Page 11 of Who We Think We Are
K ate’s flight arrives in Toronto in the early afternoon, and Jake is waiting for her as she exits customs. He opens his arms and wraps them around her. After a big hug, he holds her back and says, “I am so sorry I was such a jerk and so mean to you.”
“I’m sorry too, Jake. Let’s put all that behind us, OK? We’re here for Kelli. Where is she?”
“She’s having a nap. She hasn’t been sleeping well and wants to be awake for you.”
Kate knocks on the door to Kelli’s room and hears a faint “Come in.” Kate walks in, and Kelli is sitting on her bed under her comforter, looking tiny and vulnerable. Her long, dark hair is a tangled mess. Kelli’s voice shakes. “Hi, Mom.”
Kate runs across the room, sits next to Kelli, and puts her arm around her.
“Are you mad at me?”
“Of course not, pet. Why would I be mad at you?”
“Dragging you back from Holland and wrecking all the work you did to get me into this university.”
“I’m not mad. Dad and I just want you to be happy and thriving, darling, and we’re here to help you sort this out. We can look at all the options, including staying or leaving, and if you leave, what you will do instead.”
“Including going home?”
“Is that what you want, Kelli?”
“I’m not sure. Would it be OK if I did?”
“Of course, sweetheart. Anything.”
“Well, can I think about it, and we can decide while we’re at that house?”
“You bet. Better to make those kinds of choices when you’re feeling more relaxed.”
“The girls treat me like I’m their mascot.
No one’s mean to me, but they all have fake IDs and go clubbing or go to parties and don’t invite me.
Not only am I two years younger than all of them, but I look like I’m twelve.
I just don’t fit in. And one of the girls got robbed when she was walking across campus at night, so now I’m nervous about being out at night. ”
Kate squeezes Kelli more tightly. “I’m so sorry, honey. I guess we rushed things with you coming here. Your peace of mind is important, and it does not need to be postponed. We’ll do what we need to do.”
“OK. Thanks, Mom. I feel better that you’re here, and now that I’ve told you, I can sleep.”
Kelli lies down, and Kate rubs her back until she falls asleep. Kate tiptoes out of the room to the hall to wait for Jake. She doesn’t want to cry in front of Kelli and needs a few minutes to allow herself to feel her feelings. She’s a mother bear who wants to roar and protect her cub.
Kate’s phone buzzes. It’s a text from Suze: “Jake called to ask Esther to stay at the house longer to take care of Coco. How’s Kelli? Everything alright?”
Kate replies: “Kelli wants to drop out and come home. She’s not ready to be here.
She’s like a scared little girl, not knowing what to do, but still trying to please us.
Paige is coming tomorrow I’m not breaking the bank. It’s only a week, Jake. Then we’ll both be home.”
The next day, Paige goes back to Montreal, and Jake, Kate, and Kelli go to Toronto and pack up Kelli’s clothes.
She packs a small bag to take with her to the Netherlands, and Jake will take the rest home with him when he flies home the next day.
They give the rest of Kelli’s stuff, sheets, towels, etc.
, to her roommate, Amanda, and friends in the dorm, who are happy to receive it but sad to see Kelli go.
They stay at a hotel near the airport, and the following morning, Jake walks Kate and Kelli as far as he can go before they enter customs. He cries when he says goodbye to Kelli, and she tells him, “It’s only a week, Dad. You’ll be fine.”
“But I will miss you both so much.” Jake hugs Kelli.
He kisses Kate. “I’ll miss you, too. Make sure you come home next week.” He looks over his shoulder as he walks away to catch his flight to Vancouver, and Kate and Kelli wave at him as they go through customs.