Page 36 of A New Home

She stood rooted to the spot long after Isla's footsteps had faded away, her thoughts chasing each other in circles. Tonight, she would cling to the possibility of escape, to the hope of healing in Simon's presence, away from the inn's oppressive walls that seemed to hold Isla's shadow even in her absence.

Tonight would be about Simon and Charlotte, about the possibility of what could be built from the driftwood of past relationships. Charlotte clung to that thought, letting it guide her as she prepared to step out from the shadows of suspicion and into the light of healing.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

An hour later, Amelia stood in the foyer of the inn, staring blankly at the floor. Her shoulders were hunched, arms crossed tightly over her chest. She didn't look up when Charlotte entered from the sitting room, concern creasing her brow.

"Amelia?" Charlotte ventured softly.

A noncommittal grunt was the only response. Charlotte moved closer, reaching out to touch her daughter's arm.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong? Did something happen?"

Amelia flinched away from her mother's touch, taking a step back. “You know why I’m upset. And I don't want to talk about it."

Charlotte's heart ached at the coldness in Amelia's voice. "I'm sorry if I upset you, sweetie," Charlotte began gently. "I know my move and the divorce has been hard for you. If you need to talk, I'm here."

Amelia's shoulders tensed, but she remained silent. Charlotte waited, hoping her daughter would open up. The ticking of the antique grandfather clock in the hall seemed to grow louder in the heavy silence.

Finally, Amelia met her mother's anxious gaze. Charlotte held her breath, willing herself to be patient. She could see the hurt and confusion swirling in her daughter's eyes. Charlotte knew she had to handle things delicately. Rushing in or forcing the issue would only push her daughter farther away. For now, she'd give Amelia space. When she was ready to talk, Charlotte would be there to listen.

Amelia took a shuddering breath, her eyes flashing. "Why do you always have to be so smothering?" she burst out. "I'm not a little kid anymore, Mom. You don't need to monitor my every move."

Charlotte blinked in surprise at her daughter's sudden outburst. "Amelia, I'm not trying to smother you," she began gently. "And I wasn’t watching you. I just want to make sure you're safe and happy.”

"Yeah, right. Sure, you weren’t. And that's exactly the problem!" Amelia exclaimed, throwing her hands up in frustration. "You don't trust me to take care of myself. You think I can't make good decisions."

She turned away, hugging herself tightly. Charlotte's heart ached at seeing her daughter so upset. She hesitated, then stepped closer, keeping her voice soft. "That's not true at all, sweetie. I know you're growing up. I'm just...adjusting to you having more independence."

Amelia whirled around, tears shimmering in her eyes. "I'm not a little girl anymore, Mom. I wish you could see that." Her voice broke on the last words.

Charlotte gently touched her daughter's shoulder. "I do see that, Amelia. And I'm so proud of the smart, capable young woman you're becoming." She smiled encouragingly. "We're still figuring things out, but I promise I'll try to give you more space. Just...talk to me too sometimes, okay?"

Amelia blinked rapidly, then nodded, a tentative smile crossing her face. "Okay, Mom." Charlotte pulled her into a warm hug, hoping this was a step toward understanding.

Amelia took a deep breath as she pulled back from the hug. Fiddling with the hem of her shirt, Amelia said, "About Nathan. We just...connected right away." She glanced up hesitantly. "I really like him, Mom."

"I see," Charlotte said slowly. She felt a pang of concern at this new information but tried not to let it show. "And how did you meet Nathan?"

"We ran into each other at the market in town. He was so easy to talk to, and he offered to show me around the area." A faint blush rose on Amelia's cheeks. "We've gone on walks along the coast and just talked for hours. He's so thoughtful and interesting."

Charlotte nodded, keeping her expression neutral. "He sounds lovely. But a long-distance relationship can be difficult, honey. I just want you to be realistic."

Amelia's face clouded at that. "I knew you'd react like this," she said, a defensive note creeping into her voice. "Why can't you just be happy for me?"

Charlotte held up a conciliatory hand. "I'm not saying you can't see him. Just...proceed with caution, okay?" She sighed. "My only concern is you getting hurt down the line."

Amelia folded her arms across her chest. "I don't need a lecture, Mom. I can handle this." Her jaw was set stubbornly as she met Charlotte's gaze.

Charlotte hesitated, then decided not to push further. "All right. I trust your judgment, Amelia." She managed a small smile. "I'm here if you ever want to talk more."

With a short nod, Amelia turned and walked out of the kitchen, leaving Charlotte pensive and hoping she'd made the right choice.

Charlotte watched Amelia disappear upstairs, her footsteps echoing down the old staircase. She sank into a chair at the kitchen table, shoulders slumped. Though she wanted to support her daughter's new relationship, Charlotte couldn't ignore the gnawing worry in her gut. Long-distance rarely worked out, especially for someone as young and inexperienced as Amelia. Charlotte knew firsthand how painful it was to give your heart to someone only to end up worlds apart.

She thought back to her early relationship with Daniel. It was exhilarating, romantic, magical—everything she'd dreamed love could be. But the inevitable strains took their toll. Charlotte didn't want Amelia to go through that heartache. But she also knew she had to let her daughter make her own choices. Pushing too hard would only drive Amelia further away.

She knew Amelia was mature for her age, but the thought of her only daughter so far away and emotionally invested in someone she barely knew still caused a knot in Charlotte's stomach. As a mother, her natural instinct was to protect Amelia, but she also had to let her spread her wings. It was a delicate balance, one Charlotte was still struggling to find.

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