The weekend getaway had ended, and Sophia and her family were back home, settling into their routines. The awkwardness of the earlier morning lingered, but Eleanor had chosen to address it privately with her daughter.

Later that week, as Sophia and Eleanor sat together in the living room, Eleanor decided it was time to talk about the incident. The conversation began as they sipped on their tea, and Eleanor’s tone was casual but serious.

“Sophia, dear,” Eleanor started, glancing at her daughter with a soft smile, “I wanted to talk to you about the other morning.”

Sophia tensed slightly but nodded, bracing herself for the conversation. “Okay, Mom. What about it?”

“I want you to know that I don’t mind you and Ethan being together,” Eleanor said gently. “Everyone needs their privacy, and I understand that. Just try to be more mindful of when and where you do... well, things like that. Your dad would have had a fit if he had seen it.”

Sophia nodded, feeling a mix of relief and embarrassment. “I know, Mom. I’m sorry about that.”

Eleanor smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry too much. I’ll pretend that I didn’t see anything and that I didn’t notice—well, anything about the situation. Let’s just move on from it, alright?”

Sophia smiled back, grateful for her mother’s understanding. “Thanks, Mom. I really appreciate it.”

Later that day, Sophia met up with Ethan. They decided to spend some time together at a local café, catching up after the hectic weekend. The conversation naturally turned to the events of their trip.

Ethan chuckled as he took a sip of his coffee. “Your mom’s pretty cool about everything. I didn’t expect her to handle it so well.”

Sophia laughed, her nerves easing. “Yeah, she’s actually really understanding. I was worried she’d be upset or something, but she was surprisingly chill about it.”

“She even told me she’d pretend she didn’t see anything,” Ethan said with a grin. “That’s pretty cool of her. Your mom’s a lot more relaxed than I thought.”

Sophia looked at him thoughtfully. “I’m glad you think so. I guess it’s good that we can talk openly about it. It makes things less awkward between us.”

Ethan nodded. “Definitely. And just so you know, I think your mom’s opinion about me is important. I’m glad she’s okay with us being together.”

Sophia’s smile widened as she reached out and squeezed Ethan’s hand. “Me too. It means a lot.”

They spent the rest of the day enjoying each other’s company, the earlier tension having dissipated. With the support of her mom and the understanding between them, Sophia felt a renewed sense of comfort and connection with Ethan.