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She kissed him, holding his face and stroking his cheeks with her thumbs, and felt his smile against her lips. Eventually they parted, and she rested her head on his shoulder again.
“Okay… Maybe I’m alittlelucky.”
They fell silent, and she thought about the questions that had been hovering at the back of her mind all week, and decided to broach the topic one more time.
“I want to know what my mother said to you on Monday.”
“What? Where did that come from?”
She shrugged. “It pops into my head every once in a while.”
“I already told you, it doesn't matter.”
“But it matters to me.”
“It shouldn't. Like I said, in one ear and out the other.”
“Why won't you just tell me?”
“Because I refuse to repeat what she said.” His voice lowered. “My short conversation with her allowed me to see her for exactly who she is. To put it nicely, that woman doesnotleave a good impression.”
“She's not justthat woman. And she wasn’t always like this.”
“Why are you defending her?”
“I'm–I’m not defending her, but...she's my mother.”
“That's right, she's your mother,” he agreed softly. “She should know better. It doesn't matter that she wasn’t always like this; this is how she isnow.” He sighed. “Look, I'll throw my money in her face if that's what she wants. I can make a show of it. But what Iwon'ttolerate is the way she talks about you, the insults she throws out as easily as if she was discussing the weather. If it happens again, I can’t promise I’ll bite my tongue.”
Elizabeth was quiet for a long time, trying to process what he’d said and still find a way to rationalize her mother’s behavior.
“Elizabeth, please,” he went on. “Don't let her do this to you. If you ever need reassurance about who you are and what you deserve in life, come to me or Jane or your aunt and uncle, but please, donotlook to your mother.”
Hestillhadn't told her what her mother's exact words were, but she realized he was right; it didn't matter. He wasn't telling her what was said during that conversation because he loved her and wanted to protect her. Tears stung her eyes, but she held them back.
“I'm sorry I brought it up, but I'm even sorrier that you had to deal with her.”
He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her hair. “It's okay. But you need to believe me when I say that nothing she says will ever matter to me. I love you just as you are. The woman your mother thinks you are doesn’t even exist.”
“I love you too.” She burrowed her face into his neck, placing a kiss there before taking a deep breath. “What did I do to deserve you?”
He leaned back and smiled down at her. “You didn't do anything, Lizzy. You’re just you.”
