Amanda Johnson leads a comfortable life. She's married to a successful businessman and her daughter is grown and off blazing her own bright trail in the business world, leaving Amanda free to fill her days volunteering at the local charity thrift shop. It isn’t an exciting life but it's secure, and most days Amanda is content to accept the path that she has chosen.<br><br>But all of that changes one day when a woman walks in with a crate full of LP records to donate. As Amanda flips through the stack, there's one album in particular that drags her back to an alcohol-fueled senior year summer outing and a bonfire where she kissed a girl on a dare. She doesn't know it yet, but that very same girl is standing in front of her, all grown up now and peering into Amanda's eyes over a crate of vintage vinyl. <br><br>There's a flash of recognition and Amanda begins to wonder what her life would have been like if she had followed her heart instead of everyone's expectations. What if she had turned left instead of right, zigged instead of zagged? Would she be happier than she is now? And when given the chance to do it all again, will she have the courage to change her decision and follow her heart?

It's Been Such a Long Time

Dinner at my place?It says, I’ll pick you up.


Oh, my goodness, could it be that her project has finally come to an end, or is it just a break to let me know she’s still alive and she’s planning on us sharing a dusty table cluttered with power tools?


I text back a simple Yesand then start to wonder what it is we’re going to be eating. Mari is far better at ordering take-out than she is at putting meals together in the kitchen. Want me to bring something?I fire off as I think about Mari’s fancy new kitchen countertops and appliances, and how little use they’re probably going to get with her living there.


When five o’clock rolls around I’m standing by the front door of the thrift shop like a high school girl waiting for her prom date. And when I see Mari’s truck pull up, I have to force myself not to burst out the door and sprint over to it.


Chapter 15