“Even if you always smelled like tomato sauce,” Bianca added. The way the aroma of the restaurant clung to her had been the bane of Angi’s existence as a teenager. She’d doused herself in scented body lotion and way too much perfume in order to mask it.

“There are worse things to smell like,” she admitted. “Mom, I know you need me to take over the restaurant so you can focus on staying healthy. That’s most important for both of us. I don’t want to lose you like we did Dad.” Her voice broke, and she dragged in a steadying breath.

“I’m not going anywhere,” her mother promised, then shook her head. “Actually, that’s not true. I might be going to Florida.”

Angi blinked. “Okay,” she said slowly. “Do you want me to look at tickets?”

Bianca shook her head. “A couple of friends from the exercise class at the senior center are planning a trip. Marcie and Jim have a house on the beach in Naples.”

“That sounds nice. How long will you be gone? When are you leaving?” Angi’s head spun. She couldn’t remember the last time her mother had gone on a vacation that wasn’t to visit family.

“They left just before Christmas to open the house for the season. I might need a few weeks to get ready with—”

“I can help you pack.”

“Angela...” Bianca sat forward, her eyes glistening with tears. “I’m going to sell the restaurant.”

Angi was up and out of the chair in an instant. She crossed to her mom and knelt before her, taking Bianca’s trembling hands in hers. “Mom, no. You don’t have to do that. I’ll make it work. I’m sorry if—”

“Cara, hush.” Bianca shook her head gently. “I’m the one who owes you an apology, Angela. For making you believe that you were tasked with making my dream yours. Of not seeing that you had your own life to live and allowing you to choose your path.”

“I don’t need a path, Mom,” Angi insisted, keeping her voice low so as not to disturb Andrew. With the emotional tide rising inside her, it was difficult. “I want to honor you. To do what’s right for Dad’s memory.”

Bianca squeezed Angi’s fingers. “What’s right is for our daughter to be happy. I didn’t realize you weren’t, and I’m most sorry for that.”

“I can be,” Angi said. “I will be again. I don’t need something outside myself to make me happy. Not disappointing you makes me happy.”

“You’ve never been a disappointment.” Bianca leaned forward and brushed a gentle kiss across Angi’s forehead. “To be honest, I thought this business about the inn was just a rebellion, and I understood that. I didn’t like it, but I understood the need for it. At your age, I had three young kids, a husband who worked seven days a week, and the need to work almost as much myself. It wasn’t a happy time for your father and me.”