‘Somethingiswrong,’ I said quietly. ‘David is right. Youshouldbe happy now that Myles has agreed to take over this place. And yet, you’re not. You’re still disappointed in me.’ I shook my head. ‘It doesn’t matter what I do, does it? I’m never going to be good enough for you.’
‘Stop being dramatic, Jonah,’ she replied, sighing. ‘I am proud of you. It’s not wrong for a mother to want the best for her son. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for any of you.’
‘You’ve never given Anna or David half the grief you’ve given me though.’
‘That’s not true.’
‘Sorry, Mom, but it is,’ Anna agreed. ‘You’ve always been harder on him. And I was just so glad that you weren’t focusing onmylife so I did nothing about it. But now that I’m a mom myself? I find it hard to understand. I’m sorry I never stood up for you, Jonah.’
I swallowed hard. Hearing her apologize made me realize how much resentment I was actually holding on to. ‘Thanks.’
‘Yeah,’ David agreed. ‘I’m sorry too.’
‘What is this?’ Mom asked, staring around at our faces. ‘Suddenly I’m a bad mother?’
Anna shook her head. ‘That’s not what we’re saying.’
‘She’s right. You’re not a bad mother,’ I corrected her. ‘But I think I need some space. At least until you can accept that my life, ismylife.’
‘I will when you stop wasting your life,’ she retorted.
Beside me, Mae sucked in her breath sharply. ‘How dare you? You’ve spent so much of Jonah’s life trying to pressure, manipulate and guilt him into doing your bidding,’ she said. ‘Being disappointed in him for not being who you want him to be, and you’ve completely missed out on seeing him for the wonderful, kind, adventurous, clever and loving man that he is. Have you ever stopped to ask him whathewants to do?’
45
MAE
I tried hard to stay out of it, keep my mouth shut and let Jonah fight his own battles. I really did. But Eleanor made that impossible. Seeing her still trying to guilt Jonah for not wanting to do what she wanted him to do wasinfuriating.Even with a solution in hand, and Myles poised and keen to take over the hotel, so that Gray could retire and look after his health, she wasstillintent on making sure Jonah knew she was disappointed in him.
‘He doesn’t want to do anything,’ Eleanor retorted. ‘That’s the problem.’
‘That’s not true. He has brilliant ideas, actually.’ I looked at Jonah. ‘Tell them.’
He stared back at me, then nodded slowly.
‘Tell us what, son?’ Gray asked.
‘Growing up, as you all know, I spent a lot of time outdoors. You thought it was because I couldn’t sit still, but truthfully, out there, on the island, was the only place I felt at peace. Out there, there were no expectations on me, no pressure. I combed the shorelines after school. Explored the forests on the weekends. Studied the tides. Learned where to shelter in a storm.’
His family listened intently. I put my hand in his and gave it an encouraging squeeze.
‘People come to this hotel and stay in these beautiful rooms,’ he continued. ‘But that’s all Pine Harbor is to them. A stunning view from a window.’ He shook his head. ‘But it’s not. It’s so much more than that. It’s the way the sea smoke dances on the ocean’s surface on a cold winter’s morning. The way the light glitters off the frozen lake as you skate around it. The sound the wind makes on the bluff. The color of the sky before a storm. There is so much beauty in this place, andthat’swhat I want people to see. What I want to show them.’
‘That’s all very admirable,’ Eleanor said. ‘But our guests will be wondering where?—’
‘Eleanor.’ Gray’s voice cut her off. Quiet but firm. ‘Let him finish.’
She stared at him in shock.
‘Go on,’ Gray encouraged Jonah.
‘I want to run excursions through the hotel,’ Jonah explained. ‘Guided nature walks. Skating. Seal watching. Sailing trips. Experiences that will connect people to the place.’
There was silence as his family processed this. I wanted to speak but Jonah already knew what I thought of his idea. He needed to hear it from his family now. Gray was the first to break the silence.
‘I think it’s a brilliant idea,’ he said, smiling at his son.
‘I agree,’ Anna said, nodding. ‘It’s the perfect job for you, Jonah. You know this island like the back of your hand. Who better to share it with people than you?’
