Page 87 of Solomon’s Temple

I looked at Karon, Gabriel, and Dominic. They exchanged glances before silently gathering themselves.

Karon walked past me and squeezed my shoulder. “We’ll be outside. Hey, Auntie.”

“Hi, baby. You guys look handsome.”

“Thank you.”

The three of them kissed her cheek and left. The door closed behind them. Silence settled over the room, and Urina stepped farther inside.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke, then she looked at me.

“You’re really getting married.”

I gave her a small nod. “I am.”

She smiled, but it didn’t last. “I owe you an apology.”

I said nothing.

She took a breath. “I owe Temple one too.”

My jaw tightened. “Ma⁠—”

“No. Let me finish.” She stepped closer. “I was wrong.”

Those three words carried more weight than I expected.

“I judged that woman before I knew her. I questioned her intentions. I questioned her character. I convinced myself that I was protecting you when really . . .” She shook her head. “I was letting my own fears control me.”

I just stared at her.

She continued. “And I hurt you in the process.”

My eyes dropped toward the floor. She had no idea how many times I’d wished she would say those words. How many times I’d wanted my mother to look at me and admit that she had been wrong.

“I spent so much of your life trying to control your choices,” she said. “Trying to make you into the son I thought you should be instead of trusting the man you were becoming.”

I finally looked at her. “And you think an apology fixes all that?”

Her eyes filled with tears. “No.”

My voice was steady. “It doesn’t.”

“I know.”

“You’ve been doing this most of my life, Ma.”

“I know that too.”

“You judge people before you know them. You make decisions for everybody. You say things that cut deeper than you realize and then expect everybody to just move on because you’re my mother.”

She lowered her eyes. “I know, Solomon.”

I shook my head. “Do you?”

She nodded. “I do now.”

I walked toward the window, looking down at the ballroom below. People were moving around, flowers were being arranged, and the staff made their final preparations.