Then I continued alone.
***
Over time, my children slowly started calling again.
Karen apologized first.
I continued alone.
Then Melissa admitted she’d been angry because my leaving forced her to see how much she’d relied on me.
David took longer.
Eric finally said, “I guess I thought the house meant you’d always be there.”
I told him, “I’m still your mother. I’m just not your furniture.”
We both laughed.
David took longer.
***
Arthur and I kept talking.
Every day.
Six months later, I returned to Australia.
Not because Robert had subliminally sent me there, or because my children had pushed me away.
I did it because I wanted to.
Arthur and I kept talking.
Arthur met me at the airport, holding a tiny cardboard sign that said:
“ABIGAIL – COFFEE STILL OWED!”
I laughed so hard that I cried!
***
I still travel.
Sometimes with Arthur.
Sometimes alone.
I still travel.
And
