A Trip to the Seaside
“Emily, I won’t allow it, do you hear me? You’re only eighteen. You don’t understand—” Lucy kept raising her voice. She’d been arguing with her daughter for hours.
“It’s you who doesn’t understand. Everyone’s going, but as usual, I’m the one who can’t,” Emily stubbornly held her ground.
“Who is ‘everyone’? Your friend Lily? Her mum would let her do anything—” Lucy cut herself off, realizing she’d gone too far. “Listen, love…”
“Did you listen when I said I didn’t want anything to do with John Williams? Oh right, a child’s opinion doesn’t count. You ignored me and did what you wanted. You said back then you wanted to be happy. Well? Are you happy, Mum? I’m not a child anymore. I’m an adult. I want to be happy too. I’m going, whether you like it or not. I don’t need your money, if that’s what you’re worried about.” Emily’s eyes shone with desperate tears.
“I just want you to be truly happy. You could make a mistake you’ll regret your whole life. Think about it, Emily. There, you’ll be completely dependent on your Daniel. Are you sure about him? You’ve known him barely any time at all. There’ll be no one around if—”
“Don’t worry, I won’t come back with a baby,” Emily smirked.
“We’re not hearing each other.” Lucy sank onto the sofa, exhausted.
She was tired of justifying herself. Her husband had left her with three-year-old Emily, a pittance of child support, and vanished. When Lucy met John, she hadn’t expected to love or trust a man again. All these years, John had tried to be a father to Emily, tried to be her friend. But Emily had never accepted him.
Lucy remembered how her daughter had bristled when John first visited, and how, after he left, Emily had asked coldly,
“Is he moving in with us?”
“Yes. Do you mind?”
“Since when does my opinion matter? You’ll do what you want anyway,” her twelve-year-old had snorted.
Lucy had tried to explain that John was good, that she’d see it soon enough.
“You just don’t know him yet. You’ll like him, you’ll see.”
“Your daughter’s just jealous,” her friend had said. “Don’t let her call the shots. Before you know it, she’ll be grown, married off, and you’ll be alone. A man like John doesn’t come along often. Don’t choose between him and Emily. Give it time—it’ll sort itself out.”
Lucy had tried not to neglect her daughter, but it hadn’t worked. She was drawn to John, while Emily constantly pulled attention back to herself. Lucy was torn in two. When Emily realized her mother no longer belonged entirely to her, she began to drift away. And now—this. They couldn’t hear each other anymore.
Now Emily was punishing her. Daniel was pleasant, well-mannered, from a decent family. Lucy had nothing against him. But letting her daughter go off to Brighton with him…
When a boy meets his girlfriend’s parents, he’s always on his best behaviour. But who was he really? You only see the tip of the iceberg—what lay beneath the polished surface was anyone’s guess.
Perhaps it was easier for the boy’s parents. Lucy only had Emily. They’d never really been apart until now. And here she was, off to the seaside with a boy. Wine, sex—of course Lucy was afraid. She’d raised Emily alone, smothering her with care. Naturally, it was hard to accept her daughter was grown, had a boyfriend, a life of her own.
But she couldn’t keep her on a leash forever. John thought she should be given freedom. “She’s not stupid—she’ll figure things out.” When Lucy had said, “If Emily were your daughter, I doubt you’d let her run off to Brighton with some boy,” John had flushed but stayed silent. Of course he wouldn’t. Lucy was grateful he hadn’t argued, hadn’t stoked the fire. He’d stepped back. Let mother and daughter sort it out themselves.
Well. She’d just have to accept it and hope for the best.
Perhaps she should have broken things off with John, forgotten her own happiness, devoted herself entirely to Emily. But how could she forget herself? She was only in her thirties—she still wanted love.
Now it was Emily who wanted to be happy. Now Emily wouldn’t listen. What was Lucy to do? It was easy to advise other people about their children. But when it came to her own daughter, logic crumbled under love and fear. Every mother wanted to shield her child from mistakes. Maybe that was the biggest mistake of all?
