Summer in Sorrento by Melissa Hill Page B

could wish on a star all night every night, but that would n’ t change a thing about my situation.  But what I could do is make a new life for myself, decide how I could make myself happy in this new reality. There have been nights where I have lain awake crying because of stress. How was I going to keep this place?  What was I going to do when the savings account ran out?  What happens next? I’ m only in my forties - prime years of my life.  And I’ m all alone ,” Maia said.  “ And there have been times where I have felt mad at Jim.  It was irrational, I know.  After all, he went to the doctor, he never had any health problems.  That heart attack was n’ t his fault.  But I have carried on, because I had to.  No, I do n’ t have to support children but I did n’ t want to lose this place . ”   She motioned in the direction of the farmhouse.  “ That was Ji m’ s dream and Ji m’ s bab y— and it became mine.  The heart is resilient Jacob, I think your mother is proof of that. She made her choices.  You should n’ t fight her battles for he r— she has done that already . ”
                  “ So you think she was n’ t crying over my father? All of those years . ”
                  Maia shrugged.  “I’ m sure she did her share of crying over hi m— tell me, does your mother have anyone in her life now?  Anyone special ? ”
                  Jacob nodded.  “ Yes, she sees a nice man.  His name is Peter.  H e’ s a widower.  The y’ ve been seeing each other for seven years or so.  But she has no interest in getting marrie d— Pete r’ s asked her many times . ”
                  Grinning, Maia said ,“ I do n’ t think you should worry about your mo m’ s happines s— she sounds like she knows what she wants and who she is, although you are a good son to be concerned.  I think you should focus on your own feelings about your father, and not project your worries over your mother into it.  What happens if you allow this grudge to fester?  Let me tell you.  He dies.  And whatever sins he committed in his life, whatever bad judgment or bad choices he made, that all dies with him.  If you are religious, then you have your own beliefs over what happens after that.  If yo u’ re not religious, his life becomes dust.  But Jacob, you get t o liv e . And you appear pretty healthy, you probably have a good sixty years in you still.  And that hate, those bad feelings you carry?  That festers and grows and soon overpowers you.  It becomes part o f yo u — and then, well, maybe you are n’ t any better than your father.  But h e’ s gon e— and yo u’ re walking the earth with blackness inside that threatens the very happiness you could achieve in your life.  Just forgive your father, Jacob. You do n’ t have to profess your love to him.  You do n’ t have to cry by his bedside.  But forgive.  And let those bad feelings die when he does . ”
                  Jacob was silent, and he put his head in his hands and covered his eyes.  Maia did n’ t think he was crying, but he was definitely working over her words in his mind.
                  “ Just think about it ,” she said, putting a comforting hand on his back.  She then stood up and prepared to take her leave, she was pretty sure Jacob needed to be alone for a bit.  “ Lif e’ s too short.  You ca n’ t change the past, but you can decide how you want to live in the future.  Your father has no power over yo u— unless you give it to him . ”

8
 
    Maia got up early the next mornin g— practically rising with the su n— determined to get a jumpstart on the day.  She had a to-do list that felt a mile long as her tasks had seemingly multiplied.  Not only did she have to take care of the normal everyday chores around the house, but she had to now also make sure that her guests were happy and well taken care