Free Secrets Unveiled by Mary Manners

never company, Mom, I’m just tired.”
    “And you’ve been crying.”
    Maggie swiped at her eyes again, neither confirming nor denying. There was no point. Mom could always sense…always tell. “What’s in the bag? It has to be more than cannoli.”
    “Take a look.” Mom opened the flap, giving Maggie a peek. Chocolate gelato from the bakery on Market Square…yes, this was serious. “It’s the cure for what ails you.”
    “And what, exactly, might be ailing me?”
    “You tell me. You’re the one who’s been crying.”
    “You’ve said that twice now, Mom. How did you know?”
    “Angie called me in a panic. She said you left school in tears this afternoon and wouldn’t tell her why.” She took a step closer and studied Maggie’s face. “It’s not like you to melt into a weeping puddle. What’s going on?”
    “It’s…nothing.”
    “You can’t fool me, honey.” Her mom took her hand and headed for the kitchen. “Come with me. Let’s have a nice cup of tea, a cannoli, and a bowl of this chocolate elixir while we talk things out.”
    Maggie sighed and relinquished control to her mom. She knew from experience there was no putting things off when Stella Andrews set her mind to something. So, tea and decadent cannoli with a side of chocolate gelato it would be.
    Silently, Maggie felt warmed by her mother’s concern. Her heart was torn in two, and she doubted it would ever recover from the shock of her discovery—and from Grant’s admission concerning what he’d done. The memory slammed into her head, shattering the already fractured pieces of her heart as she considered all he’d divulged to her.
    “I took the locket, Maggie. I stole it from your grandmother when I was in high school. It was a stupid, reckless thing to do. I didn’t know she was your grandmother or I wouldn’t…I couldn’t…” He’d shrugged as he lifted a cupped hand to his mouth, coughed slightly as if the words choked him. “It would have mattered to me, even then—in the confused and self-centered state I was in. I had more respect than that for you.”
    “But all this time…why?”
    “I forgot I had it. I must have slipped it into my pocket while the police were chasing me. I packed up the jeans with the locket still tucked away in them. Gemma found it just last week, the night before we went to the zoo.”
    “So you knew when you saw my grandmother’s photo. You knew then who she was…who the locket truly belonged to…and you didn’t say anything. How could you not say anything to me?”
    “I can’t explain it. There’s no excuse.”
    “That’s one thing we can agree on—the only thing.” She’d planted a foot then and pointed toward the door. “Please leave—now.”
    “But—”
    “There’s nothing more to say.” Tears filled her eyes as she crossed her arms tight over her chest and turned her back to him. “So, just go.”
    “I’m sorry, Maggie…truly sorry for the pain I’ve caused you.”
    “I’m sorry, too, Grant…sorrier than you’ll ever know.” She shook her head stiffly, her gaze wounded. “Please, go.”
    When he’d left, his footsteps retreating steadily down the tile hall, she’d huddled into a wailing mass as the tears came.
    Now, as Maggie related the story to her mother, fresh tears streamed down her face. “I’ll never forgive Grant for what he’s done…not ever.”
    “Never is a long time.” Stella plopped a scoop of gelato into a bowl and slid it across the table toward her. “And holding onto that anger will only serve to block the blessings God has in store for you.”
    “I don’t care.”
    “Oh, honey, I know you better than that. Those words stem from the hurt you’re feeling, but they’re not real. We both know you most certainly do care deep down inside.” Her mother slipped into the seat beside Maggie and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
    The gesture soothed, and Maggie drew a deep, cleansing sigh.
    “I guess it’s my turn to come clean,