Letting Go Read Online Free

new story.
    “There was this mermaid named Lemmalu an’ she loved plums. This story’s in the bible, Clarissa, so pay attention and you’ll learn a memory verse, too.”
    “Lemmalu the Mermaid is the bible?” Clarissa laughed at Mackenzie’s active imagination.  
    “Yes. And Lemmalu’s momma went on a break to Las Vegas.”
    Danger zone. Clarissa wondered if she should redirect the story, but Mackenzie kept right on going.
    “And her daddy had a seaweed farm. Hey, Clarissa, guess what!”
    “You want purple hair.”
    “No, silly,” Mackenzie giggled. “This boy named Mi Nguyen brought seaweed sticks for us to eat one day. They looked like green Fruit Roll-Ups but they tasted like grass. I still said thank you, but seaweed is gross. Do you want me to get Mi to bring you a seaweed?”
    The bell over the diner door jingled and Jed strolled in saving Clarissa from having to answer that question.

    Well, that was interesting.
    Mackenzie was standing on one of the red booth benches twirling a wash cloth in circles above her head talking about seaweed while a tired looking Clarissa used a bottle filled with clear liquid to spray the tables.
    The bell over the door served as his calling card, and Mackenzie turned toward him with her big smile that reminded him of all the good things in life.
    “Daddy!” She jumped down and ran to him wrapping her little arms around his legs until he pulled her up for a giant bear hug.
    He owed Clarissa big time for this.
    “I got to read today, Daddy. And I didn’t get no sticks pulled. I got to put a star by my name.”
    Good day.
    Clarissa wiped her hands on her jeans. Her hair was pulled back in a pony tail. Her face looked a little whiter than it had yesterday.  
    “You feeling okay?”
    “Yep.” Her small chuckle sounded like she was feeling anything but. He wondered if she had anyone to help her if she was sick. Or anyone to talk to if she needed help.
    “I don’t think there’s a way I can repay you for helping me today. We were able to get the first trees out today. Should be done tomorrow. Can we at least make you dinner?”
    Mack pushed back until he put her on the floor. “I can help Daddy make Mac’roni ‘n cheese and fish sticks and I can show you my room and my tree house and Flower and Blue.”
    The wistful look on Clarissa’s face said she wanted to say yes. But she shook her head. “Can’t tonight. Work. Speaking of, I better go get ready.”
    Guilt speared through him at how tired she sounded. He started to suggest after-care for tomorrow instead, but she jumped up and disappeared so fast he wondered if he’d done something to offend her.
    Mackenzie’s worried words echoed his thoughts.
    “We better stay here, Daddy. I don’t think Clarissa got to say goodbye.”
    Mackenzie was right. They couldn’t just leave Clarissa alone.

    Clarissa leaned against her kitchen counter and tried to stop her heart from hurting.
    How had she let this happen?
    How had she let herself get so wrapped up with a five-year-old kid? Seeing Mackenzie in Jed’s arms, love so obvious, was suddenly killing her.  
    She’d spent years without close relationships, told herself it was the only way to protect her heart. So how come she hurt so bad now?
    She wiped away a tear angrily. She hadn’t cried in years. This was ridiculous.  
    A knock on the apartment door startled her, but then she heard Mackenzie’s loud whisper.
    “Do you think she’s here, Daddy? She might be taking a break.”
    Oh God, help. The prayer slipped before Clarissa could stop it. Even though she knew the truth. God couldn’t or wouldn’t help this. Mackenzie’s mom had bailed. And nothing God did was going to make it better. She could, though. No way was she going to let the little girl think she was on a “break.”
    She took a deep breath and opened the door.
    “Hey, you guys. Surprise.” Making her voice sound as normal as possible, she opened the door wider, invited them in to the dark