An Invincible Summer (Wyndham Beach #1)(62)

Before Maggie could respond, Grace said, “Wait. This house?” A look of disbelief crossed Grace’s face. “You want to sell this house? The house we grew up in?”

Maggie nodded. “Yes. This house.”

“Why?” Natalie looked stunned. “Why would you do that?”

“It’s because of me, isn’t it? Because of the big scandal about me, you had to sell Dad’s firm, and now you want to sell the house.” Grace was on the verge of tears.

“No. It’s not because of you. Well, only to the extent that I decided to sell the firm now, but it would have happened at some point. If you’d stayed there, eventually it would have gone to you. But you don’t know what else might have happened between now and then. And if I’ve learned anything over the past two years, it’s that nothing is forever. Sometimes change is good. Sometimes it’s necessary.” Maggie blew out a long breath. Her daughters were staring at her as if she had two heads. “For me, it’s necessary. I’ve always loved this house, from the moment your father brought me here to ‘just take a look.’ I brought both of you home from the hospital to this house. We lived and loved each other and argued and made up in this house.” Her voice dropped. “I said goodbye to your father in this house. This hasn’t been an easy decision for me. But I need to make a life for myself now. I need to be somewhere that’s mine. Somewhere I can start over and shake off everything that’s happened since your dad got sick.”

“I get that. Okay. So are you looking to downsize, Mom? I have to agree, it’s a big house for one person. We can help you find a place,” Grace offered. “There are a lot of great houses around.”

“That’s true. But I’ve already found my house, and it isn’t around here.”

“You already found a place? What do you mean, not around here?” Natalie appeared dismayed. “Aren’t you going to show us before you make a final decision?”

“The final decision has been made. I have the house under contract. And it’s a house you’re well familiar with.”

“I’m confused.” Grace shook her head as if to clear it.

“So am I.” Natalie grabbed on to her mug as if to anchor herself to the spot.

“When I visited Liddy in January, I saw that my mom’s old house—the house I grew up in, the house my great-great-grandfather built—was for sale. Liddy’d told me the place had been totally renovated, all new everything, top of the line, yada yada yada. Before I left Wyndham Beach, I called the Realtor. I just wanted to see the place one more time before someone else bought it. The Realtor met me at the house and gave me a tour.”

“Please tell me you are not moving to Massachusetts.” Natalie’s eyes were wide as saucers.

“Actually, I am moving to Massachusetts. I’m moving back to my hometown, my old home. That’s where I belong. It’s where I always belonged.”

“But . . . Mom.” Grace’s voice held a plea. “Why now? Because of me?”

“Grace, everything isn’t about you,” Natalie snapped.

“I think the timing is a bit suspect, Natalie,” Grace snapped back.

“Please. Girls.” Maggie rubbed her temples. “Don’t.”

“What did you expect, Mom? You call us together and drop this bomb on us? You’re selling the house we both love, where we grew up, so you can buy the house you grew up in? And you never said a word about this until today, and then you tell us you’re moving eight hours away?” Grace’s ire was beginning to show.

“Why would you do this without telling us, Mom?”

“Because I don’t need your consent, nor do I need your approval.” Maggie realized how harsh her words must have sounded. Both girls had sat back as if slapped. “But I do need your understanding. Your father is gone. My best friends are hours away. I need them. I need to go home.”

“Don’t you need us?” Natalie asked.

“Of course I do, sweetie.” Maggie covered Natalie’s hand with one of her own. “But you have your own life. A job you love. One of these days, you’re going to meet someone, and your life will be taking off in another direction. Both of you will.” She tried to force a smile. “And I’ll be left in the dust.”

“What about me?” Grace was on the verge of tears. “I had a home I used to love. A job I used to love. A husband I used to love.”

“Gracie, I know you’re sort of adrift right now. Actually, I thought I’d ask you to come with me and help me get the house straightened out. The seller painted everything white—stark raving white—which means I’ll need to do over every room. I could use your decorating skills.”

“Did you do this to give me busy work?”

“No, Grace. I did it because I haven’t thought about anything else in weeks. When I went home in September for my reunion, I really did feel like I’d come home. That feeling was intensified when I went back in January.” Maggie looked from one daughter to the other. “Please understand, this is what I need to do. Please respect that and wish me well. And know that the door is always open. You can spend your summers there. We can celebrate all our holidays together just as we always have.” She turned to Grace. “This is the perfect time and place for you to make a new start. If you want, you can take the Massachusetts bar and practice law there if that appeals to you. Or you can stay here and practice. Or do something else entirely, leave the law behind. Your life is your own now, Gracie. You can choose what comes next. I’m asking that you extend the same courtesy to me. Recognize that my life is mine again. Let me choose what’s next for me.”