Page 121 of Always: A Legacy Novel

Although to be fair, Catherine figured her family was much more Catholic in appearance than in behavior and action. But those were the kinds of things that were not appreciated when they were pointed out.

“Do try not to make a habit of this, though,” her mother said as they climbed the stairs.

“Pardon?”

“Coming home late, Catty.”

Catherine groaned. “Fucking Andino.”

Her mother’s laughter echoed through the quiet, dark house.

“He meant no harm,” Catrina said, grinning widely.

“Lies. Who else heard him use that nickname for me?”

“Well …”

“Well, what, Ma?”

“Everyone.”

Ugh.

Goddamn Cross.

And Andino.

All of them.

Catherine would never shake that nickname now.

She knew it.

“Oh, and Catherine?”

“Yeah, Ma?”

Catrina waved a finger toward the collar of her long-sleeved shirt. “Wear something with a high neck tomorrow, and for a while afterward.”

Catherine’s brow furrowed.

Her mother flicked a wrist, as if to explain her next words away. “Dante might overlook one late night, but certainly not a mark like the one on your collarbone there. Your father is not ready for that reality where you and boys are concerned just yet, reginella.”

Oh.

Catherine’s cheeks heated red, and she failed to come up with an appropriate response.

“You are being safe beyond your birth control shot, right? That shot is good for preventing pregnancy, but not anything else.”

“Yeah, of course I’m safe, Ma,” Catherine said quickly.

Catherine had been on birth control pills from the time she was eleven because of periods that made it damn near impossible to get out of bed for the first three or so days. The pill helped to manage those symptoms for years. Then, after she had turned fifteen, she asked her mother to take her in for a better, more reliable birth control. She wanted it for the very purpose of being birth control, even though she hadn’t started having sex at that point. It was a just in case sort of thing.

“And I’m here,” her mother added, “if you need something, Catherine. Anything.”

“I know, Ma.”

Catherine barely noticed the month of April melting into the month of May.