“But Grandma’s leaving this week.Besides, I want you to take me.”
Sarah paused for a moment.“We’ll see.”She knew her mother was leaving but had avoided thinking about it.Was her flight really this weekend?
“Now wash your hands and go help Gran.Dinner smells heavenly.”
“But Mom…”
“If you keep whining, the answer will be no.”
“Okay,” her daughter muttered, shuffling toward the kitchen.Guilt tugged at Sarah.She wanted to encourage her daughter’s love of books, not crush her enthusiasm.But the whining.Oh, how she hated whining.
She ducked into her room, swapping her skirt and blazer for well-worn jeans and a soft cardigan that saidserious but approachable.Padding downstairs in sock feet, she arrived in the kitchen just as her mom was dishing out dinner.
“Thanks again for cooking,” Sarah said, taking the salad to the table and returning to bring out the full plates.She was going to miss her mother.“What time is your flight on Monday?”
“Ten, so I’ll leave Sunday on the ferry, I think,” said her mother.“Just to be sure.”
“That makes sense,” said Sarah.“Though this time of year there’s not so much of a chance of weather interruptions.”
“Still.I promised your sister I’d be there, and she’s got enough to worry about with the twins coming soon.”
“Yes.I can’t imagine two babies at once,” said Sarah, sitting down in front of her dinner and glancing at Riley, who had more energy than three children.She wasn’t often envious of her younger sister, Lynette, but she wished she also had a man in her life who was an equal partner who did his share of housework and put his family ahead of work.
“Have you got your plans in place for when I leave?”her mother asked, sliding into the chair across from her.
“Yes, of course,” she said, though she realized she would have to double-check the time and location of the summer camp she had registered Riley for.
“I’m sorry I have to leave you just as summer is starting.”Her mother was apologizing again.
“Don’t worry, Mom.”Sarah reached across the table and patted her mother’s arm.“It will take us a few days to adjust, but we’ll be fine.Won’t we, Riley?”
Riley nodded eagerly.
“Riley has promised to help out more,” said her mother.“She’s growing into a responsible young woman.She even helped make dinner today.”
Sarah peered at her mother.What was she up to?“Well, let’s see how it turned out.”She took a bite of the lasagna and closed her eyes as she savored the flavors.
“Mmm.This tastes wonderful.”
“Thank you,” said her mother, biting into her own dinner.
“Yes, thank you,” said Riley, quieter than normal, which made Sarah think she was up to something.
She ate a few more bites and noticed Riley watching her with a pitiful puppy-dog expression.Yep.Definitely up to something.
“Eat,” she said.“And I’ll think about the bookstore.”
Her daughter’s face lit up.“Thanks, Mom!”She attacked her dinner with new enthusiasm.
“Slow down.You’ll choke.”She turned to her mother, who was smiling indulgently at her granddaughter.“How has your day been?”
Her mother chuckled softly.“I’m almost finished packing, and I’ve been making extra freezer meals for you.”
“You didn’t have to.”Though thank goodness she had.Sarah had no idea how she was going to juggle everything this summer with work being so busy and Riley bouncing from summer camp to summer camp.
“I wanted to.It’s only enough for about ten days.”
“Thank you.It’ll be a huge help,” said Sarah.This summer would be harder than last.Graham, her daughter’s father, was now remarried, living on the mainland, and expecting a new baby.His visits had reduced in frequency, so instead of staying with him every two weeks, Riley now went to Vancouver once a month for only a couple of days.Though he phoned her fairly often, Riley felt the shift.Sarah hated watching it happen, but she understood.He had a new life now.One that didn’t include Sarah, certainly, as their marriage had been over for a year before he met his new wife, Tanis.But this new life also increasingly excluded Riley, and that hurt more than his leaving had.
