Return to Virgin River (Virgin River #19) - Robyn Carr Page 0,76
times. She said he was a little lost. Don’t get me wrong, she didn’t feel sorry for him or anything. But she said that underneath it all he was a good man. She also said they would never be anything but friends and even that was a miracle.
“And she said he really cared about you,” Janette added. “But you were a stubborn girl, just like your mom. You said that was fine, that he cared. A little late, but what the hell.”
“Yeah, I was not impressed,” Kaylee said. “She asked me to be kind to him. She kept reminding me that he was my father, as if I needed reminding.”
“Can I tell you, cookie? People will hurt us. Disappoint us and let us down. Sometimes we just can’t forgive them. I’ll never forgive Carl, even though I am in a much better place since he left me. Of course, Carl never asked to be forgiven, either. But my son has let me down several times. He can be such an ignoramus, and I’ll give him as many chances as I have in me. There’s one thing—when they say they’re sorry and ask to be forgiven, that’s a big step. I may be a fool, but that’s a step worth acknowledging. I put on my body armor, remind myself of the truth of their character, stay cautious and alert, and give them a chance. An apology and an effort are both rare and valuable.”
“The queen has spoken,” Korby said.
“You can make fun of me if you want, but I didn’t just fall off the turnip truck. I’ve been studying this for a long time. I see clients who are angry and unforgiving. I see them trying not to be when they’re certainly entitled. And sometimes I see them when they’re moving on, no longer fueled by the anger. I always hope I’ll see them by then so I can remind them to protect themselves by maintaining boundaries.
“If Kaylee asked my advice I would say, see Howard on your terms in your time. And if you think there’s a reason he might offer some comfort, take it.”
“How can Howard possibly offer me comfort now?” Kaylee asked.
“There are some ways. He went to a lot of trouble to set up this little party, thinking it would make you happy. Which it did. And you can probably share memories of your mother together. You might even learn some things about her that you weren’t aware of. There is no question in my mind, Howard loved your mother. He told her he regretted ending their marriage, and I can see why. I doubt she told him but she came to be grateful because she landed in a better place. She told me that was how she felt. It was the same with me. I was devastated when Carl left me, but a year later I saw how much better my life was as a single woman than the wife of a man who put himself first, who never worried about my happiness. Of course neither of us, your mom or me, felt inclined to thank the bums for cheating and abandoning us.”
“I suppose a lot of women come to you when they’ve been abandoned by their spouse,” Korby said.
“That’s who mostly comes to me. Some of them are left in impossible situations—no job, no money, kids to take care of. There’s so much to overcome. I get to watch them gain their independence and blossom. Meredith and I did all right; our exes paid some child support.”
Getting a master’s in counseling was one of the gifts Janette gave herself after divorce. Kaylee remembered her struggle, with a couple of kids in high school and Janette working and going to school. She also remembered when Janette completed her program and took a job as an associate in the counseling office that got regular contracts from the county. Meredith had just started her own business, also a struggle. “I remember you and my mom sat on the phone late at night, talking...”
“Talking each other off the ledge, mostly,” Janette said with a laugh.
For the next couple of hours the women talked about their relationships with each other, with Meredith, with their families, jobs and other friends. They had all staked out their sleeping spots, and one by one they drifted off to bed. When Kaylee closed her eyes on the day, she was smiling. It wasn’t just because she was with her tribe, she was with her