do over

Maddie didn't want to think it a complete vicious circle. But it did feel she'd gotten out of one fix just to get into another. She was still a mother.

Mary had taken her in. Helped her get settled with Mannie. It was as if Mary had to magic touch. She knew Mannie's mother.

"She was much younger than you," Mary said and Maddie thought of herself just a child even if the last few months had been so restless and wayward. What hadn't hurt her had made her stronger, and now, here she was with somebody else's baby and not her own.

"The breastfeeding will help heal you." Mary told her. Although, no one said it would be easy. The first few dayss were horrible. She was sure she couldn't do it, but then it happened as if something woke up inside her and was ready to replenish. It was a strange process. And she kept telling herself no way was she going to enjoy it, but after she got to know Mannie, and the innocent looks he gave her, and he clung on to her as if he was meant to stay.

Of course, this made her happy yet sad at once. She couldn't help but think how Emma was doing. But she knew from the moment she gave Emma to Dil that he loved her and wasn't going to give up. That had to count for something. She had to only hope it was all right. There was a job to do now. And she had to move forward. There was no going back.

She stayed at Mary's with the baby and Cody stayed away. But then he showed up one day.

"I didn't think you'd come back." The emotions were unstoppable, but she didn't think she was wrong about him even if he had told her about his terrible ordeal with her before they met.

"I probably shouldn't," he said. "But you know, I'm not all that reasonable." She saw his smile then, and she hoped they could start over. She hoped she'd learned a thing or two now about life, and maybe he had too.