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“Hell, yeah,” Gia said to the empty beach, reaffirmed and ready.

She had her path.

* * *

Elle watched the storm on the beach not far from her back door.The sky had gone dark and swallowed up most of the morning’s light altogether.The beach was desolate, and she’d given up her morning workout entirely as aresult of the unexpected storm.

“She’s doing much better,” Elle told her mother as she watched therain.

“Fantastic to hear. And her strength?”

“We took a short walk last night. I think it’s slowly returning.Don’t want to rush it, though.”

“I’m glad you’re there with her. She’s lucky.”

“Thanks,” Elle said, taking a sip of the vanilla coffee she’dbrewed. She closed her eyes and the liquid warmed her throat. A loud clap ofthunder struck, shaking the house.

“And how are you?” her mother asked.

“I’m okay.”

A pause on the other end of the line. “That doesn’t soundconvincing at all.”

“Well, I have a feeling you don’t want to hear the reality of mysituation. I thought I’d spare you.”

Her mother’s voice was softer, warmer when she replied. “I don’twant anything softened when it comes to you. What’s got you down? Is it thebreakup with Gia?”

The walls came tumbling down. “She came to the hospital. She wasso wonderful, Mom, and life without her is just not the same. It feelspointless.”

“I’ve been thinking,” her mother said. “And just let me get thisout before you say anything.”

“Okay.” Elle traced the drops of water on the window as shelistened.

“I’m not proud of the way we handled your relationship with Gia.”

Elle perked up, intrigued now. Was this really happening? Shestood and crossed to the center of her living room, pleasantly surprised bywhat she was hearing. But to honor her mother’s wishes, she didn’t interrupt.

“You have a plan on how you’ll react to any given situation thatinvolves your children, until you’re in the middle of it and lose your way. Ifeel like that’s what happened when I found out you were dating a woman. I letmy alarm take over, and, Elle, that’s not how I feel at all. I’m not alarmed.”

“You’re not?”

“No.” Her mother sighed into the phone. “I just needed a moment tofind my bearings. All I’ve ever wanted is for you to be happy. If you find thathappiness with a woman, then I’ll be nothing but thrilled for you.”

Elle gripped the phone tightly, closed her eyes, and allowed thetears that threatened to fall fully. She swallowed back the emotion. “Does Dadfeel the same?” Elle asked, her heart in her stomach.

“He does. We’ve talked in depth on the issue, and we’re bothashamed of how we behaved in Portugal. I’m sure you’ll be hearing from him atsome point once he’s ready.”

Elle opened her eyes and studied the ceiling as the wash of warmthcame over her. “You don’t know how much of a relief it is to hear all of this.I really needed it.”

“Just know that I don’t claim to have all the answers, and I mightsay something stupid or awful again, especially if you give me a martini. Ihope you can be patient with me.”

“I can,” Elle said. “It’s new for all of us. I get that.”

“Oh, and now I’m all misty,” her mother said, laughing, “which ismy cue to let you go. You don’t need an old woman blubbering on the phone toyou.”

Elle laughed. “Mom. Stop.”

“It’s true! Please send our love to Holly. We dropped a carepackage in the mail for her yesterday. It has some spaghetti fixings. Maybe youcan help her out with that.”