Mom reached over and squeezed Dad’s hand. “By the end of the summer, the question was: What next?”
“We had a decision to make,” Dad said. “Should I stay in Oaxaca? Should she move to Boston? Should we say goodbye to each other?”
“Wait,” Penny said. “That part’s new. Saying goodbye was an option?”
“Well,” Dad said, looking at Mom, “it’s something we put on the table.”
“We needed to be realistic,” Mom added. “Him staying with me, me going with him — both were huge life changes.”
Penny smiled. “So I almost didn’t exist.”
Mom shook her head. “The universe would never have allowed that.”
Dad nodded. “I was ready to stay in Oaxaca. So I suppose it’s possible that you would have been born there.”
“But in the end, we chose to come here,” Mom said. “Living in Heartsprings Valley was the best choice for us to start our family.”
“And now,” Dad added, “we’re coming full circle with our move to Oaxaca.”
“Wait,” Daniel said, eyes widening with surprise. “You’re moving to Oaxaca?”
“They are,” Penny said, jumping in. “They told me a few nights ago. My Aunt Rosario needs help taking care of my grandmother.”
Mom nodded. “Mama is ninety and has memory issues.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Daniel said.
“I’m sorry, too,” Mom said. “We’re going to help Rosario with Mama and make the most of the time we have with her.”
“We’ve been considering the move for a while,” Dad said. “With Penny doing so well at the bookstore and Jorge and Ramon finally settling down, the timing seems right.”
For the next hour, talk continued around the table, the conversation a mix of light and substantive. But with everyonetired and another big day ahead, Penny knew it was time to bring the meal to a close.
After saying their goodbyes, Penny accompanied Daniel out to the front porch.
“Do you know how to get to your car?” she asked.
“It’s just a couple of blocks from here,” he replied. “I’m good.”
“I think you made a good impression on Mom and Dad.”
“Good,” he said, turning to face her. “Your parents are really great.”
She smiled. “They are, aren’t they.”
“Their move seems like big news.”
“It is.”
“When they told you, were you surprised?”
“I was,” she said. “My initial instinct was —no, please don’t leave! But I’ve had a few days to let the news settle in. They’re doing it for the right reasons.”
“It seems like a big change, for themand for you.”
“Definitely. But nothing stays the same, no matter how much we might want it to. Change is inevitable.”
“Wise words.”
