The Conversation I Had Been Waiting For
We walked toward the beach in silence.
It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence.
It was peaceful.
Claire walked beside me with her hands in her coat pockets. Every now and then, she looked at the sea, then at me, as though she were still searching for the right way to begin a conversation.
When we reached the sand, I took off my shoes.
The wind was cool against my skin.
For a moment, I remembered our previous vacation.
Noah running ahead.
Julien carrying the bags.
Claire asking me to watch her son while she went to fetch something.
And me, always smiling.
Always available.
Always convinced that asking for a little time to myself might ruin everyone else’s happiness.
Claire stopped near the water.
“Mom, can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
She lowered her eyes.
“Are you still angry with me about what happened last time?”
