Page 97 of The Summer Swap

“It’s good to see you.” Kristen sniffed and stepped back. “Thank you for allowing me to come.”

“I’m glad you’re here.” Cecilia had to keep her own emotions in check. She released her daughter and took a closer look at her face.

Kristen gave a crooked smile and tried to smooth her hair. “I’m sure I look terrible.”

“No, but you do look tired.” And she could feel the misery coming off her in waves. “I’m worried about you. Come and sit down. You’re just in time for breakfast.”

If Kristen was delighted to have left Theo, it didn’t show. Her eyes were shadowed, and she looked exhausted.

“Is Dad joining you, Mom?” Todd picked up Kristen’s suitcases.

“No. He has to work. I’m having a few days to myself.”

And that was what parents did, Cecilia thought. They hid their pain from their children. Protected them. But maybe there came a point where it was better to share than to shut them out. A time when it was better to tell the truth.

Kristen forced a smile. “Is there somewhere I can freshen up?”

“Of course. Let me show you around before we eat.” Cecilia gestured to the front door of the cottage but Kristen stopped and stared at the name, freshly painted by Lily on a piece of wood fashioned by Todd.

“Dune Cottage,” she said slowly. “This is the place you used to come to with Dad. When Winston and I were little. You spent weekends here.”

Cecilia was taken aback. “You know about this place?”

“Not specifics. You were always secretive about it, which made me all the more curious. Whenever I asked Dad where you’d been, he’d always say ‘paradise.’ He said that you stayed in a cottage that perched on the edge of the dunes, with nothing but sand between you and the ocean. He told me that each bedroom had a balcony.” She glanced upward, to the balconies and the shingled roof. “I assumed it was somewhere you rented. You own it?”

Cecilia realized how much she had to share with her daughter. “I thought your father had sold it long ago. I only found out recently that he hadn’t.”

Cecilia gave her a summary of everything that had happened and Kristen shook her head, confused.

“Why would he pretend he’d sold it?”

“Because he knew I wanted him to sell it.”

Kristen didn’t ask for her reasons for that. “But he kept it.”

“Yes. It was a shock to discover that.” She expected Kristen to defend her father as she always did and was surprised when her daughter took her hand.

“I don’t understand any of it, but it doesn’t matter.” Kristen squeezed her hand and let go. “So, you’ve been renovating?”

“That was Todd and Lily’s idea. I found it hard being here. They thought that a makeover might get rid of the memories.” The moment the words left her lips she knew she’d misspoken. “I’m sorry—I know you find it difficult that I—”

“No, don’t apologize.” Kristen touched Cecilia’s arm. “Whatever you need to do is fine with me. I feel bad that I didn’t know. That you felt you couldn’t tell me. I should have talked to you more and been more understanding.”

This was a humbler, softer version of Kristen. It was as if this seismic event in her marriage had shaken the foundations of who she was and made her question everything.

They stepped inside and Kristen glanced around her.

“This is a beautiful room. Those shelves. I recognize Todd’s work.” She scanned the space and then stopped, her gaze fixed on the painting. “The Girl on the Shore.” She said it quietly, as if she was talking to herself. Then she moved toward it and examined it closely. “This is it. This is the painting everyone has been asking about.”

Cecilia stood quietly. This moment had been inevitable of course. And now it was here, the sense of dread left her, and she felt only relief. She wouldn’t be able to move on until the whole of the past was cleaned up and this was the last remaining piece.

“Yes. It’s The Girl on the Shore.”

Kristen turned to look at her, questions in her eyes. “The day of the party—you said you thought it had been destroyed long ago.”

“I did think that. I thought your father had destroyed it. He was supposed to.”

“But why would he? It’s stunning.” Kristen studied the painting. She appeared to have forgotten that she’d intended to freshen up. She’d forgotten that she was tired, and sad. She appeared to have forgotten about Theo. It was all about the painting. “The brushwork. The use of color and light. It’s extraordinary.” She pressed her hand to her chest as if she was having trouble breathing. “All these years, it was here?”

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