Things Worth Remembering

Maisey asked for a bride doll the Christmas she was five, mesmerized by her aunt's wedding the fall before. Since then I've been dreaming of the day, or days, we would shop for her wedding dress. A mother helping her daughter find just the right creation for that momentous walk down the aisle strikes me as one of life's happiest endeavors. The night she called to tell us she'd bought her "dream of a gown," I sat beside Luke on the couch, a striking contrast to Maisey's exuberance.

My dejection seemed a tad inappropriate. "Being hurt because I wasn't included is silly, isn't it?" I asked.

"Not so silly," he said.

Will I ever quit longing for the Maisey who was once mine?

Kendy Laswell and her daughter, Maisey, used to do everything together--until one fateful summer when Maisey witnessed something she shouldn't have, and their relationship fractured. Now, Maisey is back home to get married and Kendy realizes this is her last chance to reconnect with her daughter. Will Kendy and Maisey be able to reclaim the bond they once shared?

Jackina Stark's second book was about healing and forgiveness.  I love stories about relationships between women, especially between mothers and daughters, and ones that evoke a reaction from me.  I found myself yelling at these characters, "just talk to each other already" and I wanted to smack Maisey for her treatment of her mother.  We read the story from alternating perspectives of Kendy (mom) and Maisey (daughter) which adds to the depth of emotions.  This book has caused me to ask my adult children if anything that I have done or didn't due has brought them pain that we have not dealt with.  Thankfully, each has said no!