Page 50 of The Summer Club

Andi ticked through the packing list. “I wasn’t sure what you’ve got planned, but she packed a variety of clothes, both dressy and casual, and sweaters for cold nights… but wait—I forgot a raincoat!”

“She needs a raincoat,” Cora echoed from the porch. Solidarity! “It often rains on-island.”

Molly was glaring again. “Mom, stop. It’s going to be sunny.”

Andi shot a look of her own. “Honey, there’s rain predicted. I’ll just be a minute.”

She was about to run back inside, but George shook his head. “We’ll buy one if she needs it.”

“But…”

“She can use mine. I came prepared.” Camilla crossed her arms as she said it and Andi wasn’t sure whether to thank her or sneer. Before Andi could reply, Camilla flicked her wrist impatiently. Her oversized gold Rolex gleamed in the sunlight. “We should go,” she said flatly.

George hopped to it. He grabbed the bag from Andi and turned for the car. But not before pausing to open Camilla’s door with a flourish. “There you go, darling.”

Camilla slipped into the dark enclave of the SUV and fluttered her hand to no one in particular. The door slammed shut.

To her consternation, Andi realized Molly had already gotten in the car too. But she hadn’t had a chance to hug her goodbye!

Before she could say so, George’s driver’s-side door slammed shut. The engine started.

“Okay, show’s over,” Charley said. The family traipsed inside. Except for Andi, who could not.

“Wait!” she called as the reverse lights went on.

As the car backed up Andi hurried around to its passenger side, waving her arms. But the tinted windows were too dark to see inside.

“George, hang on!” she shouted. How could they not see her? Or hear her? She bet Camilla could. “Molly!” she called again as they rolled down the driveway, Andi trotting alongside. But George didn’t stop.

Andi threw up her arms in disbelief. She was not about to chase the car down the street like an unhinged person. As her daughter sped away in her ex-husband’s new SUV with his ferret-faced girlfriend.

Or was she? She broke into a run.

The car turned onto the street, Andi right behind it. Stress sweat broke out under her arms. “You guys!” she shouted after it. But no one seemed to notice and the car surged ahead. It was too late.

Deflated and out of breath, Andi halted in the middle of the road, bent over, hands on her knees. She’d missed her goodbye with Molly.

“Andi!” someone shouted.

It was Hugh, standing at the end of their driveway. “What the hell are you doing?”

She started to cry.

“Come back,” Hugh called. “Let her go.”

“I can’t,” she cried. She was divorced and alone and about to be in a wedding. And Molly was gone.

But then there was the sound of tires halting abruptly. Andi looked up. The car had stopped halfway up the street. The reverse taillights flickered. And the Cadillac rolled backward.

Andi choked back a sob. Then a laugh.

About ten feet away the car stopped and the back passenger door flew open. Molly leapt out.

“Mom!” she cried.

She ran into Andi’s arms, nearly knocking the wind out of her. “I forgot to say goodbye.”

Andi choked back a sob. “No, you didn’t.”