“I’m not sure… when I’m leaving.” Orifshe was leaving. But did she really want to have that argument with Tiffany now?
“Mom, we need you back home.”
Now that shocked her. Her kids hadn’t really needed her for anything since they learned to drive and Victor bought them both their own cars so she was no longer their chauffeur. “You need me back home?”
“Don’t be silly. Of course we do.”
Did they? Had she deserted them? Did they really need her? Want her back home? But the thing was, Magnolia Key was starting to feel like home to her. But if they needed her, how could she say no? She was their mother, after all.
“So, you’ll come home?”
“I don’t know…”
“I have some news for you. Maybe it will help you change your mind. I’m pregnant.” Tiffany threw her arm out triumphantly.
“Oh, Tiff, that’s great.” She rushed to hug her daughter. Tiffany accepted the hug for a moment, then stepped back.
“So this changes everything, doesn’t it?”
“I… I guess so?” Did it? She didn’t want to miss being there when the baby was born. But she could go visit then. And visit lots. But did she really want to go and slip back into her old life there? Besides… she had no job there. No way to support herself.
“Good. So when are you coming home?”
“I didn’t say I was for sure.”
“You wouldn’t come home for your grandchild?” Tiffany looked at her in disbelief.
“I’ve made a life for myself here. And like it here. I have a job.” She was excited about the baby, but things had just started to fall into place for her now. All that would change if she moved back to Philadelphia.
“I bet Dad could find you a job with his company. Or maybe doing his business dinners. That woman he’s seeing wouldn’t know how to throw a dinner party if her life depended on it.”
“No, that wouldn’t work.” Not at all. The last thing she needed to be was back under Victor’s control. “How long are you staying? We’ll talk more later.”
“I was hoping for just one night.”
“I’ll give you my room. I’ll take the couch.”
“No, I booked a room at Bayside Bed and Breakfast. I hope it’s nice.”
“Oh, Darlene’s B&B is lovely.”
The oven timer went off. “Oh, I made an appetizer. Would you like some?”
“No, I’m beat. And I ate early over on the mainland. Wasn’t sure if there were any nice places to eat here. All I could remember was burgers and fried food when we came here before.”
Because that’s what the kids had wanted to eat back then. She went and pulled the appetizer out of the oven and set it on the stovetop, looking at it longingly. It had browned perfectly and smelled heavenly.
“So, you’ll drive me to the B&B?”
“Let me get my keys.”
She drove Tiffany to Darlene’s and walked her in. “Darlene, this is my daughter, Tiffany. She made a reservation.”
“Oh, I didn’t know she was your daughter.” Darlene smiled warmly at Tiffany.
Tiffany didn’t smile, just answered with, “Is my room ready?”
“It is.” Darlene handed her a key. “First room on the right when you go upstairs.”
