11. Chapter Ten
Chapter Ten
T hey’d unpacked everything. Nadine looked around Emma’s dorm room and sighed. It was hard to believe the little girl who loved swimming and the beach was now heading off to her own life. They’d left the night before from Lavender Bay, stayed at a motel not far from the college, and the two of them were up early to move Emma into her dorm.
There was nothing more to do. The bed was made, posters were put up on the wall, and all of Emma’s clothes had been put away. The dorm-sized fridge was stocked, and they’d set up the small microwave on the corner of the desk. Looking at the space, Nadine realized that this was the first time in her daughter’s life where she would be living somewhere other than with her parents. It made her stomach churn and roil. She could feel the bile at the back of her throat as the worries plowed through her mind: Would she be safe? Would she eat properly? Would she get involved with the wrong crowd?
It was time to go, but she was having a hard time leaving. Emma stood on the other side of the room talking to her new roommate, a lovely Indian girl named Suni, whose mother Nadine had met and instantly liked. That was a relief. She’d heard horror stories from her friends about roommates from hell.
Emma bounced over to her. “Mom, Suni and I are going to go and check out the campus.”
That was Nadine’s cue to exit. She nodded quickly as her chin quivered.
“Of course.” She gazed around the room, unable to look at her daughter, and said, “I think that’s everything. Of course, if you need anything, call me. Or Dad. He’ll be here next weekend.”
Emma put her arm around her mother. “Come on, Mom, I’ll walk you to your car.” As they headed out of the room, Emma looked over her shoulder at her new roommate and said, “I’ll be back in a few.”
“No worries,” replied Suni. “It was nice meeting you, Mrs. Eberhardt.”
“Good luck to you, Suni,” Nadine said as she left.
She and Emma walked side by side out to the parking lot. Nadine bit her lip to stem the flow of tears that threatened to let loose. They paused beside the car .
“Well, I guess this is it,” Emma said. She looked around the parking lot, avoiding making eye contact with Nadine. She lowered her head.
Nadine realized it was just as hard for Emma as it was for her. That thought made her firm up her resolve not to turn into a blubbering mess in the parking lot and make it more difficult for her daughter.
“Okay, honey, I’d better go. Don’t keep Suni waiting.” Nadine pulled her daughter into her arms, hugging her tight. She closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of her only child. It felt good to hug and to be hugged.
When they pulled apart, Emma said with a wobble, “I’m going to miss you.”
Nadine forced a bright smile even though she felt like crying on the inside. “As luck would have it, I’m closer now that I’ll be living in Lavender Bay.” It was still a bit of a drive, but it was doable in one day. She reached over and tucked a strand of Emma’s hair behind her ear, something she’d always done when she was little. “I am so proud of you and the person you’re turning into.” There was a little quiver in her voice as she said, “I couldn’t be prouder of you if I tried.”
“Do I have to see Dad next weekend?” Emma asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
Nadine sighed. Emma had not been in touch with her father until recently. At one point, Richard accused Nadine of poisoning their daughter against him. She didn’t waste her breath explaining that he’d managed to do that all by himself. But Emma had spoken to him twice on the phone and had agreed to have him come for a visit.
“Emma, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do,” Nadine said. “But he is your father. You have to decide if you want to be a person who forgives or the kind who holds a grudge. Because I can assure you that the latter requires a lot of anger, and that is no good.”
“But Mom—”
Nadine held her hand up. “I know. What he did hurt us all. But there’s no doubt in my mind that he loves you very much. That never changed. And it never will. And even though it ended our marriage, it is between your dad and me.”
“I know, but I can’t stand the fact that he hurt you.”
Spontaneously and full of gratitude, Nadine threw her arms around her daughter. “Have I ever told you how much I love you?”
Emma laughed. “All the time.”
“I’m telling you again.” Nadine looked toward the dormitory building, thinking Suni was probably wondering what was taking so long. “Give him a second chance, because we all make mistakes. Big ones. Little ones. And ones in between.”
Emma nodded. “Are you going to be okay?”
“Me?” Nadine asked with more cheeriness than she felt. “Of course. In a few weeks, I’ll have a house on the beach. And I’m back home with my mother and sisters in Lavender Bay.”
“All right, Mom.”
“Come on now, hug me one last time and go find Suni.”
They had one last hug and Nadine planted a kiss on her cheek. “Goodbye, honey, take care of yourself.”
“I will.”
Nadine got in her car, and smiled and waved as she pulled away. In her rearview mirror, she could see Emma standing there on the sidewalk, waving goodbye.
She tooted the horn one last time, and soon Emma was out of view. The GPS directed her to the thruway entrance, and Nadine was proud that she’d managed to hold it all together that morning and not alarm her daughter with hysterics and drama. But as she pulled onto the thruway, she burst into tears.