Sandra nodded. “Yes. And it was then that I realized you and I have some things in common besides our taste in yogurt and mystery novels.”
A tentative smile curved Emma’s lips.
“You see… my mom never braided my hair, not because she didn’t care. But she didn’t know how, and it wasn’t a skill she thought about learning.”
“Were you sad?”
Sandra thought about the question, knowing Emma deserved honesty. “Sometimes yes. But my family seemed normal to me, and I knew I was loved. They expressed it in other ways than some of my friends’ parents. They didn’t take me prom dress shopping, but they did take pictures of me in my dress, and my dad told me I was beautiful. I suppose that you feel that way when you think of your mom.”
Emma nodded, her brow furrowed. “But I have my dad, and he does all kinds of things with Toby and me. He read to us when we were little and cooks for us… although he doesn’t make chocolate chip cookies!”
“No, maybe not, but I have it on good authority that he brings you cookies from Bess’s Bakery.”
Laughing, Emma enthused, “Yes!”
As their mirth slowed, Emma peeked up at Sandra as though she wanted to ask a question but hesitated. Sandra gave her a moment, and Emma finally asked, “Would you mind if I talked to you sometime? You know… about girl stuff… or friend stuff… or just… I don’t know… just… stuff?”
The trust being placed in her hands felt enormous and precious. "Emma, I would be honored if you felt comfortable talking to me about anything. Anything at all."
Emma's smile was radiant. "Good. Because honestly? You explain things better than most adults. You don't make everything sound scary or embarrassing."
"As long as your dad and your mom have no objections, I want you to feel like you can come to me with questions. Any questions."
"Even the really awkward ones?"
"Especially the really awkward ones."
Emma launched herself forward, wrapping Sandra in a fierce hug. "I'm so glad Dad found you. We all needed you, even if we didn't know it."
Sandra held her tight, feeling the significance of this moment. "I needed you guys too."
Later, lying in Terry's bed with her phone pressed to her ear, Sandra gave him a rundown of their day. She could hear his smile as she described Toby's pool antics and their movie night.
"And Emma?" he asked. "She seemed thoughtful when I talked to her earlier.”
Sandra hesitated, then told him about their conversation. When she finished, silence stretched on the other end.
Terry finally heaved a sigh. "While it breaks my heart that Emma doesn't have the kind of mom who makes time for those conversations, I'm grateful she has you now."
Sandra felt tears prick her eyes. "She's incredible, Terry. They both are."
"And they care about you. I can see it every time you're all together."
His words reached inside her, filling places she didn’t know were empty. Letting out a shaky breath, she decided to turn the call back to something less emotional. "We miss you, but we're having fun. Tomorrow's beach day, then you'll be home."
"Can't wait. This conference is good, but I keep thinking about you three."
When they finally hung up, Sandra lay in the dark thinking about Emma's words and Toby's unconscious acceptance. And Terry’s…love?Is it love?She knew what she felt for him and hoped he was feeling the same.
27
Terry gripped the steering wheel as he navigated the final stretch of highway toward home, his mind still processing everything he'd absorbed over the past three days. The conference had been intensive, packed with sessions on drug crimes, including the lengths cartels went to hide the financial side of their operations. He was left with pages of notes and a clearer understanding of how sophisticated drug operations had become.
The session on money laundering had been particularly eye-opening. He'd always known cartels moved product, but the intricate ways they cleaned their profits through legitimate businesses were staggering. Construction companies, restaurants, car dealerships—any business that dealt in cash could become a front for washing millions. The presenters emphasized that these operations often appeared completely legitimate on the surface, run by people who seemed like upstanding community members.
But as informative as the conference had been, Terry found his thoughts constantly drifting to home. From the easy way Sandra had fit into their routine to the sound of her laughter mixing with Emma’s and Toby's during their movie night phone call.
The realization hit him as he drove down the main road of the Eastern Shore. For the first time since his divorce, he'd felt at peace leaving his children with someone. The thought surprised him because he knew Patricia loved Emma and Toby deeply. They enjoyed their time with her, and she was a good mother in her own way.
