CORNAD POV
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Mom brought us all into the family room to see the finished portraits, once we were done eating. They were all lined up in a row. Me first, then Dani and Steven, then Jere and Belly. We were all there, together. Each of us stood in front of our own painting and Dani held my hand. I looked down at her and she looked more peaceful at this moment than she had the whole night. I shook our combined hands and she laughed, resting her head on my arm. It sent a jolt through me. I'd never felt so sure in my life. My mom would make it through and so would Dani and I.
I didn't want to let her go but Laurel called her over to talk so I held onto her hand until I couldn't anymore. I watched as her and Laurel walked over to Steven and Jere, she giggled at something Steven said and I felt a tap on my arm.
"Can we talk?" Said Belly as I turned to face her.
"Sure." I said, walking behind her to go to the porch. She sat down on one of the chairs and I sat in front of her. I could see her looking for words to say but she just sighed and reached into her pocket. When she held out the infinity necklace I didn't know what to say. I had actually forgotten about it since I hadn't seen her wear the last couple of weeks.
"I know it wasn't mine to begin with. Take it." Looking at her now, I could see how much she'd grown over just one summer. She was always the little kid of the group but now she looked so mature. "Give it to the right person this time." She said, putting in my hand for me.
I couldn't look at her anymore. I was ashamed that I had given her something so important to someone else, and that I had led her on to believe something that wasn't true. I loved Belly but it was different with Dani. "I'm sorry." I said, looking at my hands and the necklace.
"I did like you, before. But now, I want to be with Jere. So you don't have to try and protect me anymore. Neither of you do." I knew she was talking about Dani.
"Thank you, Belly." I finally said back. We both stood up and I hugged her, grateful that one more person was rooting for me and Dani.
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