Farewell to Cedar Key by Terri DuLong

Author:Terri DuLong [DuLong, Terri]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.
Published: 2014-10-09T16:00:00+00:00

By nine o’clock Orli said she was going to take a shower and get to bed.

She stood up and stifled a yawn. “I’m tired. What are the plans for tomorrow, Dad?”

“That’s up to both of you. Gram would like us to stop by, though, for a quick hello. So maybe we could do lunch in Marblehead.”

“Sounds great,” I said.

“Could we take a drive up the coast to Gloucester and Rockport?” Orli asked.

“Sure. We’ll go to my mother’s in the morning, then get lunch and go for a drive.”

“Sounds like fun,” she said, kissing both of us good night and heading to the bedroom.

Grant watched her leave the room and smiled. “We have one special daughter, don’t we?”

I nodded. “We do.”

“How about a nightcap? A glass of wine?”

“Yes, that would be nice.”

I followed him into the kitchen and perched on a stool as he uncorked a bottle of cabernet and filled two glasses.

“Here you go,” he said, passing one to me. “And here’s to our amazing daughter and her future.”

I nodded. “Yes, to Orli’s future.”

“Would you be okay with Orli going to college up here?” he asked.

“I’d miss her, but no matter where she goes, I’ll miss her, so yes, of course.”

“You seemed surprised about the journalism major.”

“Yeah, I was, in a way. But at this age most young women still aren’t exactly sure what they want.”

“Ah, unlike you, huh?”

I looked across the counter and saw a smile cover Grant’s face. “I thought I was sure about journalism, but as we know now, it really wasn’t what I wanted.”

He took a sip of wine before saying, “Actually, I was referring to you and me. I recall a young woman of nineteen who was very adamant that she shouldn’t marry and should raise her daughter pretty much on her own.”

Over the years I couldn’t recall Grant ever bringing this topic up in a conversation, so I was surprised that he did now.

I blew out a breath. “It wasn’t so much the not getting married, Grant. I just think the timing was wrong. There you were about to graduate college, heading toward a career in law. It wouldn’t have been easy for you.”

He nodded. “Hmm, you’re right. I know that.” He took a gulp of wine and shook his head. “Odd, though, how life is, isn’t it? Do you ever think how your life might have been different had we married before Orli was born?”

“I have thought about that. I don’t think I would have become a nurse for one thing. I would have been a stay-at-home mom, I’m sure.”

“Probably. Would you have minded that?”

I thought about his question for a few moments. “Not at all when Orli was small. Actually, I would have welcomed it. It was tough trying to juggle low-paying jobs and spending quality time with Orli.”

Grant nodded, and I went on, “But I think once she got into high school I would have wanted to find myself outside of the home. Do you know what I mean?”

“I do. Yes, of course, and I think that’s natural.

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