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“It’s not called RideShare here,” Mandie said. As if Robin didn’t know.
She gave her daughter a look, turned, and kept walking. Duke matched her pace this time, and Robin did slow down a little. She didn’t want this day to be a bad memory for Mandie—or anyone else—and she managed to rid herself of the frustration before they got their bags. She and Duke would only be staying in the city for a single night, so they’d brought backpacks. They each towed a suitcase after they’d stopped at baggage claim, and all the contents of those bags would stay with Mandie in her new dorm.
The city had stores too, and Robin swallowed back another round of nerves. She let Duke lead them to the ground transportation pick-up, the noise of so many people assaulting her on all sides. Mandie glowed as she looked at everything around her, and she turned to Robin with stars in her eyes.
“I love the city, Mom.”
Robin gave her a smile. “I know you do.” And she did. She could only hope and pray she wouldn’t lose her daughter to the allure of a big city. Even if Mandie moved here permanently, Robin held hope that she’d come visit the cove far more often than her friends had once they’d left.
“All of this?” the driver asked, his eyes drinking in the six of them. And the seven suitcases. “You need two cars.” He reached for Mandie’s first bag.
“This is an extra-large,” Duke said. “It says we’ll fit.”
“You have seven suitcases, man,” he said.
“I’ll hold one,” Ginny said.
Robin said nothing, and she herded the girls into the van. If they call got in, maybe it would be okay. It did take some rearranging and some stacking, but all the people and all the bags got loaded in.
They had three stops to make, and Robin wouldn’t want to be in Alice’s position. Her kids had secured housing in two different buildings, and she’d asked Duke to go with Charlie initially. Just to see how things would go. Just so she knew he wouldn’t be trying to find his dorm by himself.
They were the first stop, and thankfully, they’d planned for that, and no one had to get out and get back in. His bags had been put on top, and Duke lifted his hand in a wave as the van door slid closed.
He seemed so relaxed and calm about the whole thing, and Robin did like having him as an anchor and an example to look to. Not only that, but he was home for the season, and Robin couldn’t wait for their lives to settle down too. Once Mandie was all moved out and school had started, she’d feel better.
She and Mandie got out at the next stop, and she looked back at Alice. “We’ll be in touch.”
Alice gave her a smile that looked like a façade. Robin saw right through it, because she’d been putting on the same brave front for a week not. Heck, all summer. “I’ll text you,” Alice said, and Robin nodded.
She pushed the button to close the van door, and then took the suitcase she’d been towing since they’d deplaned. “All right.” She gave Mandie a bright smile. “Let’s go find your dorm.”
All three of them had traditional halls, meaning there would be no kitchen. They’d have to share shower and bathroom facilities with others on the floor, as well as a communal kitchen. Mandie had said she couldn’t wait to try all the food in New York City, and Robin hadn’t had the heart to tell her how much that would cost.
Her daughter had been working for years, and she had some money saved. Her rent was paid for the year, and her scholarship covered her tuition—at least for this first semester. If she kept her grades up, she’d be fine.
Robin’s chest vibrated in a strange way, but they went in Brittany Hall, where plenty of activity was happening. A woman approached them, her smile made of sunshine. “Good afternoon,” she said. “It’s moving day. What’s your name?” She barley looked at Robin, and Mandie gave her name.
“You’re on the sixth floor,” the woman chirped. “We’ve got Alex who can take you up.” A young woman probably only a couple of years older than Mandie approached, and she smiled with beautiful white teeth against her dark skin.
“Six-seventeen,” the woman said, and Alex nodded.
“Come with me,” she said. She started toward an elevator bank in the back. “Do you know your roommate?”
“No,” Mandie said. “Sort of?” She glanced over to Robin. “I got her email a few weeks ago, and we’ve talked a little bit. Her name is Jessa.”
“Okay,” Alex said, then she launched into the history of the dorms and apartments for NYU students. Robin actually liked it, but she could tell Mandie was zoning out.
“Do you know anyone at NYU?” Alex asked.
“Yes,” Mandie said. “My boyfriend is in Goddard Hall, and my best friend is in Third North. They’re twins.”
“Oh, perfect,” Alex said. “Third North is nice. I lived there my first year.” She smiled and then gestured to a door. “Your roommate isn’t here yet, so go on in and pick a bed. Get unpacked.” She tapped her shirt right above her heart. “Look for any of us with the purple shirts if you need something. We’ll help.”
“Okay,” Mandie said.
“Kitchen and dining area down the hall,” Alex said, nodding the way they hadn’t been yet. “Bathrooms on both ends of the hall too.”
Mandie nodded, and Alex handed her a keycard. They hadn’t stayed in many hotels, but it reminded Robin of that. Mandie held it to the lock mechanism. It clicked, and she pushed the door open.
