Patricia touched his arm, her face looking impossibly old and drawn in the dreary light. She looked as ancient as he felt. Daniel knew why she had aged so rapidly—it was hard to stay young in the Grove. Too much work in thin, cold air.
“You don’t have to give up your happiness,” she said. “You don’t have to sacrifice everything you want. I know you, Daniel. I know that you just want to have a simple family. You’d be much happier married and living in Mountain Grove again.”
Daniel took her hand. He knew she meant well, but his heart was too sore to hear it. He didn’t want to explain himself to her, because he barely knew what he was doing. He had trusted his gut feelings all his life, and now he knew he had to trust those basic instincts once again.
“I know, Mom. I’ll remember that.”
Sh
