“I’m just saying.” She tosses her chestnut hair, one shade lighter than mine and twice as glossy. “What’s the point of having children at all if you’re just going to hire full-time help to raise them foryou?”
“Mom, don’t you think you’re being a bitjudg—”
“And, anyway, I can’t fathom why they have to go all that way for a little sunshine. Florida has perfectly lovelybeaches.”
“As we’ve discussedseveral timesalready,” I say slowly, summoning composure. “Mr. Flint is a resort developer. His company is scouting potential building locations on a few different islands. There’s a whole team going — a handful of execs from The Flint Group, plus a photographer, the architect, a few marketing people…” I shrug. “Rather than leave his wife and daughter home for three months, Seth decided to bring them along. In my book, that makes him a pretty decentdad.”
Mom’s mouth presses into a firm line as she tries to formulate a counter-argument to change my mind. Even now, standing on the curb outside Boston Logan International Airport with my bags packed and my ticket in hand, she’s still half-sure she might somehow convince me to stay. I pull a deep breath in through my nose and remind myself that this overbearing, overprotective show she’s putting on comes from a place of love. She’s not deliberately trying to annoyme.
I don’t think so,anyway.
“Listen, I’m going to miss my flight.” I sling my duffle strap a little higher over my shoulder. “I have to getgoing.”
“Call me during yourlayover.”
“I will if I havetime.”
Her worried look returns. “You’re sure they’re sending someone to meet you atLAX?”
“Yes, outside the baggage claim area. Mrs. Flint’s personal assistant emailed this morning toconfirm.”
“I still don’t like the idea of you on one of those tiny chartered jets across the Pacific. Why can’t this family fly commercial like the rest ofAmerica?”
“It’s the Flintcompanyjet, mother. I think, once you invest in one of those, you’re pretty much obligated to use it.” A wicked grin spreads across my face. “Plus, think of all the free inflight champagne they’ll beserving!”
She glares at me. “Violet, so helpme—”
“Joking!” I interject hurriedly. “Just joking. I’m going to be babysitting, not joining the mile high club.” I pause. “You know I’ve never been one for organized groupactivities.”
“How did I ever raise such asmartass?”
“In your exact image,” I pointout.
Even as Mom nods in agreement, her bottom lip begins to tremble. I think she’s going to dissolve into a puddle of tears but instead, she reaches out and hauls me into a crushing embrace. For such a petite woman, her hug is impressively rib-cracking.
“Can’t… breathe….” I joke-wheeze, hugging her back equallyhard.
“You be safe, you hear me?” she whispersforcefully.
I nod, wishing my eyes weren’t pricking. “Iwill.”
“You email twice aweek.”
“Ipromise.”
“You take lots of pictures to show me when you getback.”
“Ofcourse.”
She grabs my face in her hands and plants a kiss on my forehead like she did when I was barely more than a baby, heading off to kindergarten for the firsttime.
“I love you,Violet.”
“I love you too, Mom. See you inSeptember.”
I brush tears from my cheeks as I turn and walk away from her, scolding myself for being silly as I pass through the sliding glass doors and hike my bags a little higher on myshoulder.
Maybe if I knew I’d never see her again, I’d have taken a second glance back, in those final moments on the sidewalk. Maybe I’d have memorized her a little better, so conjuring up the slope of her nose or sound of her laughter wasn’t so hard later, when it reallycounted.