“I was more angry with myself than you.” Through the open doors she saw Ashley stand up, give Eden a quick wave and then walk lightly across the deck and down the steps.

Presumably Joanna had arrived, which meant that Eden would be heading home, and then to the surf school.

Later, she was meeting up with friends in town so it was now or never.

“Nate—” she turned to her brother “—will you cover me for ten minutes? There’s something I need to do.”

“After you did the same for me this morning I can hardly say no, can I?” He picked up the salads and piled them on a tray along with crusty bread warm from the oven and a jug of iced water. “You’re not interrogating Joanna, are you?”

“No.” She paused. “I want to talk to Eden.”

He met her gaze and nodded. “Go for it.”

She flashed him a grateful smile and headed back onto the deck in time to see Eden taking the steps to the beach.

“Eden! Wait!”

Eden turned, ponytail swinging. “What?”

Mel felt suddenly nervous. Nervous around her own child. “Do you want to walk on the beach with me?”

“When?” Eden frowned. “You mean right now?”

“Yes, now. I thought we could...talk.”

Eden’s gaze was shuttered. “You mean, you want to lecture me on all the reasons I should go to college.”

“No. Not that.” But she couldn’t blame Eden for thinking that, could she? She took a deep breath. “If you decide you don’t want to go to college, then that’s fine with me. Us. Your dad and me.”

“We both know it’s not fine with you, Mom. Don’t lie.”

“It’s true that I’ll worry, but I’ll worry whatever you do. It’s part of being a parent. I want what you want, Eden. And most of all I want you to be happy. That’s all. And only you know what that’s going to take.”

Eden stared. “Have you been drinking?”

“No, of course not. Can we walk on the beach? I don’t really want to have this conversation in full view of everyone.”

“I don’t—”

“You said I didn’t listen. I want to listen to you. I want to do it now.”

Eden didn’t move. “I didn’t say it to upset you.”

“I know that, and I’m not going to pretend it didn’t upset me because of course it did.” She managed a weak smile. “Despite what you may think, I’m trying to be the perfect mother here and you providing plenty of evidence to the contrary didn’t make me feel good, but I did listen, Eden. And you were right, that I always try and control and fix things.”

Eden sighed. “I probably shouldn’t have said it. I was out of line—”