She swiped at her face. “Oh, I was painting a changing table for a customer.”
“So you’re doing that to earn money too? See, Mom, this just isn’t working out for you at all. You need to come back.” Tiffany’s tone left no room for argument.
And yet, she couldn’t really tolerate being told what to do again. It was just like when she was married to Victor. No choices. Being told what she was doing and when she was doing it.
David shook his head disapprovingly. “Anyway, we came to convince you to come home.” He looked at his watch. “I even took time off work to come here. Wasn’t a good time to be away from work either.”
It wasn’t like she’d asked him to come…
“You should come back with us tomorrow. We’ll arrange to have your things shipped.” He glanced at his watch again.
“I couldn’t leave tomorrow. I couldn’t just leave Beverly shorthanded without a server. I need to give her notice. And wrap up loose ends here.”
“So, you are planning on coming back?” Tiffany crossed her arms.
“I… I think so.”
“Mom, I think so isn’t an answer. Tiffany needs you. She told you that. What’s to think about?”
“David, it’s a big change for me.”
Her son flicked his hand as if to swat away her words as insignificant. “You can’t want to stay here in this tiny place and wait tables. For Pete’s sake, Mom. Be realistic. Enough of this silliness.”
Anger swelled in her at his easy dismissal of her life here in Magnolia Key.“I am being realistic. I have a job here. A place to live. I’d have to start all over in Philadelphia.”
“You want to miss out on the birth of your grandchild?” Tiffany’s eyebrows arched.
“No, I could fly back for that.” Why was she delaying just telling them she’d go back?
David’s phone rang, and he grabbed it from his pocket. He turned, walking out the door as he answered the call. “No, I’m sorry. Had to be out of the office. Will be back late tomorrow. I can meet with you then. How about dinner?”
He closed the door behind him, and she was left with Tiffany. “He’s right, you know. This is no kind of life for you. On this tiny little island with nothing going for it.”
“Magnolia Key has a lot going for it. It’s a charming place and I love it here.”
Tiffany looked slightly surprised that she’d contradicted her.
“Okay, I can see it might have some charm in an old-fashioned way. But there’s no modern conveniences. You have to take a ferry to get to any normal grocery store or do any kind of shopping really. You have no family here. You don’t belong here.”
And that last sentence struck at her heart. Tiffany was right. She didn’t really belong here. She wasn’t one of them anymore. She’d tried, but just hadn’t quite made it to the point where she was one of them again.
Or maybe she’d held herself back from feeling like she belonged. But it was too late because she was leaving, anyway.
David poked his head in. “I’ve got to make some more calls. You ready to head to the bed-and-breakfast, sis? Have you convinced Mom to come home?”
Tiffany tilted her head. “Have I?”
She took a deep, steadying breath. “Yes, I’ll move back. I can’t leave tomorrow like David suggested. But I will come back after I settle things here.”
David nodded briskly. “Of course. Sensible decision. Come by the B&B in the morning and we’ll make arrangements. We’re leaving on the eleven o’clock ferry.”
She didn’t like how he just assumed she’d be there when he commanded. She was supposed to have the early shift at Coastal Coffee, but she’d talk to Beverly and see if she could leave early.
“I’ll be there about ten.”
“Let’s go. I have work to do. This has already interrupted enough of my day.” David turned and climbed down the front steps.
Tiffany followed behind him. “You made the right decision, Mom.”
