t
defy
their
plans.”
Madison
continued
to
stare
at
her
mother.
“So
I
assumed
right.
You
and
Dad
never
loved
each
other.”
Abby
reached
out
and
took
her
daughter’s
hand
in
hers,
knowing
that
Madison
was
probably
confused
by
a
lot
of
things.
“In
a
way,
your
father
and
I
did
love
each
other
but
not
the
way
I
loved
Corey.
As
long
as
your
father
was
alive,
I
was
determined
to
make
our
marriage
work,
and
I
did.
I
was
faithful
to
your
father,
Madison,
and
I
was
a
good
wife.”
Madison
knew
that
was
true.
“So
you
came
out
here
hoping
that
you’d
run
into
Corey
Westmoreland
again?”
Abby
smiled
as
she
shook
her
head.
“No.
For
all
I
knew
Corey
had
gotten
on
with
his
life
and
was
married
with
a
bunch
of
kids.
I
knew
he
had
wanted
to
become
a
park
ranger,
but
I
didn’t
even
know
if
he
still
lived
in
this
area.
Imagine
my
shock
when
I
went
out
to
dinner
that
night
and
he
walked
into
the
restaurant.
He
looked
at
me
and
I
looked
at
him
and
it
was
as
if
the
years
hadn’t
mattered.
I
knew
then
that
I
still
loved
him
and
I
also
knew
that
the
most
joyous
part
of
my
life
was
the
summer
I
met
him.”
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