Allegra’s gaze was sharp, and she gave me a little nod, as if telling me she would keep an eye on her. Appreciation and a hint of regret warred within me. I’d wanted a child so badly but didn’t want to give up my career. I’d been determined to have both and was lucky to have my mother to fill in the gaps to help raise Allegra. Somehow, though, as time passed, it’d been easier to sink back into work mode and let Mom take care of everything. Maybe it’d happened gradually—one missed dinner at a time. One less track meet or tennis match attended in order to meet a deadline. I was grateful to my mother, but if she hadn’t been so willing to fill in all the spaces of my life, would I be feeling so distant from Allegra? Were my mother’s many miscarriages part of the reason she’d wanted to take over my entire life? And now that I understood her more, did I even blame her? She’d had limited choices. It’d been easier to be angry and resentful when I felt like she’d had alternate paths in her life.

I pushed away my churning thoughts and went to my room. The next few hours passed in a whirlwind. I took a short nap, showered, and worked on my laptop. I’d be hearing back about a new pitch I was hoping to secure, and Kate knew to call ASAP once she got news.

I knocked on their door. “You look better,” I told Mom. Her eyes weren’t pinched and her skin had better color.

“I told you a nap works wonders.”

“Honey, you look so pretty.” Allegra was wearing a short yellow dress with white canvas sneakers. Her hair was twisted up and a few gentle waves fell to frame her face. My heart gave a lurch with sheer love. Her acne had cleared up, and her makeup was no longer plastered onto her face in an attempt to look older or more sophisticated. My baby was a young woman going into her senior year. When she went away to college, there’d be less time and less control of her schedule. I made a quick vow that I’d forgo work for the rest of the week. I’d let everyone do their job and focus on my daughter. Enzo was right—it was time to unwind and take advantage of this trip.

“Thanks.” She gave me a tentative smile. “You too.”

I beamed. I’d donned white capris and a feminine peach lace top. My white sandals had crisscross straps and flattered my calves. “Let’s go dazzle some boys.”