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“Thanks.” I wiped my eyes, feeling like a crazy person having gone from on top of the world to down into a pit. But I knew I had to get all of this out. Mom needed to know. “I tried, Mom. I really did. But when I decided to come back home, I didn’t do it lightly. I did it because I was scared of what might happen if I stuck around and Adam took things to another level.”
I wiped my eyes again, shaking my head and staring at the water.
“And then he came back, followed me here, tried to tell me he’d changed, that things would be different if I just gave him a chance. He was a totally different person, that calm, nice guy that everything thinks he is… but I now know that’s just an act, and I’m not falling for it like it did when we started dating..”
Mom took my hand into hers and squeezed it tightly. I wiped my eyes one last time, not wanting to shed another tear over that little creep.
“It’s not going to happen. I’m not going to get back together with him. I’m here to live my life on my own terms, and if you don’t want to cheer for me, that’s fine. I can cheer for myself.” I didn’t mention that I had three great guys who were also ready to cheer for me. The Wolfs, whatever was happening with me and them, was a subject for another day.
Mom said nothing at first, turning her eyes to the ocean as if collecting her thoughts.
Then she squeezed my hand one more time.
“I…I didn’t know all of that,” she said. “I didn’t. Here I was, thinking Adam was some great catch. But I had no idea he had this dark side. And that you were suffering through it, thousands of miles away!” Mom shook her head as if in total disbelief, as if she had no idea how to even begin processing it all. “It’s over now, baby. You’re here, you’re with your mom, I’m not going to shame you into dating an awful man just because he looks good on paper.”
Relief washed over me. “Thanks, Mom.”
“I know it might feel like your life is over coming back here. But you’re brilliant and beautiful and talented and the world is there for you to reach out and grab it! And I know I haven’t been the best mother when it comes to supporting you the way I should. But I promise to try if you’ll let me.”
I smiled. Tears were still in my eyes, but for a different reason.
“I’d like that, Mom.”
She squeezed my hand once more. It was going to take work for me and Mom to have something like a normal relationship. But I was more than ready to get started.
Together we watched the waves come in, as mother and daughter.
