She smiled at that. Lottie loved her it seemed, and now Bill was on her side. Pearl didn't know why she felt emotional and misty eyed all of a sudden. Joe's family made her feel the actual kind of love, the kind without strings and hatred involved. She would never regret running into Joe's arms, only that it took an act of extreme measures to run away from her family. She looked down into her cup and gave herself a chance to take it in, to bask in the feeling of joy that was blossoming in her heart for the open arms of Lottie and now Bill (not physically).

And now, perhaps, she could start to heal. She thought about the different things that were going on and she thought about what she might want for the future, how she wanted to proceed. She could find meaningful employment or make her own work. Hell, she had plenty of things to inspire novels. Perhaps it was time to pursue that. After all, she had to start somewhere. In the meantime, she would enjoy spending time with her young sister in law.

"Thank you," she said with a raspy whisper.