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Pursing her lips, Miranda frowned. Probably. Everything they’d had was in the landfill by this point and Tierney would have to start from scratch again. “She might.”
“Then feel free to take them all, or I can keep some of them here if that’s easier.”
Tori was so accommodating, with everything. What could have possibly made her that way? That never would have happened in her family. “I practically raised her, you know.”
“Rebel?”
Miranda shook her head. “Tierney. I was sixteen when she was born, and she was an oops, massively. My parents were one and done. They liked their life, and when she was born, they wanted nothing to do with parenting, so I did it.”
“I can’t imagine how hard that was on you.” Tori folded a small shirt, her gaze locking on Miranda’s.
That was unexpected. People usually told her she was strong when she mentioned it—if she did at all—not that it was hard.
“I bet that killed whatever was left of your childhood.”
“Not much there to begin with.” Miranda pulled over some pants, checking the size before folding them again and putting them in a pile. “Tierney is convinced soulmates are a thing.”
Tori stopped in her folding. “And I assume based on your tone that you aren’t.”
“Hardly.” Miranda shifted her legs around to sit more comfortably. “But Tierney is trying to find her soulmate in the worst possible way. Even if she was only attempting to find a partner and second parent for Rebel, she could do it using her brain.”
“That’s harsh.”
Miranda pinned Tori with a look. “It’s really not when it’s the truth. She flew to Texas to meet a man she’s never met before, didn’t vet, nothing. They drove to Mexico, where she has no cellphone coverage because she didn’t pay for an international plan because she hasn’t worked in months. So getting hold of her is dependent on him allowing her to use his phone.”
Tori hissed.
“Exactly.” Miranda reached for her wine and took a big sip. Why was she even talking about this? Tori was paid to listen to people, surely she didn’t want to listen to Miranda complain on her day off. “Meanwhile, I’m left here, with Rebel. To pick up the pieces again.”
Tori leaned against the foot of the couch, one leg curled under the other, and her wine glass in her hand. Her baby blue eyes were locked on Miranda, a curious question in her gaze.
“What? Too harsh?” Miranda clenched her jaw, ready for battle.
“No.” Tori took a sip of her wine. “Sounds adequate.”
Validated. It was the first time Miranda ever felt validated. “Is this your life coaching technique?”
Tori chuckled lightly and touched her foot into Miranda’s thigh. “This is a friend technique, and I get the sense you could use one.”
She could. Friends were always welcome. Miranda had a few friends from when she’d gone to school, people she’d kept in contact with when she’d moved home to take over the funeral home and run it the way she wanted to.
Rebel and Harley came out from the bedroom. Harley curled up against her mother’s side, the spitting image. Rebel continued to try to play, attempting to pull Harley back to whatever it was she wanted. Harley pulled her into a hug, her small arms wrapped around Rebel’s shoulders.
This was what family was about. Miranda remembered hugging Tierney like that when she was little, when she’d fall and cry, when she’d just wanted a random hug after Miranda got home from school. She smiled.
“What brought that on?” Tori asked.
Surprised she’d been caught, Miranda debated whether or not to share. Keeping it to herself, she shook her head and finished off her wine. “Any tips on getting Rebel not to run away?”
Tori laughed. “That one’s tough.”
“Seems like it.”
“I wouldn’t let go of her hand.” Tori reached forward and tickled Rebel’s stomach. Giggles erupted in the living room.
“I try not to, but she still manages it.”
“What do you do when you catch her? Time out? Scolding?”
