February 16. Thursday Night.

Hi Journey.

Casey and Carm and I all need to help the folks get used to the idea that two out of three daughters living in the Pac Rim isn't the end of the world.

Mom called, just before noon. Never a good sign when she rings me during the day. She's a wreck. She cried to me, Journey. To me! Can you believe it? Since forever Sisi's been the one Mom always runs to in any crisis. Of course, just short five years ago over half those crises were Crystal-induced.

But she can't very well cry to Carmen without crushing her. Mattie was right, as usual. I thought Mom would buck up a bit better. Japan isn't the moon, after all. But it sure isn't a two-hour flight away.

I listened. Mostly she just sobbed through telling me about her day, and how she'd volunteered to come up and see Carmen not so much out of wanting to help but out of just needing to see her and the kids one extra time and did I think that made her a selfish mother and shouldn't she be happy for them that Percy will get to move up in the company and isn't it just a great opportunity for the kids to be exposed to a different culture and maybe even learn a different language and she and Dad were already beginning to make plans to go there maybe as early as cherry-blossom viewing season in April and…

“Mother,” I said calmly.

“Yes,” she sobbed.

“I don't want them to go either. It's completely, 100% selfish on my part, and you know what? I don't care. I just know that's the way I feel, and if that's selfish, then so be it, it's selfish. I think we've a right to be a bit protective of the ones we love. Doesn't mean we're bad, or anything. Means we're close.”

“OK. OK, you're right. Guess I just needed to hear it from somebody other than your father. Look, I know you're in the middle of work. I'll let you go. I love you, Crystal.”

“Love you too, Mom. Safe flight next week.” I hung up the receiver. For a moment I toyed with the idea of flying out to Long Island to be with them both. No, Crystal, that's next month. This is their time. Because no matter how much Mom wants to ram about with the grandkids and take some of the load off Carmen, truth is she's losing her best friend, next to Dad. We'll all be there in March; this trip should just be for the two of them.

No doubt Dad sees that too, otherwise he'd jet up to Long Island with her.

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