Liza thought often about Rebecca, Tim's widowed wife.
She never wondered if the woman hated her. She wasn't stupid; she knew Rebecca was too kind to hate her.
But even Rebecca, as nice as she was, would surely look at Liza and think, 'What if Tim had lived instead?'
Liza would never hold such a thought against the woman. Especially since she often pondered the same thing.
What if Tim had lived and Liza had died?
Things would have been very, very different.
Liza's mom would have been alone again.
Rebecca would have her husband, and their baby would have a father.
Liza's mom would have bonded with her church ladies and eventually been fine.
Rebecca and Baby Peanut would have been basking in the love of a family rather than drowning in sorrow.
Why couldn't things have been different?
Liza wasn't sure yet. She hoped, though, that one day, she would understand.