Letting Go by Mary Beth Lee

put her on the first bus out of town. Should have left town with her if that’s what it took.
    Clarissa’s mother saw her first. But she didn’t jump away from Jed’s father in guilt, she just kept on smiling and called out, “Come over here, Clarissa. It’s miraculous.”
    Confusion hit her first. And then skepticism. Tammy didn’t do anything without ulterior motives. But her voice sounded so normal. She trudged the last few steps up the path to the clearing and fence. And there she saw what her mother was so enchanted with.
    A baby horse standing next to its mother.  
    “Her name’s Sugar.”
    Her mother said the name with awe. And her face was different, too. It was like a single day on the ranch had done something. Scrubbed her clean. Turned her into someone different...someone who really did look at baby horses with wonder and awe. Someone who laughed with a man without anything more in mind.  
    “She’s beautiful,” Clarissa whispered because she couldn’t seem to make her voice work normally in this moment.  
    As awe inspiring as the baby horse was, Clarissa couldn’t believe she was actually jealous of her mother right now.
    “Paul, thank you so much,” Tammy put her hand on Jed’s father’s arm, and, suddenly, Clarissa saw clearly. Her mother hadn’t changed at all.
    “Mr. Dillon, I appreciate everything you’ve done for us. Momma and I have a lot to catch up on.”
    Paul’s eyes twinkled as he looked at her, and she saw he completely understood what was going on. “Why don’t I go on back up to the house and let you and your momma talk here.”
    With that he started up the the hill to the house. A little hitch in his walk, but nothing too worrisome since he had his cane. He’d be offended if she tried to help him. So she waited until he was almost to the house then turned on her mother.
    “Don’t even think about it.”  
    “I deserve that, I suppose.” Tammy looked away.  
    Clarissa refused to back down, refused to feel guilty about the accusation.
    “Paul Dillon is a good man who opened his home to me and he’s allowed you to stay here as long as you’re willing to work. Don’t ruin this. Don’t think about making one of your moves.”
    “You are crazy if you think a woman like me could ever get between Paul Dillon and his wife. Those two share a love that can’t be broken. But I don’t blame you for misreading what happened here. I’ve certainly never, well...look, Clarissa. Look at me.”
    Clarissa did what her mother asked and was surprised at what she saw.  
    Work gloves, a muddy shirt. Filthy jeans tucked into work boots. Her mother’s face streaked with grime.  
    “You look awful.”  
    Clarissa said the words before she thought, then decided from here on she’d only be honest with her mother.
    “I feel wonderful,” Tammy Jo said. “Spent the day mucking out those stalls.” She pointed beyond the baby horse.  
    “Oh, ew, that dirt’s not just dirt then, huh?”
    Tammy Jo laughed, and Clarissa was shocked that the laugh seemed real. “It’s been a long time since I’ve spent a day on manual labor. Gave me time to think. Not all that fun to play a life like mine on rewind. I can’t go back and change things, Clarissa, but I can make sure the rest of my life is different.”
    Stunned Clarissa stared at her mother, wondered what had happened to her and how long it would take before she was back to her normal self. Because one thing was for sure. Tammy Jo Dye would never change. Clarissa had learned that lesson time and time again.
    For now, she’d just be happy her mother was willing to work hard.  
    “I’m going back to the bunkhouse,” Clarissa said. “Stay out here as long as you need.”

    A week later Clarissa stood inside the dining room of Pete’s and looked around in amazement. It looked like Pete had simply closed for remodeling instead of suffering damage from a tornado.
    “You moved fast.”
    “Not me,” Pete said smiling