“So are you. The awesomest.”
“You’re the awesomest.”
“What about us?” Kai asked, with Felix and Zayden all standing hesitantly at the entrance to the nest, not daring to cross the threshold without first being asked.
Sonnet turned her head towards them and hummed. “I guess you’re all awesome too.” She held out her arms. “Come cuddle with us.”
The three of them don’t waste any time. Zayden and Felix bundled up on one side of her while Kai cuddled close on the other side. Jude flashed his brightest smile at him.
“Aw, are you playing footsies with me, Kai?”
He elbowed him in the side instantly, making Sonnet giggle.
The sound was comforting, like music to Jude’s ears. It didn’t take long for all of them to fall asleep together once again, in Sonnet’s nest, prepared to take on her grief however she needed.
Chapter 52
It had been an entire week since Sonnet found out her birth mother was dead, but time had felt different. Some hours stretched on, and others sped up. Nothing made sense, and nothing felt right, but everything hurt. She walked around with a pain in her chest that was unidentifiable and lingered like a splinter.
Sonnet was grateful for her pack, her family, and her omega. She knew her grief wasn’t easy for everyone else to handle, but she appreciated how patient and supportive they all were. She was even more grateful that Felix had called Mom and Summer to come over. Since they had, and since sleeping in her nest with her mates, it felt a bit easier to get up in the morning, shower, and eat.
Today, her mates had to take care of some business, and despite her attempt to stay home, they brought her to her mom and dad’s house instead. She didn’t think the change of scenery was going to do her any better, but she was wrong. Being backhome breathed a bit of life back into her, even if it still stung to inhale and exhale.
She was in the kitchen, helping Chef Anna peel some potatoes, something she used to do as a child. Anna had been working for her family for so many years that, when she was struggling, they moved her into the pool house for three years until she was ready to get her own place again. She also made the best potato salad in the entire world, which was exactly what she was making tonight for the BBQ her family was hosting.
Sonnet didn’t think the first time her pack and her family shared a meal together would be under circumstances like this. Still, at least Sonnet could rely on everyone being on their best behavior for her sake.
She wasn’t sure about Dad, though. He had been quiet and distant since she got to their house, spending his entire afternoon in the backyard reading a book and throwing different things for Goose, trying to teach her puppy how to play fetch.
“Careful,” Anna scolded when Sonnet pulled the knife too close to her thumb. “How many more times am I going to have to teach you how to do this?”
“Probably all my life,” Sonnet laughed.
Anna rolled her eyes, unamused.
Sonnet watched her drop the boiled eggs into an ice bath, and suddenly it hit Sonnet how many women in her life lifted her up and made her the woman she was today. She didn’t just have a mother and a mom. She had so many powerful figures in her life with such widely different personalities and beliefs. Yet, they’ve all managed to treat Sonnet with the same love most children don’t get.
I don’t want my mother to be remembered for what she did wrong,Sonnet suddenly thought, remembering the horrible tabloid article she accidentally read this morning before Zayden took it from her.
Trouble Boy Band Now Affiliated with the Daughter of a Paid Whore
Sonnet flinched.
Strangers can’t remember a woman they didn’t know. Only you can, and she wasn’t a whore. Mother had faults. She did things wrong, but there was one thing she did right. She loved us. I remember. I remember holding on to all that love, just like I held on to everything else.
All these memories I haven’t had for so long. It’s so hard to have them now that she’s gone.
I’m sorry that having your connection open to me also means opening the floodgates to all those memories. Thank you for not shutting me out. Thank you for letting me help.
Thank you for being the best part of me.
Sonnet smiled before quickly wincing as she drew the knife too close and cut herself.
Anna threw up her hands. “Ah! Impossible! Every time you do this.” She took away the knife and the rest of the potatoes, scolding her as she ran her finger under the sink.
“It was just a shallow cut. I’m okay.”
“And what if you weren’t? What if you had cut off your entire thumb?”
