"Hey mom, you said sixteen was the legal age to get your learner's in the US right?" Sydney asked Mary.
"That's right, in California at least. My baby girl will be able to drive this year," Mary replied, hugging her daughter.
"I just wish I were there to see it," she sighed into Sydney's shoulder.
When Sydney was twelve, her parents got a divorce. It was horrible and messy. Richard's alcohol problem was taken into note by the courts and Mary was able to get a restraining order fairly quickly. The rest of the split took longer than expected, especially with regards to custody since Richard moved to California.
Richard moved back to his home town, where his brother was living. It was decided by the court that he should have some sort of family with him to help him on his journey to sobriety. His problem became out of control since the divorce but Alcoholics Anonymous helped bring him to a state where he could begin to repair his life. Three years later, and the courts finally allowed him joined custody of Jake, Taylor, and Sydney.
This proved to be a problem though. Sydney and her siblings had been living comfortably in the UK for their entire lives. Sydney was completely content with living with her mother. She, along with the other children, had even forgotten about their father. The man was never in their lives before he left so it was not hard to get along without him; it was easier really. There was now enough money to pay for the necessities and enough left over to buy other things they wanted. Mary smiled and sang around the house, always knowing exactly how many places to set at the table now that the inconsistent drunkard was out of their lives. They all went on vacations and outings, never having to worry whether or not their father would make a scene out in public. Life had finally become good.
Now they had to take an eight hour plane ride across the ocean to a country they had never been to, a man they hated, and people they didn't know. This seemed like such a big change; one that perhaps the courts would not allow for the children's sake. They weren't going to allow it at first because of the amount of change involved for the kids but Richard pushed and his rights were granted. Sydney was fifteen and Taylor was seventeen. This meant that they didn't have to go to California. They were old enough to choose which parent they were going to stay with. Jake on the other hand was only nine and had no other option than to fly to a new continent to live with someone he only barely remembered. It was because of this that Taylor and Sydney had agreed to go in order to not abandon their little brother.
All of this was rough on the kids but it was all twice as hard on Jake. Sydney knew he must have blamed the new cause of heartache on himself. If it weren't for him, Sydney and Taylor would not have to move to California and their mother wouldn't have to live for a year by herself. Sydney also knew that Jake was a fighter and would never show his emotions so any attempt at consoling him would be brushed aside.
Still in a tight embrace, Sydney whispered, "I love you mom". The tears rolled down her cheeks.
No one deserved this, no one in their family deserved this separation. Sydney knew they were all devastated. They would come visit the UK for a fortnight in the summer but that was still seven months away. It would not be for a year until they were finally back home. Home would always be in Europe. Home would always be with mom.
"Maybe your father has changed. You know, he wasn't a bad man when I met him. I'm sure you will all be fine without me," she choked on the last words and began crying with full force.
Jake wrapped his hands around Mary's neck and kissed her cheek.
The family collapsed into a group hug of tears and ignored the stares they got from the passerbys at the airport.
"I love you all so so so much," Sydney's mom croaked against their warm bodies.
Then, it was time for the children to board the plane. Sydney looked back before stepping on the platform to see her mother shaking and crying in the waiting room seat. Tears sprung from Sydney's eyes as she stepped up. She could handle a year, she would do it for her mother.
