Oceans Apart (Kingsbury, Karen) by Kingsbury Karen

Author:Kingsbury, Karen [Kingsbury, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2008-08-18T14:00:00+00:00

TWENTY

The plans for Michele's trip to see her sister came together by Sunday night.

Once Elizabeth and Susan were packed and in bed, she worked from their home office. Connor was helping Max, no doubt. Earlier that day Connor finally gave up on changing her mind, and now he seemed content to keep his distance.

Convincing the girls hadn't been as easy.

“If you're not going, I'm not, either.” Elizabeth had dug her fists into her waist, her eyes angry and narrowed. “You can't do this, Mom! We've been planning it for a year.”

“I'll go next time.” Michele kept her voice calm, hoping the girls would see her resolve and give up.

“But it won't be right without you.” Susan sat on the edge of Elizabeth's bed for the discussion. “You're a better jet ski driver than Dad.”

“Yeah, and plus he'll be busy with that Max kid.” Other than the first hour or so, Elizabeth still hadn't warmed up to the stranger in their house.

“He'll be with all three of you.” Michele remembered to smile. She flipped the lid of the girls' suitcase open. “The important thing is that you have a good time. You don't need me for that.”

“But you never do this.” Elizabeth was bent almost in half, her cheeks red. She raised her hands and dropped them again. “It's just wrong, Mom. We're not a family without you.”

“Okay.” Michele set a pile of shorts into the suitcase, stood, and faced the girls. “You want the truth?”

“Yes!” Their voices came in stereo, equally hurt and frustrated.

“I want Daddy to have a chance to get to know Max.” Michele didn't blink. She left out the part about not being able to stomach the idea of having to live up to the memory of an island affair, or not wanting to watch Connor fall in love with the woman's son.

Susan was on her feet. “He can get to know Max if you're there, Mommy.”

“No.” Michele crossed the room and set her hand on Susan's shoulder. “It'll go better without me. Besides, I haven't seen Aunt Margie in almost a year. I need this time with her.” She looked from Susan to Elizabeth and back again. “Okay?”

“Are we still going to Wisconsin this summer?” Resignation rang in Elizabeth's voice.

“Of course.” She stretched out her arms, inviting the girls to come close for a group hug. “That vacation will just be our family, no friends along.”

The girls exchanged a look, and Elizabeth took the lead. “Okay.” She huffed a drawn-out, exaggerated sigh. “I still don't think it's right, but if that's what you want to do …”

“Besides, you know how Dad is …” Michele gave first Susan a kiss on her cheek, and then did the same for Elizabeth. “You'll be able to stay up later and eat twice as many s'mores as usual.”

Susan allowed a grin. “Yeah.”

“And we'll all be together again in a week.”

A scowl still shadowed Elizabeth's face, but she lifted one shoulder. “We'll miss you.”

“I'll miss you, too.” Michele returned to the suitcase.

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