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After our stop at MIT,the rest of the hour-and-a-half drive down the Cape was uneventful. Once I’d given Mario my parents’ address, neither of us said another word, and I was grateful for the solitude.
I smiled when the car pulled into the driveway and I saw my mother and father sitting on the second-story deck. My mother stood and came to the railing while my father walked down the stairs that led from the deck to where we were parked.
“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” my dad said as I fell into his embrace. “What’s this?” he asked when he saw tears in my eyes.
“I don’t know why I don’t visit more often.” I looked up to where my mother stood. “I miss you both so much.”
My dad put his arm around my shoulders. “You’re here now. That’s all that matters.” He looked at my head. “What happened?”
“Minor cut,” I muttered, paying Mario and thanking him after he’d taken my bags out of the trunk. He nodded, and before I could say another word, he was in the car, pulling away.
“Interesting fellow,” my dad muttered.
“You don’t know the half of it.”
He chuckled and led me to the front door, where my mother stood waiting. She held out her arms, and I walked into them like I had with my dad. Once again, I felt myself tearing up.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” she said, stroking my hair.
“I missed you so much, Mom. I’m sorry it’s been so long.”
“What’s this?” she said, just like my dad had, and then looked at my head.
“You two are so much alike. Minor cut,” I said, pointing to where the bandage covered the staples.
My mother shook her head and took my hand. “Come in and eat. You’re getting far too skinny.”
After lunch,Dad went for a walk on the beach, leaving Mom and I alone in the kitchen.
“Why are you really here, Emme?” she asked.
I put my head in my hands, wondering how so many people could figure out what I was thinking and feeling without my saying a word about it. First Tommy, then Lynx, and now my mother.
“I needed a break.”
She shook her head. “Try again.”
“I’ve been working such long hours, and quite frankly, I’m beginning to burn out.”
My mother kept her gaze steady on me while she drummed her fingers on the table.
“All right,” I sighed, knowing how relentless she could be. “Three years ago, when I was in London for that conference…you know…”
“Yes, I know,” she said, motioning for me to go on.
Thankful that it wasn’t necessary to mention it was when my brother overdosed, I took a deep breath. “I met someone.”
“And?”
“We didn’t exactly stay in touch.”
My mother smiled and tilted her head. “Emme…too much time has passed for you to tell me you’re pregnant, so get to it. What’s happened?”
“I ran into him yesterday. At my building, and, well, later at the office. And then I hit my head and needed staples, so he called his friend. It was actually his cousin, who was at MIT for a conference. Later we went to his house for dinner, and I met his wife—his cousin’s wife that is—who’s really such a lovely person. Someone I hope I can be friends with. And?—”
“Stop!” My mother held up one hand. “Repeat the part where you ran into him yesterday at your building. Then you can tell me about the staples.”
I covered my face with my hands, wishing I could avoid talking about Lynx. Talking about him required thinking about him, and that wasn’t something I wanted to do.
