I looked down at my sleeves.
“He asked me a lot of questions about our last vacation, too.”
“Children notice everything.”
She paused.
“He asked me if you were sad because we didn’t let you play in the water.”
My throat tightened.
“What did you tell him?”
“I told him we’d made a mistake. That you needed to rest, have fun, and enjoy your vacation just like everyone else. I told him we should have listened to you.”
For a few seconds, I couldn’t speak.
Then I placed my hand over hers.
“Claire, you don’t have to be a perfect mother. I wasn’t a perfect mother myself.”
She smiled through her tears.
“I know.”
“What I want is for us to be able to tell each other the truth. Even when it’s difficult. Even when we’re afraid of disappointing each other.”
“I’ll try.”
“So will I.”
We finished our ice creams without speaking.
