Page 96 of The Summer Swap

“I’m not driving right now. I stopped because I needed coffee.”

“Where are you?”

“I don’t know. Brewster, I think. I decided that if the Cape could heal you, maybe it could heal me, too. I slept in my car last night.”

“In your car? Kristen!” Her anxiety deepened. “Why didn’t you check into a hotel? Or call me sooner?”

“Because it was already two in the morning when I got into my car. I didn’t have the energy and I didn’t want people to see me like this. Can I come and see you now? I’d really like to talk. I know you’re upset with me, and I’m sorry. I’m sorry I threw a party that you didn’t really want.” Kristen’s voice thickened again. “It was selfish and thoughtless of me, and I feel terrible that you felt you had to run away.”

“Oh, Kristen—” Emotion settled like a lead weight in her chest. “You weren’t the reason I left, and you have nothing to apologize for. I’m the one who should be apologizing.” She felt choked. “I’ll explain everything when I see you. But you can’t drive. It isn’t safe. Stay right where you are. I’ll come and get you.”

“No, I’m okay to drive, honestly. I’ve had coffee and the fresh air is helping. Where are you?”

Cecilia gave her the address without hesitation. “We’ll see you soon.”

“We?”

Cecilia thought about all the things that had happened since the party. “It’s complicated. I’ll explain everything when you get here. Drive carefully.”

She ended the call and headed down the stairs to the kitchen where Todd was stacking a tray with mugs and plates while deep in conversation with Seth.

They seemed to be getting on well, and she was about to throw another complication into the mix.

“How many pastries did you buy? Because we have an extra person joining us for breakfast.” And only now did she realize how potentially awkward this was. Kristen was in the middle of a marital crisis and was coming to her for sanctuary and comfort.

Presumably Kristen hadn’t yet told her children that she’d left Theo. Maybe she didn’t intend to.

But Todd was standing right in front of her.

“Your mother is joining us,” she said carefully, and Todd gave her a curious look.

“You told her about this place?”

“I gave her the address. I’ll tell her the rest when she arrives. I’ve had enough of secrets.” Her own, at least. Kristen’s secrets weren’t hers to tell. “Let’s make another pot of coffee. Make it a large one.”

“Is my father coming, too?”

Cecilia added napkins and cutlery to the tray. “I don’t believe so.”

She’d leave that explanation to Kristen.

In the end Kristen was so pleased to see her son she didn’t seem too interested in his reason for being there.

“I was doing a job nearby,” was all he said, and Kristen accepted that without question, and greeted Lily warmly.

“Does Hannah know you’re here?”

“No.” Lily exchanged glances with Todd. “But I’m going to tell her. I’m going to message her soon. I should have done it before now.”

Cecilia braced herself. “And this is Seth, an old friend.”

She held her breath as Seth shook hands with her daughter.

Kristen looked more than a little dazed. “You have quite a little gathering.” She looked uncertainly at her mother and Cecilia walked toward her and gave her a hug. Not a perfunctory polite hug between two relatives, but a tight, comforting hug.

She wondered if Kristen might push her away, but she didn’t. Instead she hugged Cecilia back, almost clinging to her.

When had they last hugged like this? When had they ever hugged like this?

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