Robin opened her front door to find Anna standing on the stoop, suitcase in hand. "Mom!" she said in surprise, pulling Anna to her in a hug. "How was your trip?"
"Oh. Um…it wasn't what I'd expected. Not at all what I was hoping for, in the end."
"No?" Robin was perplexed. "Well, um, come in." She guided Anna into the living room. "Where's Duke? Is everything alright?"
"Things…aren't going to work out…between Duke and me."
"What?" Mom was making less and less sense, Robin thought. She was holding Anna's hand, and she led her to the sofa, sat, and pulled Anna down next to her.
"Sweetheart, I'm sorry. It's too hard to explain. It's just that…well…so much time has passed since Duke and I were together. So much has happened. I realized I'm not the woman Duke thought he knew."
"Is this all because of you and Daddy?" Robin let go of Anna's hand and covered her own mouth in a gesture of horrified contrition. "Oh, Mom, I'm so sorry I ever said anything to Duke. I had no idea..."
"Oh, no, it's not your fault, darling. Of course not." Anna reached out and tucked a strand of Robin's hair behind her ear. "And it's not Duke's. It's not because of your father and I. Not really. It's just.… It's everything. It's me. It's all due to me. I'm sorry, Robin. I know how much you love Duke, and how much Emma does."
Robin was at a complete loss. "Well, I mean, now what?"
"Could I stay with you for a while?" Anna asked. "Spend some time with Emma?"
"Of course, Mom. As long as you need to. Emma would love it. And you know Patrick and I are always glad to have you here."
"Well, I hope Emma is, at least," Anna made a game attempt at humor. "Not sure I believe that Patrick wants a live-in mum-in-law…."
"He won't mind. I promise."
"Thank you, Robin. Thank you. You all are just what I need right now."