Page 30 of That's a Wrap

“What’s so funny this time?” I shout, running out of patience but trying my best to be calm. This is my mother, after all, and I’ll never disrespect her.

She pulls me into her side in a half-hug. “Long after we’re gone?We’re not dying, honey!” she exclaims with mirth. “And I hate to break it to you, but your father and I aren’t planning on retiring anytime soon.”

“You’re… you’re not?” My jaw drops.

“No, of course not! How old do you think we are? Eighty?”

I chuckle along and roll my eyes at her.

“And even when we do retire—many, many years from now, I might add—we’re planning on selling the cafe.”

“What?” I yell as another wave of shock barrels through me. “Sell it? Why would you do that?”

Mom sighs. “You’re our only child, Ella Kate, and neither of us wants you shackled to this business for the rest of your life. Let’s be honest, honey. You were a pretty boring kid growing up.” Before I can protest, she continues. “But you really come to life when you take pictures.”

My mouth snaps shut as her words sink in, reminding me of things Peter has said to me too.

“We don’t want you stuck here,” she explains. “We want you to keep working on your own passions and figure out how you want to liveyourlife. Not the one your father and I chose for ourselves.”

“But, Mom?—“

“You know, we were pretty excited when that handsome man with all the muscles?—“

“Mother,” I chastise, not wanting to hear her describe my boyfriend like that.

She just winks and pinches my side. “That man pulled you out of your shell. You finally started living, instead of acting like a ninety-year-old grandma.”

“I can live like a grandma if I want to,” I mumble.

“But you don’twantto,” Mom counters. “You want to trulylive. I know you do. You want to get outta this town and explore the world. Try new things and meet new people. You always have, but you’ve been too afraid to get out there.” Her words feel like a weight being lifted from my shoulders.

“I… I am afraid,” I finally admit, to her as well as to myself. “I want to do more than just work at my parents’ cafe. I wanna take pictures, and travel, and see my images on the walls of fancy galleries.” The words feel almost blasphemous on my tongue, but it also feels freeing, saying what’s been in my heart all along. “But what if I’m not good enough?”

“Youaregood enough, my sweet girl. And everyone sees it, especially Peter. That’s why he did those nice things for you. He wants you to be happy, just like your father and I do.”

“I know he does.” Guilt churns in my stomach as I remember how badly I treated him.

“Then give him a chance, and take a chance on yourself. Go to California. See where this leads. You’ll always fail if you don’t try.”

“I know you’re right. Maybe I will.”

“Atta girl!” Mom cheers as she pulls me in to her chest. “I love you, honey.”

“I love you too, Mom.” I hug her tightly. When we separate, realization dawns on me, and I gasp. “Oh my God, I’m going to California.”

Mom gives me a high five. “Damn right, you are!”

My epiphanies are on a roll right now. “And I wanna bewith Peter.”

“Finally, you’re making some sense.” Mom grins. “I hate to break it to you, honey, but you’re probably the last one to realize that Peter is good for you. And men like that don’t grow on trees.”

I give her a glare but she brushes it off.

“You owe that boy an apology, missy.”

My shoulders sag. “I know. You’re right.” I bite my lip. “But what if he doesn’t want to be with me anymore?”

Mom’s expression turns serious for a moment. “If that happens, you’ll be okay. I promise. It’ll hurt for a while, maybe a long while. But you still have so much more in life to experience. You can’t let your fear of rejection get in the way of living to the fullest.”

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