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Aria murmured. “Mom…”
“Let me say this,” Bethany continued. “When I saw you and Ben together, I remembered how I felt when I married Kenny. I knew marrying him was a good thing for my bank account and security, but I felt my creativity drying up as I walked down the aisle. I felt my soul curling up and dying. I always knew you were strong, Aria. But the fact that you’ve gone after what you want shows me just how strong you are.” Bethany swallowed, then pushed it one step further. “And I know you’ll go back to school eventually to get your degree when the time is right.”
Aria’s cheeks were flushed. Her mother had hardly complimented her in her life, and now, it was like the compliments were flowing freely, as wild as a raging river.
“I’ll consider going back to school,” Aria said softly, “if you consider leaving Kenny.”
Bethany’s lips parted with surprise. After a dramatic pause, during which Aria was sure she would scream at Aria for saying something so heinous, Bethany dropped her head back and burst with laughter. Aria and Cole exchanged worried smiles. This was certainly the weirdest day of Aria’s life.
“Why don’t we have a drink?” Bethany brightened and turned toward the current bartender, ordering a beer for herself. Aria and Cole opted for a beer, as well, as Aria’s head spun. Her mother had certainly never drunk anything except white wine. Who was this woman?
When the bartender arrived with their beers, Bethany raised hers so that it glinted in the July sunshine. “The thing is, darling,” Bethany began, “I already left him.”
As Bethany closed her eyes and began to drink, Aria’s jaw dropped. “Mom? What!” She felt both giddy and insane. Cole’s grip around her hand intensified. He knew she needed support.
“So, if that’s all you needed to consider returning to school, it’s been done,” Bethany continued.
“Why? How?” Aria had a million questions, but none of them seemed quite right.
“After Judah called me, I couldn’t stop thinking about you and about my life and about all the secrets I’ve kept from both my children and myself,” Bethany said, her smile loose. “So, a few nights ago, after your father got back from some golf outing, I walked up to him with two suitcases packed and said, ‘Kenny, I’m leaving you.’ He laughed in my face and told me I never would, not really. And that’s when I walked out the door.”
Aria was flabbergasted.How had her mother turned her back on all that money? Hadn’t she worshiped it for years?
“I’m sure I’ll find new ways to regret this decision, too,” Bethany continued. “But once I started driving northeast to you, Aria, I felt a freedom that I had forgotten was possible. Naturally, your father has already canceled all my credit cards, and I’ll need to speak with a lawyer immediately. But…” She trailed off, then added, “But I’m finally doing something for me. Something that doesn’t have anything to do with money. And I know, somehow, I’ll be fine.”
Aria was shocked. As she stirred with worry, Cole managed to say, “If you need a place to stay, my family has a number of guest rooms. It would be no problem.”
“That’s so kind of you, Cole,” Bethany said. “Aria and I are supposed to meet with a contractor tomorrow to discuss the next steps on the seaside cottage. Maybe I’ll stick around to see that project through.”
“I’d love your help,” Aria breathed.
“Then it’s settled,” Bethany said, her voice wavering, as though nothing was that settled.
* * *
The next evening, Aria and Bethany were invited to the Remington House for dinner. They’d spent the better part of the afternoon with a contractor, discussing the intricacies of the work required at the cottage, and Carmella had been so smitten with their understanding of the beauty of the old place that she’d insisted they make a beautiful meal for them.
“We have a big family,” Carmella said as they walked out of the sea cottage, her hand wrapped gently around Georgia’s head as she slept on her chest. “We’re always eager to get together and have dinner. Besides, your daughter has been part of the family for a while now.”
“How’s that?” Bethany asked.
“She babysits Georgia for me,” Carmella explained. “Even during the months when Georgia took a real liking to crying, Aria was there to calm her down. I secretly called her the baby whisperer.”
Aria laughed, watching her mother’s expression, which beamed with confusion and joy. And at that moment, Aria found herself imagining her mother as a grandmother to Aria’s children, holding them as they cried or slept.
This was perhaps the first time Aria had acknowledged to herself that she did want to grow up— if only a little bit.
“What a beautiful home,” Bethany said as they turned into the driveway in front of the Remington House. A moment later, Cole popped out of the front door, waving. “That boy is smitten,” Bethany joked.
On the back porch, Alyssa and Maggie had set the table as Nancy finished up the cooking in the kitchen, shooing everyone out of her way as she went. Now that it was July, Alyssa was about five months pregnant, and Maggie was just a couple of months behind her. When they explained the story of their pregnancies to Bethany, Bethany chuckled and said, “This family is only getting bigger. How exciting!”
“That’s not all,” Carmella said toward the end of the table, her cheeks burning pink.
Elsa turned to gape at her sister. “What do you mean? Carmella? Do you have a secret?”
Carmella’s smile illuminated her face. “When I started reading my mother’s old diaries, I realized that being a mother was the single greatest gift I’ve ever had. And that Cody was a perfect father and partner. Why wouldn’t I want to do it again before it’s too late?”
“So, you’re trying?” Maggie asked, her voice high-pitched.
