“Is this a peach Kit-Kat??!” Elodie screeches.
“Yup, you can thank Uncle Tommy next time you see him.” Before Eden was born, Tommy did a ton of international travel and always brought back the best candy from overseas for the girls. He must have stocked up on his last and final trip.
Me and Caroline are snuggled up on the couch in our suite, the fireplace roaring in front of us, while Elodie and Jess are sprawled out on the floor going through the ‘mother-load.’ I’ve always loved The Salamander, but because it’s only 15 minutes from the house, I rarely come here. I guess I’m not big on staycations. The suite we’re in is tranquil and classy, decorated in beige and aqua, with rich mahogany wood furniture. It’s probably best described asequestrian chic, or as Jess likes to sayold money.
“Okay,” I pipe up, “are we watchingNever Been Kissedor10 Things I Hate About You?”
“I vote10 Things I Hate About You, it’s basically just a modernTaming of The Shrew, right?” Caroline asks, blowing me away with her intelligence and maturity. “We’re doing a Shakespeare unit in English right now.”
Jess and I share a look of astonishment, “Um yeah, babe, that’s exactly right…where did my little girls go???” I say as I fake cry.
“Mom, we’re grown. We’re going to be fine while you’re gone, you know that, right?” Elodie says. I guess I’m going to have to start accepting the fact that my 15 and 14 year old are finally growing up…and don’t need me anymore.
The girls were what I would describe aslate bloomers, just like me. In the sixth grade when most of their peers were wearing crop tops and posting on Instagram, my girls were playing Minecraft and building Lego robotics, and I loved that for them. But ever since they started at The Hamilton Academy, both of them have gone through this amazing transformation into confident, young women.
I fought Damian so hard not to send them there. I wanted them to have a ‘normal’ high school experience, which to me meant not going to boarding school to rub elbows with senators’ kids. Damian eventually won the argument by reminding me that I should want something different,more, for my own kids than what I had. He was right, and so the girls were enrolled, accepted, and have had the best school year, maybe, ever.
I look down at Caroline who’s curled up beside me. And just like Elodie is to Damian, Caroline is to me, my little carbon copy. Well, not little anymore since she’s officially taller than me, her 5’7” to my 5’5”. I gently push a few strands of her golden blonde hair that has the slightest of waves, naturally, out of her face and smile into her bright green eyes. It’s like looking in a mirror, but better. She has so much potential, so many more opportunities, and she can make all the right decisions, unlike me. I’ll never regret the choices that gave me my babies, but I will always carry the shame and guilt of my abandonment with me.
The tears come of their own accord as I look at Elodie and back at Caroline.
“Gawsh Mom, don’t cry,” Caroline says as she pulls me in for a hug. Elodie pops up off the floor and squeezes onto the couch on my other side.
“Group hug!” Elodie calls out, bringing Jess up off the floor to join in, too.
“I love you all, so so so much,” I say with a sniffle, because I’m crying like a little baby now.
“We love you, too.” “Love you, Mom.” “Love you, babe.” They all echo my sentiments.
“Okay, let’s watch some Heath Ledger now!” I say as I’m released from the bear hug. I immediately reach up to dry my eyes with the back of my sweatshirt sleeve.
“Who’s Heath Ledger?” Elodie asks, and Jess and I burst out laughing, feeling the full weight of our thirties on us now. My phone pings and I look down, then back to Jess.
“You got this?” I ask. “I just need to make a quick call.”
“Uh huh,” Jess says. As I leave the living space, I can hear Jess tell them, “You ever hear how a picture is worth a thousand words?” Both girls chirp out a quick “yes.” “Well, allow me to enlighten you.” I know she’s holding up her phone to show them, and both girls “ooh” and “ahh” in response.
In the bedroom, I hit the call button on my phone and wait a couple seconds for the answer.
“Hey, Brit. Long time, no talk,” Alexander drawls into the phone.
“Hey, you. You got my message?”
“Yup. Umm, I think I can make it back, like, end of May?”
“Yeah, that works. Like I said, I’ll be there till June 6th.”
“Cool. I’ll send you the code for the lockbox on mom’s house.”
“Great, that works, but I’m not planning on staying there. Um, I rented a little place up at Spearhead, but I’ll definitely check in on the house.”
“Sounds good, sis.”
We both pause on the line, waiting for the other to fill the void.
“So, are you still in Sweden?” I ask.
“Yup.”
