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“Of course.”
“Biology doesn’t change anything.” Tears began to fall from both of them. Quin scooted off my lap, coming to rest between my spread thighs. I placed my hands on her shoulders, lending her strength. “You’re still my mom and I love you.”
“I love you too, Quinlan. We both do. So much.”
“I know.” She nodded, then stood. “I’ll be back tomorrow and we’ll talk.”
She walked away from her mother, straight into the open arms of her two best friends. I’d completely forgotten about everyone else in the room, which was nothing new. When Quin was near, she was all I saw.
I followed her movements as River and Emory led her through the kitchen to the stairs. She needed them more than me right now, which was fine. I’d be the one holding her together in the middle of the night when she finally broke apart.
Ma, being the friend she was, helped Millie off the floor. She and Pop had already developed a bond with the Jameses, one which would continue to grow. Millie and Charlie weren’t bad people, they were thrust into an impossible situation and did what they thought was best. There’s no doubt in my mind, they’d never once thought of Quin as anything less than their child. They’ve loved her and protected her for the last twenty-two years, but now it was my turn.
Crossing the room to where my brothers and father stood, I shifted gears. Quin and her parents were still in grave danger.
“Pop. If you and Ma can stay here until after dinner, I’ll make sure someone relieves you by seven.”
“No worries, Hijo.”
“Gabe, can you fill in Caleb? I’m certain he’s going to want to hear Millie’s thoughts regarding how his dad died.”
“Already planned on it,” he affirmed.
“What do you need from Luc and me?” Rico questioned.
“Find those motherfuckers,” I growled.
Quinlan
MOM WAS MYaunt?
No.
She was my mom.
Period.
Yes, they’d kept secrets from me, huge, ugly secrets, but they hadn’t exactly lied. They simply withheld vital information, which honestly, wouldn’t have changed much in the long run. But then why did it feel like someone had ripped my heart out and stomped all over it?
Throughout the drive back to Alec’s, I was in a daze, my mind a jumbled maze filled full of questions without answers. Even when he escorted me into his apartment, I was on autopilot, going through the motions of getting undressed and slipping into bed. I could tell my silence was starting to freak him out a bit, but the problem was I couldn’t figure out how to properly voice the heartache I was experiencing.
“There’s no right or wrong way for you to be feeling right now, Quin.” He climbed in beside me, lying his head next to mine on the pillow. “Whenever you’re ready to talk, I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Will you hold me?”
“You don’t even have to ask.”
Flipping over, I nuzzled into him, my back to his front. One of his arms curled low across my belly while the other snaked between my breasts, cupping the side of my neck. I was totally cocooned by his strength, his love. There was no time I felt safer than when he was next to me.
Lying there in the dark, images of my childhood floated through my mind. Camping trips. Mini vacations to nearby destinations. We even hosted a huge potluck party every summer at the farm, where the vast majority of the town would show up, bringing their favorite entree or side dish to share with their neighbors. I never gave much thought when I was younger to not having a big family because the people of Mountain Grove were my family. Then when Dad got sick, we lost them all.
The gears in my head turned again. How did Stacy end up here? Mom said they weren’t raised together and from what I could tell there was at least twenty years between them; Mom being the older of the two. Did they know about each other, or was it happenstance which brought them to the same town? It was another question to add to my growing list.
“Try to get some rest, baby.” He kissed my exposed shoulder. “You had a rough day.”
“I’m trying, but my mind won’t shut off.”
“What do you think about Oliviero if it’s a boy?”
