“I don’t know,” I admit. “I just put one foot in front of the other and do what I have to do.”
“Without counting on anyone, right?”
I nod.
“It’s a defense mechanism. You make sure you don’t need anyone so that no one has the power to hurt you.” He pauses. “Am I close?”
“I never thought about it quite that way, but you’re probably in the ballpark.”
“Don’t give up on Tate so easily, Summer. I say that as a man who gave up everything once upon a time, thinking it was better that way. In retrospect, I was wrong. And I’m both lucky and grateful that my wife forgave me for being so selfish.”
I’m still mulling over everything he’s said when my phone buzzes.
DOLLY: We found her! She’s okay.
“They found my mom!” I say quickly, typing in a response.
SUMMER: Where was she? How did you find her?
DOLLY: You’re never going to believe this…she was with your dad.
SUMMER: What?! OMG.
DOLLY: Apparently, he didn’t realize she has Alzheimer's, so there was a big confrontation with him, her, and his new wife. They finally figured it out and he drove her home, but no one was home. When he asked for your number, she couldn’t remember it. So he went to the diner, figuring he’d find me and they called me. So everything is okay. If you’re not on the way home, you should stay in Europe.
SUMMER: I’m on a plane. I’ll be home in about twelve or thirteen hours.
DOLLY: Well, Mom is fast asleep at the nursing home and I’m going to bed.
SUMMER: Thank you for helping.
DOLLY: Of course. By the way, your dad wants to talk to you.
I snort.
Not a chance in hell.
SUMMER: You didn’t give him my number, did you?
DOLLY: No. But he knows you work at the diner. And he saw online that you’re married to a rockstar.
SUMMER: Tell him I’m not interested.
DOLLY: It might be worth a conversation, hon. Get some closure.
SUMMER: I closed that door a long time ago. But I’ll see you tomorrow. Or later today. I don’t know where I am or what time it is.
DOLLY: Safe travels, sweetie. See you soon.
“Mom okay?” Erik asks when I put my phone down.
“She went and found my dad,” I say. “I’m sure that was a clusterfuck but she’s okay. He got her to Dolly and Dolly got her back to the nursing home.”
“Glad to hear it.” He pauses. “You sure you don’t want to turn around and go back to Hiskale with me? I’m only in London overnight.”
Do I want to?
Yes.
