The Brooch

A New Leaf

After that afternoon, it would be a few days before Maple decided to rejoin the land of the living...

She felt her heart could take no more.

In one long, emotional and exhausting week, the brooch was returned to Maple. And lies to last a lifetime, were revealed.

In her twenty fifth year, Maple felt like a century older, just by the inner secrets that were foretold...

It took time... those few days. But Maple, eventually forgave her mama for withholding from her all those years. She after all knew, her mama was doing what she thought was best, as she atoned for all her mistakes. And Maple knew, she of all people wasn't exactly perfect. Not in the slightest! So she decided to let go and let God. Who else was it more perfect to give it to? So she let the judging when it came to her mama stay in God's perfect and loving hands.

Josephine and Leslie Anne, may have been her childhood best friends... But when it came to her mama? There was no competition. Because in truth, Maple soon realized, Mama Woods, ended up being the best friend she ever could have in her entire existence. And she always would be. Grandma Hastings was a close not so distant second after all. Maybe even tied.

On a better note, Mama Woods was even able to forgive herself. That's cause for a celebration in itself.

However, as for her forgiveness with Andrew and Mrs. Crowder? Well that was still a work in progress...

Nonetheless, when Maple was able to pull herself together, she did what she needed to do the most at that time... She took a trip and made things right with Josephine. As Josephine had temporarily went back with her son, to Aurelia and was staying with a once again, a very pregnant, Leslie Anne and Mo Thumper. This time with twins...

Mama Woods, especially Maple, were both right when it came to the friendship of her Josephine and even Leslie Anne. Nothing... not even Andrew, could come between, the love of their undying friendship... In fact, their friendship after what was said and done, grew only stronger...

As for her heart with Tator? Well... the fairytale ending would be, she found Tator just a few days later as he popped out of nowhere as a knight and shiny armor. And they lived happily ever after. But as the tide turned... It wasn't anything like that at all. Fact is... he was gone. But her love for him wasn't.

Sadly for Maple, if it was even possible, after what her mama revealed to her, she found herself loving him even more. But it didn't matter. As I said... he was gone. And Maple knew she had to learn to live with that. No matter the heartbreak.

But I will say, after she left the girls in Aurelia, she took a detour train to the town of Early. She thought since that was the place her uncle Jeffy found him, on top of that being the place of their first kiss, maybe, just maybe, a supernatural miracle could happen and he was there waiting for her. Nonetheless, getting off that train in the town of Early, she only to found more disappointment and heartbreak. For the only thing she truly found, was that Tator was no longer there. And had not been for a good long minute. Unfortunately, no one knew of his current whereabouts. And if he would ever return...

Course it hurt like the dickens, but Maple, knew with that last try... it was time. She needed to heal. She knew without a shadow of a doubt, that she needed to care of herself, first and foremost. And she finally knew, in order to do that, she needed to move on from both him and Andrew...

To begin her healing process, Maple began, first by having a closer walk with God on bettering herself. Although things weren't perfect, she learned to except things as they were. Including her learning to adjust and be on her own...