The Messenger

The line was silent for a moment, and she was sure her mom was contemplating how in the world a good mother could leave her youngest daughter alone when she was hurting so badly, but things had not been good between Cassidy and their parents lately, particularly their mom, so Cadence knew Cass wouldn’t want to talk to their mother about Brandon. Finally, her mother just said, “Okay. I’ll... give her some space.”

“Thanks. Thank you for handling the wedding, too, both of you. I just can’t do that right now. I can’t think about it.” Once again, she glanced down at her ring. She wondered if Aaron had his, too, or if he’d left it in his bags. The thought that his stuff was back at the B and B, that it would need packed up, that she’d have to touch his things and put them in a suitcase, one he’d packed just yesterday, made her stomach hurt, and the tears would no longer stay put. They insisted on cascading down her c