The Long Way Home

by Karen McQuestion

through the same thing—voices would come into her head like she was getting a phone call from the universe, and she’d drop everything to do whatever was needed. “They’re guiding you, Jazzy,” Grandma had said over and over again. “These voices, you get them for a reason.” She also said every person on the planet had the potential to get them, but few did. And if Jazzy did as the voices asked, wondrous things would happen. If she ignored them, she’d never know

what might have happened.

Marnie had thought she’d had some fatal flaw

she wasn’t depressed, just tired, tired of everyone and everything. She wasn’t suicidal exactly, but she didn’t leap out of bed every morning waiting to greet the day. Well, maybe she was a little depressed. Everything took so much effort.

“Do the thing you long to

do and become the person you’re

destined ...

When I was grown up I was sure I’d have five children: three girls and two boys.”

“Do you keep in touch with

Troy?”

“I try,” Marnie said. “When I text he answers with one or two

words. And when I call, it’s never a good time. He always seems like he’s in a big hurry and he wants to get off the phone. The last time he sounded like he was mad almost. I finally told him he should call me when he’s ready.” She paused. “I don’t know what’s going on with him. All I know is that I miss him.”

Jazzy said. “I love car trips. Some good snack food, good tunes, you’re there in no time.” Marnie shook her head. “No,

She had to see him in person because she needed something. What that something was, she couldn’t quite say. Closure? Reassurance? Knowing that she had mattered.

No one ever said someone had “youngered.”

Not asking for credit

or praise, or getting it, for that matter, just doing what needed to be done. Like offering to drive on this trip.

No denying she looked older with her curly white hair and weathered face, so it was odd that

she felt the same as ever.

It wasn’t like her to

snap at someone, but the circumstances forced it out of her.

He was an interesting guy, this Carson who rode a Harley, lived in the country, and who, at the age of twenty-five, enjoyed hanging out with his dad and his dad’s friends. He was good-looking in a rugged way, like a cowboy in an old movie. He loved animals and small children, and read good books. Every day, he tried to do at least one nice thing for someone else, a habit he’d started in college. He felt that if everyone did it, the world would be a better place and that he was obligated to lead by example. Carson never told anyone about this particular belief of his, but Jazzy picked up on it. She got all that and more in

Do you want to work for Scarlett

Turner?

“I’m not sure. I just want to

do the right thing.”

to the best way to keep a house tidy (put things away as you go along).

when the universe aligns it does so for a reason. There

Follow your instincts, Jazzy.

You’ll do fine.

gone. After that Rita found herself on a spiritual

search—looking for meaning in all the pain.

“that the universe is giving Marnie a gift. If someone offers you something out of the kindness of their heart, and you need that something, you really have to take it.”

“You’re my scarecrow.”

“Like in The Wizard of Oz?

When Dorothy says good-bye to all her friends? She’s nice to all of them, but she says to the scarecrow…” She leaned in consp...

miss you most ...

“We love it,” Beth said, and to her husband, “Right, hon?” “She loves it,” Mike said. “A real people person, this one.” He jabbed a thumb in her direction. “And if she’s happy that’s all I care about.”

“You are one smart man,” Rita said. “You’ve discovered the secret of a happy marriage.”

over and saw Laverne stiffen, noticed

to

Suddenly she saw the whole thing as if she were looking down on the scene. The repentant boy on the bench, the unyielding diner owner, and even herself, Marnie, formerly a mouse, but now someone who

took charge. They were all pieces in a real-life board game and it was her turn to make a move.

the idea of being close to New York City. I love it there.

The energy, the diversity, the people. It’s awesome.”