Though the late August sun warmed Carol Denman’s shoulders as she strolled down a well-kept sidewalk, a chill settled in her gut. She’d taken her time hooking up her RV in a nearby campground before walking the short distance to the townhome her mom and aunt had bought after moving to Florida. The closer she got to the picture-perfect retirement community, the more disconsolate she felt.
Visiting her mother was never high on her list of things to do. The two of them butted heads incessantly. No issue was too insignificant. They could, and usually did, fight over anything. However, Carol’s outlook on life had changed recently, and she’d made this trip to the suburbs of Orlando hoping they could find common ground. If she was ever going to have a relationship with the woman who had brought her into the world, Carol was going to have to make the effort. Judith never would.
As Carol approached the porch to a smoky-blue townhome, her aunt yanked the door open and gasped as if she wasn’t expecting company, even though Carol had texted when she’d left the RV park. Ellen spread her arms wide, causing her teal and pink kaftan to flow like a kite flying above the beach. Carol had bought the dress for her aunt in Honolulu. Carol and her husband Tobias had vacationed in Hawaii a few summers before his death. Though they hadn’t set foot on a beach due to Carol’s aversion to water, they’d had an amazing time hiking the volcanoes and rain forest in between visiting museums.
Feeling happiness for the first time since arriving in Florida, Carol stepped into one of her favorite hugs ever. Aunt Ellen had always made Carol feel as if there was a special connection between them. Her aunt had been a ray of sunshine Carol would have spent her life basking in if Ellen hadn’t lived so far away.
“How’s my girl?” Ellen asked, squeezing her niece.
“I’m tired from packing up the house, but I’ll survive. How are you?” Carol leaned back and her heart grew heavy.
The last time she’d seen her aunt and mom was at Tobias’s funeral almost a year ago. The energy that had always radiated from Ellen seemed dimmer now. Age was taking a toll on her, as it was Carol’s mother, reaffirming how necessary this trip was.
Ellen pressed her fingertips under Carol’s chin as she looked her over. “You look like hell.”
“Thanks.”
“Are you sleeping?”
“As much as I can.” Carol stepped into the cool air of the open living area. The chill she’d felt earlier rolled through her again, but not because of the change in temperature. Being in the same house as her mother set her on edge. Knowing she’d come to confront a lifetime of emotional neglect made her blood run cold.
A painting on the wall caught Carol’s eye, and a smile lit her face. The bright colors created an abstract image of mountains made of checkerboards and a waterfall filling a teapot. The last time she’d been in this house, her mother’s bland taste had dominated. She was glad to see her aunt making room for her more eccentric style. “That’s a great piece. When did you paint it?”
Ellen moved between Carol and the art. “Don’t change the subject.”
“What subject?”
“You. You’re the subject. I was surprised when Judith said you were coming to visit, but now I have to wonder if there’s more to it than you passing through. Are you okay?”
Carol nodded to reassure her aunt. “I’ve spent the last few weeks getting ready to live on the road. Like I said, I’m a little tired, but I’ll catch up on sleep.”
The way Ellen pursed her lips and cocked one brow suggested she hadn’t believed Carol’s excuse. Ellen always could see through her. “There’s more.”
There was more. Carol hadn’t slept for days knowing she was on her way to visit her mom. She hoped to find a way to mend their relationship, though she wasn’t foolish enough to think doing so would be easy. She was dreading the days ahead. “Where’s Mom?”
“It’s Sunday. Where do you think she is?”
Every Sunday for as long as Carol could remember, Judith made enough chicken and dumpling soup for Carol’s father to eat leftovers for the week. That habit had remained, even though her dad had been gone almost four years. Carol followed the familiar scents to the kitchen, where she found her mom standing over a big silver pot, staring intently. Unlike the living area, Ellen’s spunk hadn’t migrated