Page 83 of Constantine: Britain's Story: Part 2
We keep walking in silence and I crinkle my nose as I fight the urge to cry. We come to a break in the trees, revealing a small trail, and I lead them to the end. The trees part the closer we get to the water, eventually revealing a massive boulder with a view of the entire lake. I sit atop the boulder and pat the spaces beside me, and they both join me, one on either side. I stare out at the water, watching boats zoom by and birds fly overhead. I breathe in the smell of the pines, and I mentally say a small farewell to the lake and to the spirit of Georgia whose ashes have blended with the wind and the water here.
It takes Elodie wiping a tear off my face to realize I’m crying. “Don’t cry, Mom.”
I sniffle, and try my best to hold it in. I can’t talk about this anymore. “So, have you decided who you’re taking to Taylor Swift?” I overheard Liam mention he got them six tickets, so they could each take a friend.
“Do you think Liam will still give us the tickets?” Elodie asks, disappointment apparent in her tone.
“Oh, um, I can always buy them off of him…” I say, trying to repress the tears. “Hey, wh-what if you guys ask Summer if she’d want to go?” They’ll have more fun with her anyways.
Elodie just shrugs, “I guess,” and Caroline doesn’t say anything at all.
My phone pings and I look down to see a text from Damian.
Damian
I’ll be there within the hour!
“Well, we should probably head back, okay? Your dad said he’ll be here within the hour.” I stand up, dusting the pine needles and debris off my butt. We all stay silent on the walk back, but as we near the house, I ask them to do a few things.
“Please pack up. Pick up the room you were staying in, and I’d like you to write a thank you note to Liam for letting us stay here for a couple days, okay?” They both nod. When we get back to the house, Liam is waiting on the front porch. He gives me a smile, and when I don’t return it, he knows. His smile slides right off his face.
Caroline doesn’t miss it. She looks at me, then looks at him, and as soon as we’re at the front porch, she walks quickly inside, avoiding eye contact with Liam. I push for Elodie to follow her sister.
“I’ll be up in a couple minutes, okay? Can you go tell Jess to get ready, please?” Elodie nods and shoots Liam a tight half smile. Once they’re out of ear shot, Liam launches in.
“Doesn’t look like it went the way you hoped.” I shake my head.
“No…it didn’t. Um, we’re going to move back to the Robles house today.” His face falls. “Thank you for letting us stay here while I recovered.” I have to stop talking to keep the sob from coming out. Liam just stands there not saying anything at all.
“I-I should probably go get packing, but, um, I’ll still see you at the ultrasound tomorrow, okay?”
When it becomes clear, he isn’t going to say anything back, I drop my head and walk into the house, heading upstairs and straight to my closet floor. I let the tears fall silently as I fold clothes and put them in my suitcase. A gentle knock on the door frame makes me wipe the tears away, and I turn to see Elodie and Caroline staring down at me.
“Oh, wow, you guys are fast,” I laugh out, between a cry. “Come help me then.”
“Mom,” Caroline says, “can you stop packing? I don’t want to go.”
I pause my folding. “Caroline, don’t feel sorry or change your mind just because you see me cry, okay?”
“It’s not that, Mom. I just, what I said on the walk, I didn’t mean it. I guess…I just wanted to feel like I had some control and then you mentioned Summer, and I realized I’m not being fair. You gave us a vote, but dad never did. And that makes me mad, and I’m taking that out on you. I’m sorry.”Oh, baby.
“Honey,I’msorry. I wish we would’ve never put you in this situation in the first place.”
“It’s not your fault, Mom, it’s Dad’s–”
I cut her off. “It isbothof our faults, okay?” I set down the clothes and stand up to face them. “I want you to be honest withme, even if it hurts, okay? I can take it, and I know you both can, too, which is why I wanted you to have a say. So just be honest with me, Caroline.”
“I want to stay and I think it’s okay if you get back with Liam…” she trails off, then looks down at the floor.
“Are you sure?” I ask.
“I am.” She seems to gain some resolve. Looking back up at me, “I want you to be happy, Mom. Really.” I nod my head, and then bring them both in for a hug.
“Should we go let Jess know to stop packing?” I release them, reluctantly, from my embrace.
Elodie pipes up first, “I never told her we were leaving.” Then flashes me a radiant smile and I laugh.
“Okay, alright then. Um, maybe I should go talk to Liam then?” They both nod and head towards the bedroom door. As they walk out, Liam walks in. He just gives the girls a sad smile, leaving extra room for them to walk past.
