Chapter 73

• All eyes turned to the woman who had just stepped out onto the back deck. Heather. She wore white jeans, a white jacket, and a bright yellow top, with not a hint of Abby’s signature pink anywhere on her. He watched as Abby lifted her head, a hopeful look on her face, and then the sadness he saw as she realized her mother hadn’t done the one thing she’d asked. In a sea of every shade of pink imaginable, Heather stood out like a sore thumb which was probably her intention. Heather hated it when anyone else was in the spotlight, even if that other person was her daughter.
• “Come look, Abby,” she said, “I’ve got a special gift for you!”
• Heather had left earlier that morning to pick up Abby’s gift. Barry wasn’t sure if she had forgotten to buy one or whether it really was something she had to pick up last minute. He put his beer down and went to scoop up Abby, walking towards Heather.