5. Chapter Five
A fter our matinee, Meredith and I enjoyed lunch at a corner café. We spent time exploring some of our favorite shops and picking out treats from our favorite bakery to bring back to our hotel room. We both wanted a short nap before dinner in the hotel restaurant. We knew it would be a long night with the evening performance at our favorite outdoor theater. While Meredith confirmed our dinner reservation, I dug through my bag to find my cell phone. I had turned it off once PJ and Amber knew I was on the road. When I said I wasn’t turning it on until I got to Seaside, I meant it. But Amber asked me to call her before they left on their honeymoon. I knew she was nervous about international travel, not that she hadn’t traveled extensively with us over the years, but she’d never been somewhere so remote.
As soon as the phone restarted, I was inundated with text message alerts, missed call notifications, and voicemail messages. I quickly scanned the missed call log and discovered all the calls were from Jonas. He’d left four voicemails. I opened the text app and scrolled. After reading twenty messages, I learned Jonas was waiting for me in Seaside. He’d rescheduled his summer plans. The most recent message was from two hours ago.
Enjoy your day today, my love. Being at the house without you is odd. I don’t think I’ve spent this much time alone in the house combined since we bought it. For years, you’ve opened and closed our summer home on your own. I never realized how much work it was. Yet another thing you did that’s gone unnoticed and underappreciated. I’m sorry for not seeing everything. I love you, sweetheart.
I spent the next twenty minutes reading each message he’d sent since finding my letter on the counter. Then I listened to each voicemail and heard the panic in his voice when he didn’t know where I was. At first, a pang of guilt hit my stomach, but then I remembered I specifically told him, PJ, and Amber about my plans at dinner. I’d waited until a lull in conversation and got their attention. I told them exactly where I’d be, including the hotel name and shows we were seeing. Jonas was looking at me, nodded at appropriate times, and told me to ‘Have a good time.’ But he hadn’t actually been listening, or he would have known my plans, and I wouldn’t have multiple voicemails and text messages.
How many other times had he completely tuned me out?
Dammit, Jonas. I’m not a business or family obligation. I’m your wife. Your life partner. Your other half. Or at least I was supposed to be.
Instead of writing back a snappy remark about how discouraging it was to know he hadn’t heard a word that I said at dinner, I scrolled to Amber’s contact and smiled at the photo of her and Wyatt on their wedding day. My sweet girl had always been the shy, quiet one who often felt out of place and lost in our large family. It wasn’t uncommon to find her in a corner reading from a young age—a habit she never outgrew. Her biggest concern about the wedding was feeling overwhelmed, being the center of attention. Something she had always hated. The professional photos were the epitome of perfection, but the candid photo Wyatt’s sister took was my favorite. While the dance floor was filled with guests enjoying the music, I saw the moment Amber became overwhelmed and was ready to bolt. But instead of letting her, Wyatt wrapped his arm around her waist and held her close to him. He pressed his lips against her ear and whispered something that instantly calmed her. Connie captured the moment perfectly. The smile on my daughter’s face told me the moment went from anxiety-filled to pure joy in seconds because of whatever my sweet son-in-law said.
I had known a lot of athletes over the years, and Wyatt was not your stereotypical player and definitely didn’t fit the goalie personality. We’d learned over their time dating that he had always looked at his talent as a way to secure financial stability and education for himself and his sister. While most players purchased a fancy car or another wish list big-ticket fun item with their first professional contract, Wyatt used his to purchase a small house to give his dad and sister housing security. He came from humble beginnings and was determined to give not only himself but also his dad and sister a more stable future. Learning that was the second thing I loved about him. The first being how happy he made my daughter.
Amber picked up on the second ring. “Hi, Mom. I wasn’t sure if you’d have time to call. I know you have two shows and dinner today.”
“I wouldn’t miss talking to you before your trip for the world. Are you packed? Do you need anything? Clarence is scheduled to pick you up very early. Be sure to get everything done tonight.”
“Mom, I know.”
Turning off mom mode was practically impossible. She was a woman in her mid-twenties. I knew that she knew how to prepare for a trip, but I couldn’t help it. My children were my world, even when I played with the symphony. I did as much as I could for them. It was hard to watch your children grow into teenagers and then adults who didn’t need you anymore. As the years passed, I felt like a guest in their lives instead of a major player. “Sorry. It’s a hard habit to break.”
“I have the gift you and Dad got us and told us to open the night before we left on our trip. Do you want me to open it with you on the phone? Or should we call Dad and let him in on it, too?”
The honeymoon gift my husband hadn’t helped me choose and likely didn’t remember. But as he did on birthdays and holidays, I was certain he’d play along with my charade. “As long as Wyatt’s around. Otherwise, you two should open it together.”
“He’s right here. Let me call Dad, and then I can open it. Should we do video?”
My eyes shot toward the mirror on the dresser. I was a mess. My blonde and gray hair was windblown, and my lipstick had faded. I wasn’t sure why that mattered. It’s not like they hadn’t all seen me like this before. I ran my fingers through my hair as I responded, “Whatever you prefer.”
Amber didn’t respond. Instead, an accept video request bubble popped onto the screen. I moved toward the chair in the room’s corner by the window. “Hi, sweetheart.”
Amber was seated next to Wyatt on the sofa in their living room. He had his arm over her shoulders. “Let me get Dad.”
Less than a minute later, the screen divided, and Jonas’s face filled the other half. He was outside on the patio, sitting on my favorite swing. “Well, this is a pleasant surprise. Three of my four favorite people. To what do I owe this pleasure?”
