Chapter 10
10
T abitha opened her eyes to the sound of Deenie sobbing. It was a heart-wrenching sound for any parent. She padded next door to her room and opened the door a crack.
“Can I come in?” Tabitha asked.
“Yes. Come under my blanket with me,” Deenie said. “This is my happy place when you’re here with me.”
“This is where we solve the world’s problems, but I can’t help with anything unless I know why you’re crying. Care to share?”
“I’m sad that Kylen left, and I will miss Cay and Ruby. I’ve known them since kindergarten, and leaving them is really hard.”
"I feel the same way about leaving Mel and Deb. April left, and I never have enough time to spend with them," Tabitha said. "We're lucky to have people in our lives who make us cry when we leave them. The good news is that they will be here when you come back, and it'll be your senior year of high school."
“I love Dad, and I’ll see my Texas cousins so that won’t be so bad. It’s just an empty feeling I have. More than anything, I will miss you and even the Mickey Mouse pancakes you make me. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad about those,” Deenie said.
“I didn’t feel bad. Moms develop tough skin for stuff like that. We know that we embarrass you sometimes, and we don’t really care. We actually enjoy it,” Tabitha said jokingly.
“Do you leave tomorrow?” Deenie asked.
“I do. I have dinner with Maxim tonight, and I’ll leave early. I’ll go as far as Georgia, where I’ll see Oliver and the boys.”
“Flossy, too, right?”
“Yes, and I’ll take plenty of pictures,” Tabitha promised.
“What’s the deal with Maxim? He feels like a part of the family, and I’ll miss not having him around. He got me a Louis Vuitton keychain for passing my driving test.”
"One part of it is our age difference. I'm forty-nine, and he's thirty-five. He doesn't have children, and I think someday, he'll resent that I can't give them to him. Even more, is my reluctance to get serious right now. Who knows? A man could walk into my life tomorrow and sweep me off my feet. I'm leaving for three months, and I don't want to leave any loose ends."
"I sort of get that. Did you know that Glenn is a big liar who tries to get virgins to sleep with him? He and a buddy of his have a contest going. I'm lucky Kylen found out, although I felt pretty stupid. Kylen whispered to him that he knows where he's going to college, and he'll make sure his reputation goes with him," Deenie said.
Tabitha pulled her in for a hug. “Kylen will forever be my hero for the way he handled that. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m sure, and I’m glad his days of hurting young women are over.”
“Are all your bags downstairs by the door?” Tabitha asked.
"Yes, and my bike is next to the house. I only have to spend one more summer in Texas, and then I'll be over eighteen," Deenie said.
“Don’t remind me. I’m going to have a nervous breakdown when you leave for college. Speaking of school, did you pick up that packet from your counselor?”
“I did. I might know which ones I’ll apply to by the end of summer.”
Tabitha and Deenie started dragging suitcases out to Greg's car. It was never easy for Tabitha to say goodbye to her daughter. At least she knew she'd be safe with Greg, and if there were any issues, he wouldn't hesitate to call. Tabitha gave Deenie one last tearful goodbye hug.
“Will you call when you arrive?” Tabitha asked Greg.
“I will. We’re stopping in the panhandle to see friends, but I’ll let you know when we leave there,” Greg said.
Tabitha stuck her head in the window. “I love you, sweetheart.”
“I love you, Mom.”
The car took off, and Tabitha cried for an hour. She lay in Deenie’s bed so she could smell her sweet girl.
Dinner at The Chateau was everything Maxim promised, and Tabitha couldn’t believe they hadn’t eaten there sooner. Up until dessert, the evening was everything Tabitha imagined. He talked about how he ended up in Florida from Arles, France. Maxim told a great story and always added humor and tension. She was always telling him he should have been a stage actor.
“I haven’t said this before, but thank you,” Tabitha said.
“For dinner?” Maxim asked.
“No, silly. For showing me that there were still good men out there and proving that I’m worthy of someone as amazing as you.”
“Thank you for showing me that American women can be just as captivating as French women.”
“This is just what I had envisioned for tonight. We made wonderful memories, and I have no regrets,” Tabitha said.
“I love you, Tabitha. I love you, and this doesn’t need to be over.” He placed five airline tickets on the table. “This is how many times I plan to fly to Maine. I think we’re worth fighting for.”
“I love you, too, but it’s a different kind of love. I love myself more, and I want a different kind of summer. This should be no surprise, and I don’t want to hurt you. I’m leaving tomorrow, and I hope you’re always my friend, but this is the end of our beautiful romance.”
Maxim was quiet for a moment before picking her hand up and kissing it. “At least I purchased refundable tickets.” He smiled.
Tabitha laughed. She knew Maxim was too good of a man to leave any ill-will between them.
“Are you a betting man?” Tabitha asked Maxim as he walked her to her door.
“Sure, what do you want to bet on?”
“You. I bet that within a year, you’ll have put a ring on a fabulous woman’s right hand.”
“I’ll bet you dinner at The Chateau,” Maxim said.
Tabitha thought she was going to win without a doubt. Maxim kissed her goodnight.
Her first relationship post-divorce was a success. Tabitha had never had a breakup when she wasn’t left in tears. Maxim was a gentleman to the very end. Having said goodbye to her daughter, friends, and Maxim, Tabitha felt like a weight had been lifted, and she was ready to head up the coast.
Her phone rang, and it was Mel, of course. “Yes, I had a great dinner with Maxim, and we parted as friends. There was a little drama, but that’s par for the course.”
“I wanted to make sure everything worked out. Call me when you get to Oliver’s because I worry about you traveling alone.”
“I will, and don’t worry. I’m going to Maine and not Mars.”
“I love you, and good luck,” Mel said and then hung up.
Deb and April also called and said just about the same thing. When the phone rang a fourth time, she almost let it go to voicemail.
“Tabitha, it’s me, Val. Have you left Florida yet?”
“I leave in the morning. Is there something you need from the Sunshine State?” Tabitha asked.
“No. Gabe was transferred, and we leave for Guam at the end of the week. We’re selling the house.”
“So, plans for Maine are scrubbed?” Tabitha asked. She was lightheaded and had to sit down.
“Sorry.”