Part 1A Sea of No Regrets

I took my mom on a trip to the beach. She stared out at the horizon and suddenly said:

"Honestly, you're really ungrateful."

I froze.

"Didn't you say your lifelong dream was to see the ocean? I brought you here. How am I still ungrateful?"

She grabbed a handful of sand and threw it at my head in frustration.

"What's the point of me coming alone? Why didn't you bring your brother's family? Even he gave me a hundred bucks, saying I shouldn't just spend your money."

Sand got in my eyes, turning into tears.

Calmly, I bought her the cheapest train ticket home.

Then, right in front of her widening eyes, I put the gold bracelet I had intended to give her on my own wrist.

Since her son was so perfect, she could go back and let him be the grateful one.

* * *

My mom always said her biggest regret was never seeing the ocean.

So, for her birthday, I took a few days off work to surprise her with a trip to the beach, bringing my daughter along.

I didn't tell her until the day we left, thinking she'd be thrilled. Instead, she had a scowl on her face from the moment we boarded the plane.

It wasn't until we stood on the sand that she finally spoke.

"Hannah, do you know something? You're really ungrateful."

I was taken aback. "Mom, what did I do wrong?"

She grabbed a handful of sand and threw it at me.

"You have to ask? I live with your brother's family, but you only brought me on this trip. What does that mean? What will they think? How am I supposed to face them when I go back?"

I was speechless. "Mom, you're overthinking it. I..."

She cut me off. "Book tickets for your brother and his family right now. A vacation is only a vacation if the whole family is together. My conscience won't let me enjoy this alone."

She immediately video-called my brother, Jason.

"Son, look at this ocean! Isn't it magnificent? Didn't your wife say she wanted to see the sea? Tell her to pack. I'm making your sister buy plane tickets for all of you right now."

Jason's wife snatched the phone, her voice ecstatic. "Hannah's really buying us tickets? What about hotels and food? For a family of four, that's going to be at least a few thousand dollars."

My mom waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry, your sister's covering it all. She's got money. Just come and have fun. Didn't you want to go clam digging? Come experience it yourself."

Hanging up, my mom's face finally softened. She started issuing commands.

"Hurry up and book the flights. Then get two more rooms. They have to be five-star, oceanfront view. They don't have much money, so they deserve something nice. And transfer two thousand dollars to your sister-in-law right now so she feels secure and can have a good time."

The sand in my eyes stung. I held back tears and told her, "I'm just their sister, not their mother. Why should I pay for their vacation?"