She gave me a small nod and stepped into our great room, her eyes darting warily around the space.
“I can come back another time. It looks like you’re having dinner,” she nodded to the dining room table.
“We are,” I replied, noticing how her eyes clung to Maddox as she took him in. “But come in,” I added after a pause.
“What do you want?” Sal cut in again, having far less patience for her and her presence here.
Suddenly, her eyes shot wide before she composed herself. “You’re…expecting?” She swallowed, looking at Kat.
Kat nodded as Sal put a protective arm around her.
My mother clenched her hands more tightly around her coat, seeming at a loss for what to say. “You didn’t come to the funeral,” she commented finally, her eyes shifting to me and then to Sal.
“No,” I shook my head simply, as though daring her to challenge us.
“I understand,” she nodded, surprising me. “He’d alienated nearly everyone we knew toward the end. But he was my husband,” she shrugged dejectedly, showing a rare moment of vulnerability. “He was my husband,” she repeated quietly as though to herself. She took a moment, straightening her shoulders and clearing her throat.
“I told you the last time I saw you that I’ve had time to reflect since you’ve been gone,” she murmured, looking to me. Then her eyes swept to Sal. “And for you,” she swallowed. “I lost you so long ago.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to realize how important it is to make that right. You two and the families you’re building, well, you’re all I have left,” she spoke quickly, as though rushing to get the words past her lips.
“Is this because you’re broke?” Sal cut in harshly.
“Sal,” Kat murmured in an effort to calm him. I was relieved she stepped in. Though I understood his hostility, it wasn’t helping at the moment.
“After everything your father did, that’s fair,” she allowed. “But no, I’m not broke. I started saving my own money years ago when I first suspected Richard was doing some questionable things,” she shared, referring to my father. “I had no idea you weren’t getting your money,” she shook her head.
“We know,” I assured her.
She sighed, her body deflating in relief that I seemed to believe her.
“I went to see your father,” she shared, turning to look at Sal.
Well, that was certainly a surprise. Sal’s father lived in Spain. I didn’t know the whole story other than she’d had some type of affair with him when she was young and fell pregnant with Sal.
“Why the fuck did you do that?” he demanded.
“Sal,” I murmured in a quiet plea for him to lighten up.
“That’s between him and me,” she answered defensively, her crisp demeanor returning in a bid to protect herself, no doubt.
In a weird way, I was relieved to see that cool attitude return. It was what I was familiar with at least.
“What I want you to know is that I’m trying.” She cleared her throat demurely, looking uncomfortable with so many eyes on her. “I’m trying to repair the damage I know I’ve done. It started with Gael and the way I treated him. It was important to me that he knew I’ve always regretted it.”
I’d never heard my mother admit regret or admit wrongdoing. The fact that she’d flown all the way to Spain to apologize to Sal’s father really said something. It was then I felt a glimmer of hope that maybe she’d really changed.
“I want a chance to be in your lives,” she stated firmly. “I’m your mother. I’m the only surviving family you two have. You’re certainly all I have.” She clasped her hands together, standing stiffly as she looked to me and then to Sal. “Please,” she finished, her tone strong despite the fear in her eyes.
You could have heard a pin drop as the tension coiled thick. Even Maddox who constantly babbled and squealed was silent, seeming to sense the strain in the room.
Hurt flickered over her face as the silence stretched. “Okay,” she nodded, seeming to accept our silence as rejection. “I’ll go,” she swallowed, turning to leave.
I looked to Sal, my eyes pleading. A silent understanding passed between us. If we were doing this, it would be together and it had to come from him.
“Fuck,” he muttered, hanging his head for a moment. “Wait,” he instructed her gruffly.
She turned on her heel looking at him wearily.
“I don’t know if it’ll work after all the shit you put us both through,” he began, looking to me briefly before his eyes shot back to our mother. “But I know something about needing redemption.” He pulled Kat close and I knew he was thinking about having to fight his way back to her. “So I’m willing to give it a shot,” he added brusquely.
Axel put his arm around my waist pulling me closer, telling me without words that he’d accept any decision I made.
“Me too,” I spoke up when the eyes in the room had turned to me. Axel squeezed my hip in support.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
“How long are you in town for?” I asked.
She gave a small shrug. “Indefinitely. Things are a bit up in the air right now.”
“Why don’t you come by tomorrow?” I offered. I wasn’t ready to invite her for dinner. We’d need to do this a little bit at a time. “We could have coffee or something.”
Her eyes lit with a spark of hope. “I’d like that,” she replied. “I’ll let you get on with your evening,” she added, heading toward the door. I followed her toward the door opening it to the chilly evening air. I watched her thin form move to her rental car and sent a silent plea that she wouldn’t make us regret giving her a chance. It was huge for Sal to give her this opportunity – I didn’t want to see him hurt.
She gave a small wave before driving off down the road.
That evening, Axel and I cleaned up together. Dinner had been a success, well no one had died anyway and the meal had been somewhat edible. After my mom left, we hadn’t talked about the visit; instead, we kept the mood light.
“It was good, babe,” Axel’s deep voice assured me as he moved in behind me to kiss my neck. He smelled like beer and pumpkin pie, a surprisingly delicious combination. “You taste good. I’ve been waiting all night to get my mouth on you,” he growled against my skin.
I froze mid-rinse from my place at the sink and leaned into his mouth.
His arms wrapped around my middle pulling me back against his firm body.
In one quick movement, my leggings were pulled down and off. He moved us quickly to the opposite counter, his large body imposing and deliciously hard behind mine.
“Spread,” he ordered, his mouth against my shoulder.
I shuddered with anticipation as I followed his demand. His hand immediately moved to my core, his fingers sliding through the moisture that he’d immediately created as his other hand moved to my covered breast.
His fingers moved expertly, bringing me to the brink of orgasm within seconds. I leaned my head back against his shoulder and moaned.
“That’s right, baby. I want to hear you,” he rasped in my ear as he quickened his movements.