Amber waved the silver package with a royal blue bow. “It’s time for us to open our honeymoon gift from you and mom. I thought it would be fun for you to watch us.”
Jonas’s eyes shifted to meet mine, silently communicating a thank you the way he always had about the gifts I planned. “Fantastic idea, princess.”
As Amber untied the ribbon, I instructed, “Usually, the rule is card first, but not this time. Open the gift.”
She handed the card to Wyatt and finished removing the paper. Her eyes widened, and Wyatt ran his hand across the contents of the gift. He looked at me, then at Jonas. “This is gorgeous. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” I replied, with smug satisfaction that they’d left the gift out of view, so Jonas was still in the dark about it.
Part of me wanted him to ask to see it, just to see what excuse he’d use, but I knew him better than I knew myself at times. That would never happen. He would never let Amber know he was clueless about the gift. I wanted to leave him in the dark out of spite, but I also knew my daughter loved her father with all her heart, and for years, he’d been not only her ally but her closest friend. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. “We’re so glad you like the journal. When we saw it, we knew it would be the perfect way to document your journey. I’m certain I’ve never seen a handcrafted leather journal that also had pages for photos before. We figured you could each journal daily or take turns, and then when you get home, you can add photos.”
“It’s perfect,” Wyatt replied. “I actually threw a blank notebook into my carry-on earlier, but this is much nicer.” He placed the card in Amber’s hand. “Open this next, beautiful. Your mom has dinner reservations soon. We can’t keep her too much longer.”
It was sweet of him to remember my plans. But something told me he recognized the tension between Jonas and me. The air was thick. It had nothing to do with our physical distance and everything to do with how I could hardly look at him. Amber slid the card out of the envelope and opened it. Wyatt caught the stack of bills that fell from it.
“We ordered Ngultrum from the international bank. Airport exchange rates are horrible and we weren’t sure how easy it would be to exchange or if US dollars were accepted anywhere. I know when we’ve traveled, it’s been best to have local currency if at all possible. We got it in small denominations, figuring you’ll mostly use it for souvenir-type purchases. I know you planned an all-inclusive trip and have pre-paid for all your tours and events.”
Jonas quickly added, “Princess, you have the family credit card. Use that for anything while you’re there instead of your personal cards. There’s no international fee.”
Wyatt attempted to decline the request. “Jonas, we appreciate it, but Amber and I want to do this on our own. It’s important to us.”
“We’ll sort out everything when you’re back. It’s not like I’m offering a house. I know you want to do that on your own. I just want to be sure you don’t have extra fees or end up with a locked card using it internationally.”
Amber turned her head slightly and wiped her face against Wyatt’s shirt. It was so fast I almost missed it, and I was certain Jonas had. Wyatt stroked his hand down her arm before pressing his lips to her temple. His silent way of comforting her when she was upset. I wished she would say something to Jonas about how insensitive he was being, but I knew she wouldn’t.
Technically, Amber had a trust fund and had received money for a home. She used part of it to buy a small apartment complex as a real estate investment because she made a deal with us about a house when she was a teenager. The only house Amber had ever wanted was ours. Jonas and I dreamed of moving to Seaside when we retired and making the summer house our home base while we traveled. Amber told us she planned to buy our house, and we could use the guest house when we were in the area. Jonas and I agreed to the arrangement and promised the house was hers. PJ knew of the plans and had said he was fine with it because it was far too big for what he wanted. He was more the condo in the heart of the city type. My husband’s decision to take on the new foundation and delay his retirement didn’t just change our plans; it impacted Amber’s. But Jonas was clueless. And Amber would never say anything. It wasn’t in her nature to say anything negative to anyone. Especially the man she’d admired her entire life.
For months, as Jonas’s retirement date crept closer, Amber had talked about her plans. She thought she’d spend the beginning of the summer on her honeymoon, then she’d enjoy some time in Seaside before we officially made it our retirement home. She’d planned to move into our house this fall. She’d talked my ear off about her plans for the house while she sat in my kitchen last month while Wyatt and Jonas were on the road. From new furniture in the living room to the way the office would work for both of them to new paint in the bedrooms. I knew all of her plans. The room that was currently my craft space would be the nursery for the baby she was going to talk to Wyatt about trying for after this hockey season. She wanted a little more time just the two of them, but she’d be ready soon.
In my rush to get out of town, I hadn’t talked to her about how she was feeling. But I also knew dealing with the change was the last thing she wanted to think about before her honeymoon. I was certain it would be one of the things we discussed for hours while she was in Seaside and Wyatt was at camp. Thinking about how Jonas’s selfishness was impacting our daughter made me want to spit nails. I didn’t want Amber and Wyatt to leave for their honeymoon with a sour taste in their mouths about anything. They deserved nothing but positives, so I offered one more wish before ending the call. “Okay, my loves. I want you two to have the very best time. Enjoy every moment together. Have long talks. Take walks together. Enjoy the sights and culture. But also spend time just the two of you. This is your time together, far from all your responsibilities. Savor every minute of it. I love you both with all my heart. I cannot wait to hear about it and see the pictures.”
“Thank you, Mom,” Wyatt said before blowing me a kiss.
“Love you, Mom. I will bring the journal and pictures to Seaside. You’re going to be so sick of hearing about it by the time I leave.”
I shook my head. “Not possible, sweetheart.” I blew them a kiss, then disconnected the call without acknowledging Jonas.