“Can I come in, King?”
He inwardly groaned. His resolve, and his newfound ability to say no, was being tested very quickly.
His mother must have noted his ambivalence. “If you don’t want me here, I’ll go. Just say the word.”
Kingston hesitated. “You will?”
She nodded. “I only came by to apologize to you before you go on your trip. That’s all. I promise.”
He opened the door wider and let her in. When he offered her a drink, she refused. He gestured to the kitchen table, and they both sat down. “I need to apologize too,” he said. “I shouldn’t have walked out on you.”
“You were right to do that.” She pulled a tissue out of her purse and blotted under her nose. “After you left, I went home, furious that you would do something so insubordinate to me. Your father pointed out that I was being overbearing, as usual. Once I calmed down, I knew he was right. You would think with my degree and experience in counseling, I could figure out how to stop vexing my children.”
That sounded harsh, but it was also true. “Mom, it’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. Out of my three children, I’ve been the hardest on you. You’re my golden child, right down to your hair. The fact that you were smart and handsome and accomplished—”
“Mother, don’t—”
“And humble! Also easygoing, and I took advantage of that. I should have been teaching you how to set boundaries, not always breaking yours.” She sniffed. “I made anappointment with a counselor, something I should have done a long time ago.”
He stilled, completely stunned by her revelations.
“I need help, Kingston,” she said. “And I’m going to get it.”
He smiled and took her hand. “We both need to learn a few things. I love you, Mom. Quirks and all.”
“Thank you, dear.” She covered his hand with her own. “I love you too.”
“But there will be times when I tell you no. Can you accept that?”
“Yes,” she said. “I can’t promise I’ll like it, but I’ll respect your decisions.”
“I appreciate the honesty.” He knew this was going to be a process, for both of them. He might even consider some counseling, too, once he got back from his travels. His mother wasn’t the only one who needed to learn about boundaries.
She got up from her chair, and he stood. “Enjoy your time in Fiji,” she said, giving him a hug.
“I plan to.” He smiled.
She turned to leave, then stopped. “You and Olivia?”
His jaw jerked. “Over.” She didn’t need to know anything else.
She sighed. “I had an inkling when she didn’t show up last night. And then you were fine leaving her for an indefinite time. I shouldn’t have tried to force you two together. Lesson learned.”
He hoped so. He gave her a last hug goodbye and walked her to the car. As she pulled out, he gazed up at the night sky. This time tomorrow he would be looking at a differentpart of the sky, perhaps while lying on the beach or from the balcony of his hotel room. But something would be missing: Olivia. Eventually he’d get over her, but it would take time, and a trip to Fiji or anywhere else would only be a Band-Aid. But he would heal. Someday.
***
That evening, Olivia picked up her knitting bag, her purse, and a box of wheat crackers to share at tonight’s Chick Clique. She had to get back to her routine as soon as possible. Before she left the library, she’d finished her assignment and had started on the next one. Hopefully as the course progressed, she would gain some interest in the subject matter. Even if she didn’t, she would finish the class with an A.
Like I always do.
She went to the door, reached for the doorknob... and stopped. Her future flashed in front of her—Mondays once a month at the Sunset Cinema, weekly Tuesday meetings with her friends, Wednesday-night suppers with Aunt Bea and Uncle Bill, and the rest of her time filled with work and school. The pattern would repeat over and over and over, like it had for the past several years.
Isn’t this what I want? Isn’t it what I need?
Then why did it feel so wrong? Why did the idea of going back to her rut cause such chaos in her heart?
