someone’s day for the better. “Want me to put it out on my social?”
Nodding, she said, “That would be great. Let me get you a link to the sign-up page.”
She stood and went to her phone, typing in the information, and my phone went off with her message.
While she poured herself a cup of coffee and came to the table, I posted it online, hoping this would get Mom some more volunteers and maybe get people to move on from my relationship news.
“Are you okay?” Mom asked. “You seem a little off.”
I glanced up from my phone and tried to gauge her expression. I knew she was busy dealing with the fundraiser, but the idea of going to work with Merritt was weighing on me.
“Is it about Carson?” she asked. “That was some big news last night.”
Her question caught me off guard, but now I was more than curious to know what she had to say. “Were you surprised?”
“No.” She wrapped her hands around the coffee mug. “But then again, it is hard to see you as the young adults you are and not two kids digging in my flower beds for worms so you could catch some fish in the ocean.”
“We never caught anything,” I said, smiling at the memory.
“That’s not the point of fishing,” Mom said. “Your father could tell you that.”
I dipped my spoon through my bowl of cereal, letting the milk wash over each piece. “Merritt Alexander is working at the shelter.”
Mom’s eyes widened in realization. “It’s been a big couple of days for you then.”
I nodded. “I don’t want to have to deal with her. She already insulted Carson, and it’s a hundred percent clear she doesn’t want to be there. I almost want to quit and see if I can find something somewhere else so I don’t have to see her every day.”
“Hmm.” Mom thought for a moment, drumming her fingertips on the table. “Do you want to vent, or do you want advice?”
“Advice,” I said immediately. I could complain about Merritt until I was blue in the face, but it wouldn’t accomplish anything.
She nodded and took a cautious sip from her cup. “You know the right thing isn’t always the easy thing.”
I cringed but nodded.
“I have a feeling Merritt has been through a lot more in her life than she lets on. And you being a friend to her, showing her grace even though she doesn’t deserve it, well, it could change her life.”
“And if it doesn’t?” I asked. “What if she just makes my life miserable all summer?”
“That’s her decision. It shouldn’t keep you from doing what you love.”
The meaning behind her words stung deep. Mom had always been disappointed that I gave up sports, but sometimes I hated to think who I might have become if I kept playing. Would I have turned out to be just another Merritt? Another jock who felt superior because of what I could do on the court?
I glanced at the clock on the stove and realized time was in short supply. “I have to go, or I’ll be late.”
She patted my hand atop the table. “I’m sure you’ll make the right decision.”
Mom seemed more confident in me than I did. But I got up, grabbed my purse, and started out the door anyway. On my way to the car, I glanced up to Carson’s window on the side of his house. It was dark, just another reminder of how different things truly were.
As I approached Nature, I saw two kittens playing with each other in the windowsill of the cat room. The calico kitten tackled the small black kitten before the black kitten gained purchase and pushed back.
I smiled at them, and then a knock on the window jarred me. Merritt wore a frustrated look, along with a pair of yellow rubber glove. Lorelei was having her clean the windows in the cat room? Classic. I had to hide a smile—that job was a nightmare with the cats crawling all over you and thinking the rag waving through the air was a toy.
Although Merritt was dressed in what I assumed were designer clothes, she looked about as frazzled as I’d ever seen her. She waved her hand like she wanted me to come in and mouthed, Help!
Stifling a laugh, I nodded. I tried to keep my mom's words in the back of my mind. A month ago, I might not have been able to even dream of a flaw in Merritt’s absolutely perfect life. Now,