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Kindle Notes & Highlights
by
Marae Good
Read between
August 30 - September 8, 2024
“You’re my home, too.”
“I’m never going to hurt you.” I blinked, the words taking me aback. I knew it was inevitable, that someday, even if unintentionally, Brooks would hurt me. But I heard his promise for what it was: a declaration that he would never raise a hand to me. Never plan and plot his words, never scheme to bind my soul.
All I care about is my girls. And as long as you’re both safe, I’m happy.”
“I’m not sure what you expected to find when you came here, but I’m not the same woman who left you. So I suggest you stop talking before I make sure you never share the same air as my daughter.”
“I know you’re scared, and that he put doubt in your head. But I made you a promise, and I’m not walking away from you. You’re my family, and I’m going to fight for you—I’ll help you fight for her.”
“I hope someday you meet someone who you’re brave enough to stop being lost for.”
That’s what death does to you. It forces you to sit and wait, watching as you torture yourself with what you would’ve done differently.”
“It’s a living hell. Because a lot of good, wonderful moments are being tainted with pain. And I think you’re doing the same thing. I don’t know what happened, because neither of you will talk about it. But you’re allowing your pain, your fears, to ruin what were likely some of the best moments of your life—both of you are. But you’re not dying, Shay. You don’t have to sit in it and wait. You can change it. You can claim the life you want. It’s yours for the taking.”
All my life, I’d been a shadow. No one cared where I went, so long as I stayed out of the light. I’d thought I was nothing,
“We’re not your kids, Shay . . . And yeah, our mom left us. But you know what hurt us the most?” he asked, his eyes pooling. “She never came home. She didn’t come back for us. But you did.” He grabbed my hand and grasped so hard, I thought he would never let go. “There’s nothing to forgive, Shay.”
“I’ve always wanted to be your friend, and that doesn’t change, whether or not you and my brother are together, alright? So don’t run from us. We’ll find you every time.”
“I chose her too, Shay.”
“I chose her. I’ll choose her every time, and I know you will, too. But to do that, we also need to choose each other. No more fear, no more walking away—this is it. I’m yours, and you’re mine.” His throat bobbed, his voice a shaky rasp. “And she is ours.”
“It scares me how much I love you, how much you own me. But you’re worth the fight, Shay. And I promise, I’ll spend the rest of our lives making sure you know it.”
you. Everything’s there . . . even that crib you thought I didn’t notice you looking at.” I closed my eyes, my heart overcome with what he’d done. How could I have walked away, thinking he wasn’t worth the risk of being hurt? Never again. He was worth everything.
“I want to work at the shop—but I also want time to write. And I might take an online class or two, because I really don’t know what I want to do. I kind of want to stay at home, at least for a while. I want to go on hikes and sleep under the stars. I want you to dance with me, because you promised you would. I want you at my doctor’s appointments, and I need you to hold my hand during labor and promise me I won’t die, because I’m really scared Tater’s going to rip me in two. I want you to be deliriously in love with our daughter and tell me she’s the most beautiful girl in the world, even if
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I brought his hand to my stomach, holding it there with mine. “I was thinking of naming her Wren.” For the one who called me home.
