Page 33 of Memories of Santorini

“I’m not offended at all. And I hope you’re not offended if I don’t go.”

Another wave of guilt turned her face pink. She’d been mean to her mom today, and she didn’t like that about herself. “Then I won’t go either. We’ll do it together another day.”

Mother shook her head. “Absolutely not. Go have fun. They’re having breakfast out too.”

Sienna groaned, thinking of the climb up all those steps on a full stomach. “I’m sure as heck not eating a lot. Or drinking.”

Smiling, her mom leaned in to touch her arm. “I won’t act like a mother and tell you to drink lots of water and rest regularly and put on suntan lotion and wear your hat.” They both laughed. It felt good to laugh.

“Anyway, it’s way too late in the day for me. I like to go early. And we’ve got two weeks together to do whatever we like.”

“I don’t want you to feel left out.”

Her mom shook her head, her short curls bouncing attractively. “I’ll go for a walk while you sleep in and have a coffee at a café I found yesterday. And if you’re gone when I get back, I just might lie in the sun and read a book.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. Now brush your teeth, dear.” She blew a kiss and went off to her room.

Her mother was beginning to amaze her. All her volunteering, her understanding of how fulfilling working with the elderly could be, just the way Sienna felt.

There was so much more to her than Sienna had ever imagined. She’d thought her mother went out for coffee chats or brunches with her friends and spent the afternoon watching Dr. Phil and Judge Judy. How ridiculous. Of course her mother would be hiking, volunteering at an animal shelter, and driving old people around. Nonni volunteered her time too, but she excelled at organizing five-hundred-dollar-a-plate galas and auctions that benefited this or that group. But her mom was hands on. Sienna liked to think she gave a lot to her clients: confessor, advisor, friend, a shoulder to cry on if they needed it. Was there that much difference between what she did and what her mother did?

If she moved to Smithfield and Vine, she’d have to find a way to bring her clients with her. She absolutely could not leave them in the hands of indifferent colleagues who were only out to make a buck and didn’t care how they affected the lives of the people they advised. It was only about the commissions they could make. And the company rewarded them for that attitude. That’s why she needed to leave.

For the first time, she felt like her mother understood her goals.