in that watery haze , she pictured her mother down to the minutest detail-her blond hair that never seemed to fall right , her green eyes that looked right into your soul and knew exactly what you were thinking , the way she knew when a slammed door was an invitation and when it was n't , the way she laughed in fits and starts , the way she brushed the hair from marah 's eyes and whispered , `` always , baby girl , '' just before a kiss good night .