Page 89 of Escape to the Sun

“You found him then? What was he doing in town? Camila said something about picking up something or other, but I have no idea what she’s saying half the time. I was thinking of learning Spanish.”

Heather’s head spun, trying to keep up with her mother’s train of thought. It was as if she’d left one version of her mom and returned to a completely different, more relaxed version. Of course, Panama did seem to have that effect on people.

“You’re going to learn Spanish in a week or two?” Heather moved around the bar and grabbed a few glasses and a tray to stack everything on. “You are going home, right?”

They’d had a good evening and mended a lot of bridges in the last twenty-four hours, but it was going to take a lot more than one night to mend them all.

Her mother waved a hand. “Of course I’m going home. Eventually. But right now you need me here. So I’ll stay.”

It was an argument she wasn’t going to have. She didn’t have the energy. Besides, maybe she’d be able to use the help with Ash gone.

With Ash gone.

She just assumed he’d be gone now that they’d…what? Broken up? There wasn’t really another word for what happened between them. Even if they hadn’t technically been dating, it was a breakup.

“You didn’t answer me, Heather.”

She’d totally forgotten her mother was still standing there. “What?”

“Did you find Ash?”

She nodded.

“Where is he then? I wanted to ask him about showing me another beach. He told me about another place where he could find sand dollars in the shallows. Wouldn’t that be amazing? Sand dollars. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a sand dollar before. Have you? You must have. Living here for so long and all. I thought maybe I could—”

“Mom!”

Heather instantly felt bad when her mother’s face fell. She’d never seen her mom so animated and excited about anything and she didn’t want to stifle that, but at the same time she absolutely couldn’t handle listening to her mom for one more minute.

“Sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean to snap at you. It’s been a long day. Do you think maybe you could take our new guests those drinks you just made? I think you’re going to like them. They’re all working on a movie.”

“A movie?” Heather knew that would catch her mother’s interest. “Like movie stars?”

She nodded. “And stunt doubles. Cool, huh?”

“I would say so.” Her mom grabbed the tray, put the jug on it and moved around the bar before she stopped and looked back at Heather. “Are you okay, sweetie? You look…sad.”

“I am sad.” She answered honestly because she just didn’t have the energy for anything else. “But I’ll be okay.” She nodded. “Yes. I’ll be okay.”

Her mother’s smile was so genuine and familiar, Heather felt it in her heart. “You will be okay, Heather. If there’s one thing I know about my daughter, it’s that she’s a strong woman. It may have taken you a little bit of time to get there, but you know who you are and what you need. Whatever’s making you sad, you will be okay.”

Heather bit her lip to keep from blubbering. It was the sweetest thing her mother had ever said to her. “Thanks, Mom.”

Her mother nodded. “And in the meantime, if you want to talk, I’ll be rubbing noses with our celebrity guests.”

“Elbows, Mom. You’ll be rubbing elbows.”

She winked. “Maybe those, too.”

Heather chuckled and shook her head, as her mother walked out to the dock. Only a few days in Panama, and the change in the woman was incredible. Maybe it was the place? Maybe it was being in Panama, and more specifically, Casa del Sol that changed people?

She couldn’t be sure. But she did know her mother was right. Heather did know who she was and what she needed. She would be okay.

But she couldn’t help but think that she’d be even more okay with Ash standing next to her.

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