Page 48 of The Summer Club

Hugh, who’d remained silent, scoffed at them all. “No, she won’t. Molly’s going to stay up late and live off crappy takeout food and will forget to call you. And she’ll likely skip all that expensive organic sunscreen you bought and will fry her derriere off in that cute little polka-dot bikini. But…” He looked Andi squarely in the eye. “You will survive this. And she will have a good time with her dad.”

Andi pressed back tears. “I do want her to have a good time.”

Hugh shrugged. “Well, it’s not like you can do a damn thing about it. Camilla the Gorilla is on her way.”

Andi beat Sydney to it and punched Hugh in the arm. It made her feel slightly better.

When Molly came downstairs with her bags, everyone made a big deal about her trip. But Andi couldn’t hear what they were saying because she couldn’t take her eyes off her. Molly looked older in a fitted green dress and a cropped denim jacket she didn’t recognize. Her hair was blown out and for the first time since arriving at Riptide she had put on makeup. Andi forced a smile. “All set?”

“Dad texted. They’re ahead of schedule.”

Andi’s chest ached. “But Grandma isn’t back from the grocery store to say goodbye. And you didn’t eat lunch yet. I was going to make you a sandwich!”

“Dad can buy me something on the ferry.”

“But you get motion sickness, remember? I’ll pack you a Dramamine and whip up a quick sandwich.”

“Mom, I already packed some and I’m not hungry.”

“But—”

“Please. I’m fine.” Molly glared at her. This was not how Andi wanted their first goodbye to go.

Hugh wrapped an arm around Andi’s shoulders. “She’s fine.”

It was happening already. Molly didn’t need her and was distancing herself. Already at the bow of the ferry, arms open, shedding all of Andi’s hard mothering work. She reached for the fruit bowl. “A plum?”

“Mom.”

Hugh took the plum away from her and set it back in the bowl. “Family photo!”

“No…” they all groaned.

“Yes.” He pointed at Molly. “It’s, like, your favorite pastime.”

“Yeah, when I take them. Not you guys.” Molly groaned. “You guys are horrible at it.”

Hugh handed Molly his phone. “Have at it.”

They trudged out to the porch and squeezed together for what seemed like one hundred shots. After, Molly swiped through them with a sour look. “Hideous.”

“Let us at least see them,” Hugh said.

Molly passed his phone back. “I deleted them.”

“All of them?”

Molly shrugged.

“No.” Andi snatched the phone from her brother. “We are getting one picture before you go.” And before Molly could object Andi threw her the look. It was the one she reserved for desperate public moments or near death. And it didn’t always work.

But to her relief, it did. “Okay. One photo. But I get to approve it.”

This time Andi squeezed in closest to Molly, her siblings around them. They were so close Andi could smell her shampoo and for the hundredth time she had to remind herself not to cry.

“Finally,” Hugh said when they got the shot. “I just lost five years I can’t get back.”

By then their parents had rolled into the driveway, just in time, and it was a Darling family pileup of goodbyes and well wishes.