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Understanding dawned on Eden’s face. She opened her mouth, then shut it at the hard stare I gave her.
“I will. I will.” My mom swiped at her eyes and lifted her chin in my direction. “I’ve changed, Talon. You’ll see.”
Gods, I wanted to believe her. But how many times had she told me that or something like it? “Let’s take it a day at a time.”
“Fair enough.” Mom cleared her throat and turned toward the kettle. “The tea’s almost ready. Why don’t you two sit down?”
I pulled out a kitchen chair for Eden, then sat next to her. “Thank you,” I mouthed, taking her hand and pressing it to my lips.
I meant it. I might be mad at Esposito, but I hated seeing my mother in pain, and Eden’s gesture had eased it. She’d known exactly what to say and do.
She was a good person. Warm where it was easy for me to be cold. If Esposito were here right now, I had no doubt she’d have forgiven him, too. It made me want to protect her from herself at the same time I hoped she never changed, because if she did, she wouldn’t be Eden. The woman I loved.
Mom put a tea bag in each of the mugs. The kettle beeped and she poured the hot water into the mugs, then carried them to the kitchen table and took the chair across from Eden.
“You sure I can’t get you something to eat?” she asked.
Eden shook her head. “I just had supper.”
My mom nodded. “Tell me how you’re doing,” she invited. “You and the baby are okay?”
Eden assured her they were both doing great, and the two of them fell into one of those conversations that women have about babies and pregnancy and the nursery that Eden was putting together with my and Rio’s help.
I let their conversation flow over me, content to listen.
Eventually, though, Esposito came up again. “He saved my life,” Eden told my mom.
Mom’s gaze darted to me for confirmation. My jaw clenched but I nodded in agreement. I’d said something along those lines when I’d first broken the news to her, but I probably hadn’t been too convincing.
Mom’s chest heaved. “He helped them kidnap you, didn’t he?”
My brows climbed. I hadn’t thought she’d put it together.
“Well, yeah,” said Eden. “But he was sorry. I know he was.”
Mom was looking at me. “Why else would he have been there? He got in too deep, didn’t he?”
I shrugged a shoulder.
“Gambling.” Her face fell. “Let me guess—he owed them money?”
I nodded. “A lot, from what I can tell.”
Mom sighed. “That sounds like him. Getting in too deep, then not knowing how to get out. I’m sorry,” she told Eden.
“You have nothing to apologize for,” said Eden. “He did it, not you.”
Mom gripped her mug with both hands. “If only he’d said something to me. Maybe I could’ve talked him out of it... But he didn’t. I’m sorry.”
Eden reached across the table to touch her wrist. “He knew you would’ve gone straight to Talon.”
“Yeah. I would’ve.” Mom’s mouth twisted. “And Marco knew it. He wasn’t a bad man,” she told Eden. “Just weak.”
My jaw dropped so I probably looked like a goddamned fish. All these years, I’d thought my mom had rose-colored glasses where Esposito was concerned.
Mom slanted me a sad smile. “I knew what he was, but I loved him anyway. That’s what you never understood. But maybe now you do?” Her eyes slid in Eden’s direction.
I closed my mouth, nodded slowly. Loving Eden as I did—needing her as I did—maybe I’d forgive her over and over, too. I liked to believe I wasn’t that weak, but deep down, maybe I wasn’t so different from my mom after all.
