“That’s right. Was it an easy decision? Yes and no. Like most decisions, there were arguments to support both sides. I always wanted to live in New York for a while, and it was everything I thought it would be. Glitzy and exciting.” She could still remember the breathless feeling of just being there.

“What happened?”

“I was in the hotel with your dad, and then you called me with a little help from your grandmother and you were laughing, and having fun, and you’d learned to put two words together for the first time. You said, ‘Mommy gone,’ and I realized that wasn’t what I wanted. I didn’t want someone else to witness all your milestones. I didn’t want to be ‘gone.’ I could hear the ocean in the background and I looked out of the window at the city and I thought, What am I doing here? And Greg and I arrived home and there was live music in the café, the sun was setting over the ocean and Rosa kissed Adam that night—which had been coming for a long time—and Nate was dancing with you and I remember standing there thinking, I’m home. This is my place. This is where I want to be. And did it feel glitzy and glamorous? No, but it was other things, and those other things eclipsed what New York would have offered me.” She still remembered the feeling, how sure she’d been. “I know you think I sold out, Eden. I can see how it might look that way, but that isn’t what happened. Grandpa wanted us to take over the café, that’s true, but Nate made it clear that I didn’t have to be part of that. I could have left anytime, but I made a choice to stay and live my life here in Silver Point. I’ve never regretted that choice, even though I’m sure plenty of people questioned my decision at the time. And I suppose what I’m saying is that I made that choice. No one made it for me. If it had turned out to be a mistake, it would have been my mistake and up to me to fix it. But somehow, with you, I’ve forgotten all that. I guess when you’re a parent you want to spare your child pain, but pain is how we learn.” She smiled at her daughter. “Make your choice, Eden, whatever it is. Make mistakes, because that’s what life is all about. Live your life the way you want to live it. And I’m here to cheer you on and support you whatever you do—oh!” She gasped as Eden flung her arms around her, almost knocking her onto the sand.

“I’m sorry.” Eden’s face was buried in Mel’s neck. “I’ve been a moody, horrible—”