My taxi driver held up a small sign with my name on it.
He helped me put my carry-on in the trunk and confirmed the hotel address.
Bradley stood beside me.
Amber was a few steps behind him, checking her phone.
"Mom," he said, "can I call you later?"
"Of course."
"I want to make sure you get checked in."
"I'll let you know when I arrive."
He nodded.
Then he looked at me as if there were something else he wanted to say.
I waited.
"I'm sorry."
He had said those words before.
But this time, he wasn't asking me to restore a reservation or make a problem disappear.
He was standing beside a taxi with his own hotel confirmation in his phone.
I believed that he felt sorry.
I still needed to see what he did with that feeling.
"I hope you mean it, Bradley."
"I do."
"Then don't make me ask you to stand beside me next time."
His eyes became wet.
"I won't."
I touched his arm.
I wanted to believe him.
I also wanted to stop measuring my worth by whether my son chose me in a difficult moment.
He leaned forward and hugged me.
It was a little awkward because of the carry-on between us.
I held him anyway.
When we stepped apart, Amber approached.
"Have a good check-in, Carol."
"Thank you."
She seemed unsure whether to hug me.
I didn't force it.
She gave me a small nod.
I got into the taxi.
As the driver pulled away, I looked through the window.
Bradley and Amber stood together beneath the airport sign.
They looked smaller as the car moved into traffic.
I didn't wave until we were already turning.
The ride to my hotel took less than half an hour.
The streets were busy.
I watched people crossing between shops and restaurants, carrying bags and wearing bright summer clothes.
There were palm trees along the road.
I had seen pictures of Cabo before.
I had imagined arriving with my son and daughter-in-law, checking into the resort, and spending the first evening together.
That was not what happened.
But I was still there.
The hotel clerk greeted me with a smile.
She checked my passport and found my reservation.
My room was ready.
She gave me a key card and explained the breakfast hours.
I carried my bag upstairs.
The room was simple.
There was a small table, a clean bed, and a balcony with a view of the street.
I opened the curtains.
The sunlight filled the room.
I set my travel folder on the table and took out the confirmation.
Then I placed my phone beside it.
I had a room.
I had a way to get around.
I had enough money for the meals and activities I wanted.
There was no reason to sit in that room feeling as though the trip had been taken away from me.
I showered and changed into a light dress.
Then I went downstairs to the restaurant.
I ordered grilled fish and a glass of water.
The waiter brought a basket of warm bread.
I ate slowly.
No one asked me to move to another table.
No one suggested I order something cheaper.
No one made a joke about my age.
It was a quiet meal.
I enjoyed it.
After dinner, I walked along the nearby street.
The air was warm, and music drifted from a restaurant across the road.
I bought a small bottle of water from a shop and returned to my room.
My phone showed a message from Bradley.
He had checked into their hotel.
He sent a picture of the lobby.
It looked comfortable.
Then another message appeared.
"Hope you got there safely."
I replied that I had.
He asked whether I had eaten.
I told him about the fish.
He sent a thumbs-up.
It wasn't much of a conversation.
But I didn't chase one.
I put the phone down and sat on the balcony.
The next morning, I woke early.
I had slept better than I expected.
I ate breakfast downstairs and asked the clerk about a local walking tour.
There was one leaving that afternoon.
I booked a place.
I also asked about a boat trip for the following day.
The woman showed me the schedule and explained what was included.
I chose the trip I wanted.
I didn't ask whether Amber would enjoy it.
I didn't ask whether Bradley would have time.
I simply booked it.
At noon, Bradley called.
"How are you doing, Mom?"
"I'm fine. I had breakfast and I'm going on a walking tour this afternoon."
"That sounds nice."
"It does."
"We're going to the beach later."
"Enjoy yourselves."
He paused.
"Amber wants to know if you'd like to have dinner with us tonight."
I considered it.
"What time?"
"Seven."
"Where?"
He gave me the name of the restaurant.
It was near their hotel.
I looked at my schedule.
I had no plans for the evening.
"All right."
"Great. I'll send you the address."
After we hung up, I put on my shoes and went downstairs.
The walking tour was better than I expected.
The guide explained the history of the area and pointed out buildings I would have walked past without noticing.
I met two women from Texas and a retired couple from Canada.
We stopped for photographs.
I laughed more than I had in days.
At one point, the guide asked whether I wanted to join the group for a short climb to a viewpoint.
I said yes.
My knees were a little stiff by the time we reached the top.
But the view was worth it.
The water stretched out in front of us.
I took a photograph and sent it to Bradley.
He replied with a heart.
I put the phone away.
That evening, I took a taxi to the restaurant.
Bradley and Amber were already seated.
He stood when he saw me.
"Mom."
He kissed my cheek.
Amber smiled.
"That dress looks nice."
"Thank you."
I sat down.
The menu was placed in front of me.
For a few minutes, we talked about the hotel and the weather.
Bradley asked about the walking tour.
I told him about the viewpoint and showed him the photograph.
He looked at it carefully.
"That's beautiful."
"It was."
Amber ordered a seafood dish.
Bradley chose fish.
I ordered what I wanted without looking at either of them.
When the waiter left, there was a pause.
Amber folded her napkin.
"I've been thinking about what happened."
I waited.
"I know I made you feel unwelcome."
"Yes."
"I shouldn't have done that."
"No, you shouldn't."
She nodded.
"I was so focused on having the vacation I wanted that I didn't think about what it was like for you."
I looked at her.
"That's what hurt."
"I know."
She took a breath.
"I also shouldn't have said you hadn't paid. That was unfair."
"It was."
Bradley looked down.
Amber continued.
"I am sorry."
I studied her face.
She looked uncomfortable, but she wasn't looking at her phone or trying to change the subject.
I believed that she regretted what she had said.
I didn't know whether she understood everything behind it.
"Thank you," I said.
She nodded.
Then she looked at the menu again.
We ate.
The conversation became easier after that.
Bradley told me about something that had happened at work.
Amber talked about a shop she had visited.
I told them about the tour.
There were moments when we sounded like a family again.
But I noticed something important.
I wasn't trying to keep the conversation alive by agreeing with everything.
I wasn't offering to pay for dinner.
When the bill arrived, Bradley reached for it.
He paid.
I thanked him.
It was a normal thing.
And that was exactly what I wanted.
Click here to continue reading: PART 20: THE VACATION I CHOSE
My Son Invited Me on a Family Vacation, but I Didn’t Realize How Much I Would Have to Pay Just to Feel Welcome
Part 19 of 20
