***
Nothing else could really be said in reply to my mother's piece of wisdom. Or to put it another way, she wouldn't let me try to argue with her any more.
So, by the end of that week, I was all packed and saying a tearful 'goodbye' to my boys.
As it happened, neither Ethan nor Max seemed too perturbed by the prospect of not seeing their mom for ten days. That stirred up a bizarre mixture of joy, pride and melancholy. They were growing up much faster than I'd realized and were, apparently, losing the need they once had for me.
Carl had an entirely emotionless reaction to the news of my trip, simply acknowledging that it might do me good. I'd hoped that he may say something about missing me, but no other words came from him.
So, that was it. Mom and Dad hustled me to the airport, and I boarded a plane to Barcelona, where I was scheduled to meet the cruise ship.
Europe wasn't completely new to me; Carl and I had been to Paris and the South of France on our honeymoon. I loved all of the rich culture, the striking architecture, and long history attached to the continent. And Spain was no disappointment. Although I didn't have much time to explore the city before meeting the boat, I did ask the cab driver to take a scenic route, and I got to see glimpses of the Sagrada Basilica , the cathedral and Casa Batllo.
Soaking in the sights, the beautiful sun, and the bustle of the city, I managed to forget, for the time being at least, that I was thousands of miles from home and all alone. I still missed my babies, of course, but I was beginning to understand the excitement and freedom Mom had spoken of. It was liberating!
Fittingly, the cruise ship was called Liberty, and she was a colossal craft, with three main restaurants, a casino, a ballroom, thirteen bars, two full-size pools, a gym, a spa, a nightclub and three decks of luxurious and spacious cabins. My mom had neglected to tell me that she had booked me what was essentially a suite, with a balcony and sitting area to go along with the king sized bed.
Making a mental note to mention her extravagance when I called her, I flopped gratefully onto the bed and found myself smiling at the ceiling. It felt good; not just the bed, although it was just about the most airy mattress I'd ever laid on. What felt really good was being away from all the stress. Out there, in the middle of the Mediterranean, I had nothing to worry about, no responsibilities. At that very moment, I could do whatever I chose. And what I chose to do was take a nap.
(3 Book Romance Bundle) "The Cowboy's Love" & "Sex with the Billionaire" & "Loving the White Billionaire" Page 17
