The Long Way Home Read Online Free PDF Page A

you’re one of those smart, capable types.”
    “You think so?” Marnie asked dubiously. She didn’t feel smart or capable. In high school she’d been the nerd girl, the one with drab brown hair and awkward bangs and glasses that were too large for her face. She’d daydreamed and been socially inept. The glasses she wore now were chic, and she didn’t have bangs anymore, but most days she still felt like that girl. Lately she felt clumsy and out of sync. Like she’d been dropped into someone else’s body and couldn’t quite control the limbs.
    “Absolutely.” Jazzy’s tone was assured. “When we were in the class last night and you told that bossy woman that you wanted to take a pass, I thought that was awesome. All of the rest of those ladies were like little sheep, but you weren’t playing her game.”
    Marnie reflected on what Jazzy was saying. It was true that she had stood up to the very forceful Debbie, but she hadn’t thought her refusal to be a strength. More like a failure for not coming up with something to say.
    “And then, when Rita came over to us and was telling me about her daughter’s death, I saw your face and you looked devastated for her. You have a lot of heart, I can tell.”
    “Thank you.” A real compliment. When was the last time one had come her way? Certainly not from Brian, unless it was about her cooking. “Great meal, Marn,” he’d say nearly every night. But that was a compliment to the food, not her as a person. And looking back, she realized it was almost reflexive on his part. The equivalent of “God bless you” after a sneeze. Troy was the only one who ever really complimented her; in fact, as a little guy he’d showered her with praise almost constantly. He said she was pretty and laughed at all her jokes. He preferred her to Brian for most everything from reading books to pouring juice to being tucked in at bedtime. So flattering for a stepmother. Or pseudo-stepmother, as her sister put it, since Brian had never married her. She was good enough to be a mother to his son for nearly ten years, but it was never quite the right time to legalize their relationship. Marnie had thought she’d had some fatal flaw that kept her from becoming a wife, but now a complete stranger had recognized her positive traits. She gripped the steering wheel and swallowed to keep the lump in her throat at bay. “Thank you for saying that.”
    “All true.”
    “So how much do I owe you? For the battery, I mean.”
    “It was just under sixty dollars. I can check the receipt to give you an exact amount.”
    “No, we can make it an even sixty.” Even as Marnie reached for her purse she knew she didn’t have that much money with her. And she could visualize her checkbook on the counter, right where she’d left it. “I’m sorry, but I don’t have any cash with me. If you follow me to an ATM I can pay you right away.”
    Jazzy said, “I have to get to work, but don’t worry about it. It can wait until the next time I see you.”
    The next time? Oh, their class! Marnie, who hadn’t really planned on going back to the Good Grief class, suddenly found she was open to the idea. She could picture herself getting ready for class next Tuesday, making sure to tuck sixty dollars in her purse for Jazzy. Maybe she’d stop at Starbucks on the way and pick up one of those drinks Leticia mentioned. What was it? A Skinny Vanilla Latte? Yes, that’s what she’d get. The thought of it made her feel good, gave her a sense of purpose. She was someone who had plans for next week. Maybe she’d even call out to Mrs. Benner as she left the house—“I’m off to my class at the rec center, Mrs. Benner. I’ll be back at nine.” As sad as she was, it had to be worse for Mrs. Benner. Poor lady, whatever she’d been through to make her a hermit had to be horrendous. Maybe if Marnie shared little bits of her life with her, it would make her feel less alone.
    “Great,” Jazzy said. “Well, take care