When she answered late that night, the first thing my mother asked was, "Sweetheart, are you doing all right on your own out there?"
"Better than all right. It rained today, so we couldn't go sketching, but we can still go tomorrow. And someone asked if one of my paintings was for sale!" I couldn't help laughing as I spoke.
There was a brief silence on the other end before my mother sighed with concern. "Sweetheart, I've wanted to say this for a long time. Whenever you came back from traveling with Vincent, the light had gone out of your eyes. But you loved him, and I was afraid it would hurt you if I said anything."
My throat tightened. "Mom, was I very foolish before?"
"No." She laughed softly. "You loved him. I know. But I haven't heard you laugh like this in such a long time. Sweet