Lucy sighed, weary from thinking, and went to Emily’s room. Emily sat cross-legged on the bed, glued to her phone. “Complaining to Daniel,” Lucy guessed.
“I’m tired of fighting with you. Of course I’m afraid for you. I don’t want you to make mistakes. You’re only eighteen… Fine. Go. Just promise you’ll call, and you won’t turn your phone off so I can reach you.”
Emily looked up, surprised. She hadn’t expected her mother to give in.
“Alright,” she said.
A year ago, she’d have thrown her arms around Lucy, called her “Mummy.” Now it was as if she were doing her a favour by keeping her phone on. Lucy wanted to say more but didn’t. She sighed and left the room. “Let her go. At least we’re not parting as enemies.”
Lucy sat in the kitchen, trying to calm down.
“Can I take the blue suitcase?” Emily poked her head in.
“Of course. When are you leaving?”
“Tonight. I told you.”
Right. Lucy didn’t remember. Tonight already? So soon. She still hadn’t adjusted to the idea of letting Emily go off alone. “God, why am I just sitting here—” She jumped up, grabbed some money from her emergency fund, and handed it to Emily.
“Take this. Just in case. Keep it to yourself—don’t tell Daniel. If you want to come home, you can buy a ticket anytime.”
“Thanks.” Emily took the money, the ghost of a smile touching her lips. “Daniel’s picking me up. Please don’t come to the door with me, alright?” Her tone was almost conciliatory now.
Lucy nodded and left. “Thank God, at least we’re not enemies.”
“I thought there’d be World War Three in here, but it’s quiet. You let her go, then?” John came in. Lucy hugged him.
“I’m so glad you’re here. Oh, John, I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing. I’m so nervous.”
“Relax. She’ll be fine. She’s not stupid.”
Daniel came for Emily at half ten.
“You’re responsible for her. Call me, alright?” Lucy fought back tears. She didn’t want to let go. For a second, she thought she saw doubt flicker in Emily’s eyes—but it vanished just as quickly.
“I’m ready,” Emily said, eager to end the drawn-out goodbye. Daniel took the suitcase.
“Don’t worry, I’ll bring her back safe and sound,” he said.
When the door closed, Lucy rushed to the kitchen window. John stood behind her, hands on her shoulders.
“They got into a taxi. God, keep her safe…”
“Let’s have some tea,” John suggested.
***
In the taxi, Daniel draped an arm around Emily, pulling her close and kissing her.
“Stop it!” She shoved him away, glaring at the driver’s back.
Daniel straightened but kept his arm around her.
Maybe she’d been wrong to argue with her mum? She could still change her mind, go back. But then the taxi stopped, and Liam and Lily climbed in. The car filled with noise and laughter, and Emily’s doubts melted away. In a few hours, they’d be in Brighton, by the sea…
They booked two hotel rooms. Emily had assumed they’d pair off, but she was still nervous. The moment they were alone, Daniel pulled her toward the bed.
“I thought we were going to the beach…” Emily began, but his touch made her forget. The sea wasn’t going anywhere—it could wait.
Later, they ate at a café. The boys and Lily ordered beer; Emily refused. The heat made her desperate to dive into the water.
The days flew by. Emily tanned, her skin smooth and glowing. She called or texted Lucy daily—sent beach photos, too.
“The sea’s warm as milk. We spend all day swimming. Don’t worry, we’re eating fine. Love you!” Lucy read the messages over and over, studying the pictures. Emily really did look happy. For a while, it soothed her.
One day, the boys rented a boat, announcing it at lunch.
“The boat was small and wobbled dangerously as they set off, but Emily barely noticed, her heart pounding with a fear she couldn’t shake—until the moment the waves swallowed the distant shore, and she realized, too late, that no one on board would save her if she fell.
