“I’m going to miss you too, Mom,” Grace replied.
“I know you’re going to be busy, but please don’t forget to check in with me, alright?” Ella placed a kiss on top of Grace’s head. “I don’t care what time it is.”
“I will,” Grace said. “Promise.”
Ella finally broke their grasp and turned her attention to Sam. “You’re quite adorable, Sam, but if anything happens to my daughter on your tour, I’ll kill you and make it look like an accident.”
Sam chuckled but also looked slightly terrified. “She’ll be safe with me, Miss Ella. Cash already threatened us all within an inch of our lives.”
“And I meant every last word of it,” I said, narrowing my eyes at Sam.
“Bye, Cash,” Grace said, enveloping me in a hug.
“Be safe,” I said softly, smoothing my hand over her hair.
Grace nodded. “Look after Mom for me, okay? She’s going to be going crazy without me.” She turned and grinned wildly at Ella who made a face.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Ella pulled her daughter in for one more hug. “It’s going to be nothing but wild parties here. Let freedom ring and whatever.”
“I love you, Mom,” Grace said, kissing her mother’s cheek.
“I love you too, sweetheart.” Ella reluctantly released Grace from her grasp as Sam offered to carry the bag slung over her shoulder.
“I’m supposed to be assisting you.” Grace laughed. “Not the other way around.”
Sam grinned down at her. “Wouldn’t be much of a gentleman if I let you just lug that thing ‘round the airport, would I?”
Grace relinquished her duffle to Sam before tossing one last smile over her shoulder at Ella and me. I placed a comforting arm around Ella’s shoulder, and we watched as Grace disappeared into the crowd.
I wondered if this was what it felt like to send your kid off to college. I felt a mixture of sadness and pride, and I couldn’t begin to imagine what Ella was feeling.
Finally, I heard Ella take a deep breath before turning to look at me. “I guess we should get out of here. I need to get to the bakery soon. Katie knows I’ll be late, but I don’t want to keep her waiting long.”
“Alright,” I said with a nod as we took one last look at the space Grace had occupied. “Let’s go.”
* * *
“I sure am goingto miss that girl,” I said as I turned the key in the ignition.
Without warning, Ella burst into tears.
“Ella…” I said her name softly and reached across the console to fold her in my arms. “It’s going to be okay. It’s just for the summer. She’ll be back in no time.”
“But this is how it starts.” She sobbed into my shoulder. “First it’s the summer, and next thing you know she’s moving out and moving on. She’ll be getting married and starting a life of her own.”
“That’s true,” I said softly. “But you’ve raised her well, Ella, and no matter where life takes her, she’s still going to be your daughter.”
Ella pulled away, shaking her head. “It won’t be the same. She’ll have a husband and kids of her own one day, and I’ll be alone. Who’s going to eat pizza and watchGossip Girlwith me now? I can’t eat a whole pepperoni pizza by myself. Well... Ican, but my cholesterol says I can’t.”
“That pesky cholesterol.” I chuckled and reached for her hand.
She looked at me through tear-stained lashes. “I’m really glad you came with us today.”
My heart swelled. “Me too, but I have to admit that seeing Grace off wasn’t the only reason I dropped by today.”
“Duh,” Ella joked. “I had your phone.”
“That also wasn’t the reason,” I said, threading my fingers through hers. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you. I couldn’t wait to see you again.”
