I feel Reid tense next to me, and I work to diffuse the situation. Of course, I’m not really sure there is any diffusing of this situation. “You can be angry, but if you’re going to take itout on Riley, we’re going to have a problem,” Reid says as he leans forward.
His words are an instant turn-on. Whatever anger I’d felt dissipates quickly, and I have a hard time focusing.Riley,Reid growls through our bond. I turn to him, giving him my most innocent look. His fingers flex on my waist, and I force myself to focus again. I look over at my mom, who looks devastated. I don’t look over at my dad; I don’t want to see his face right now. I’m scared at what I might find.
"I’m sorry.”
I look over at my mom, and she continues. “I did wrong, and I’m owning up to my mistakes today. I should have never slept with him. I should have waited for my mate.” Her voice breaks on the words, and Reid’s hand tightens on my waist. “And I should have never given my little girl up for adoption. I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought...” and then she breaks. Her body curves in on itself, and she begins to sob. Heaving sobs wrack her body. I sit absolutely still, unsure what to do. I’ve never heard my mom cry like this; she’s always been so strong. After a minute or two, I pull away from Reid and make my way to her side. I sit next to her on the couch and wrap my arms around her the best I can.
“I forgive you, Mom.” I can only speak for myself, and I do. “We all make mistakes.” She cries harder, and my heart hurts. I don’t know how to make things right; I don’t know what to do.
And then my dad is there. He drops to his knees in front of my mom. He takes both of her hands in his. “Kelley, my Love.” His words and voice are gentle. “Look at me, please.”
She lifts her head, and my heart hurts at her red eyes and look of devastation. “I’m so sorry,” she whispers.
She tries to pull away, but my dad keeps her hands in his. “I love you, Kelley.” She makes a sound and tries to pull away, but he keeps her hands in his. “I made a pledge to love you nomatter what, and this is no matter what. You’re mine, and I’m yours.” She cries harder and tries to pull away, but he won’t let her. He leans forward. “Do I wish you would have told me? Yes. You didn’t need to carry the guilt all these years. I forgive you, Sweetheart. I love you.” She falls forward, and he catches her. I blink back tears and stand. I don’t know what to do with myself, but Reid makes the choice for me. He snags my hand and pulls me along with him. Seconds later, we’re back in his room. He pulls me against his chest, and I can no longer hold it all in. The tears come hard. I cry for my mom; I cry for the girl who grew up without a mom in her life. I cry for what my mom and I endured. I cry for the guilt my mom’s carried all these years. After I’ve cried all I can cry, Reid pulls back and wipes my eyes.
Chapter 48
Riley
“I’m so proud of you, you know that?”
I eye him warily. “Because I cried all over you?” I ask dryly.
He smiles. “Well, yes. I want all parts of you, Ry—the good and the bad, the happy and the sad. But what I meant is that you were the first to forgive your mom.” He tucks my hair behind my ear. “I am in awe of who you are. You are the kindest, most loving person I know.”
I shake my head. “You’re just trying to get me in bed with those kind of words.”
His growl is immediate, and he tugs me forward. “Don’t test me.”
There’s a knock at the door, and I groan when I scent Zane because this time I know I can’t ignore him. Reid smiles at me and takes my hand before opening the door so Zane can come in. Zane steps inside and closes the door behind him. He crosses his arms over his chest. “How can you forgive her so easily?”
His words don’t really surprise me. Zane is so loyal. That’s what makes him an amazing brother and mate to Evie, but it will also be his downfall if he can’t learn to forgive. I study my brother a moment, wondering what to say. It comes to me easily. “What if it were Evie?” I ask.
“What?”
I ask him again. “What if it were Evie? What if she slept with another man before she met you? Could you forgive her?” He stares at me with dark eyes, and I lift an eyebrow. “Well?”
“You know I would.” His words are gruff.
“Okay then. There’s your answer.”
“But dad,” he starts, and I shake my head.
“Don’t take up a reproach for Dad, Zane. Dad already forgave her.” I glance at Reid and take his hand in mine. “We all make mistakes, and sometimes, those mistakes end up hurting the people we love.” I feel Reid squeeze my hand. “But it’s what happens after those mistakes that make or break us,” I say gently. “We’re family; we have to choose to forgive. Was mom wrong? Yes. But she apologized. She admitted that she was wrong, and she’s trying to fix it. And because we love her, we will forgive her. We do it not because she deserves it, but because it’s the right thing to do. This time, it was mom. But there will come a time when it’s me or you that needs forgiving, and we will want that same forgiveness granted to us.”
Zane stares at me a long moment. “So, what do we do about the sister that we have somewhere?”
“We start looking for her,” I say without an ounce of hesitation. “I have a feeling we might be the only family she has.”
Zane sighs deeply and surprises me by pulling me in for a hug. “You’re too good, Riley. We don’t deserve you.”
“No, we don’t,” Reid echoes.
I feel my eyes tear up. “I don’t deserve you guys either.” I lean back and look up at my big brother. “I need to tell you something.” Shadows line his eyes, and he braces himself. I continue before he thinks it’s something like what my mom confessed. “I know things are changing now that Reid is my mate, but I just want you to know that you’ll always be my big brother.” I swallow and find the words more difficult to say than I thought I would. “And you’ve been the best big brother a girl could ever ask for.”
His own eyes tear up, betraying his tough guy exterior. “Aw, Riley.” He tugs me against his chest again. “I love you too.” I pullback after a moment, and he looks over my shoulder. “I meant what I said. We don’t deserve her.”
“I know. I meant what I said too,” Reid says from behind me.
