“I have to go,” she said. “We’re having dinner. Family dinner. I’ll call you Sunday like always.” She paused. “Tell David’s twins I hope they feel better.”
She hung up.
The silence was deafening.
“Stella,” Tyler started.
“She does this,” Stella said, staring at her phone. “Every time things get difficult with David’s kids, suddenly she remembers I exist. Suddenly she misses her eldest daughter. Suddenly she needs help.”
“The twins are sick?” Meg asked gently.
“The twins are always sick. Or difficult. Or exhausting.” Stella’s voice was bitter.”
“Stella—”
“I’m not going back.” She looked up fiercely. “I know I was difficult about coming here. I know I’vebeen a pain. But I’m not going back early just because she’s tired.”
“You haven’t been a pain,” Tyler said.
“I kept my duffel bag by the door for two weeks.”
“You were scared.”
“I was stupid.” She pushed rice around her plate. “This is... this is good. What we have. Thursday dinners and driving lessons and terrible cooking attempts. It’s good.”
“Yeah,” Tyler agreed softly. “It is.”
“And I’m not giving it up because Mum suddenly remembered parenting is hard.” The phone buzzed again. Stella flipped it face-down with force. “I’m not.”
Meg squeezed Tyler’s hand, then reached for Stella with her other. “We’re glad you’re staying.”
“Really?”
“Really,” Tyler said. “For the whole summer. Longer if you want. There’s no expiration date on family.”
Stella’s eyes went bright. She blinked hard, looked away. “Okay. Good. Because I already told Joey I’d run the Instagram next week and I don’t want to disappoint him.”
“Can’t disappoint Joey,” Meg agreed solemnly. “Wait, what Instagram?”
“You’ll see,” Stella said with a laugh. “Also Bernie has money on me lasting the whole summer and I want him to win.”
“Of course he does,” Tyler muttered.
They resumed eating, but the atmosphere hadshifted. Lighter somehow, despite the difficult call. Like something had been decided, settled, chosen.
Stella’s phone buzzed once more.
“Text,” she said, glancing at it. “She says I’m being selfish and immature.”
“Are you going to respond?” Meg asked.
“Yeah.” Stella typed quickly, hit send. “I said ‘See you in September.’”
“That’s it?”
“What else is there?” She set the phone aside decisively. “Now. Important question. What did Meg bring for dessert?”
“Chocolate tart from the French place,” Meg said.
