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The future could be whatever I made it.
And I wanted family as the centerpiece.
CHAPTERSIXTEEN
JOJO
Kane stood by the window.
He’d sat for a few minutes. Then paced. Then hovered over Penelope before moving to the window.
I understood a strained relationship with a parent, though I wasn’t sure his situation was exactly the same as mine with my mother.
She was simply a vile human being.
She’d had the gall to leave a voicemail once Alma had signed the divorce papers.“Hope you’re happy with your actions, Josephine. I never imagined you’d be that selfish to ruin a marriage. Ruin your sister, not to mention our family’s reputation.”
I’d been floored.
Clearly, she had no idea what Alma had been up to.
Clearly, she didn’t care that her granddaughter could die.
I’d only met Kane’s parents once at his wedding to my sister. Anyone could be decent in short spurts. Though I didn’t remember much about them, they’d seemed kind enough.
He’d been on edge since he’d come back from speaking to them.
He’d only spoken to tell me they were coming.
Already that endeared them to me.
Nancy chattered to Penelope, telling her all about the latest vegan recipes she’d tried and what she wanted to plant in her garden. She promised to teach Penelope anything she wanted to know about gardening.
Beau and Cal gave Nancy the space to spend time with my daughter. I appreciated they were there to support the woman . . . as family should.
But I’d also enjoyed getting to know them a little better.
Nurse Ana appeared in the doorway. “There are visitors here to see you.”
Kane whirled around as she ushered the older man and woman inside.
My breath caught in my throat.
They’d aged in the last two decades, but I recognized them. Penelope had some of their features. Kane and his father had the same build and strong jawline. But he had his mother’s eyes.
Penelope had her grandmother’s eyes.
Kane stared for a moment before taking tentative steps toward them.
I itched to get up from my chair in the sitting area where I’d been chatting with Beau and Cal, torn between letting Kane have this moment alone with his parents or standing beside him for support.
“Kane,” his mother said as she rushed forward. She touched his cheek and looked at him like it had been years since she’d seen his face.
Then she hugged him.
In a way only a mother could.
His father stepped forward and touched his shoulder. When his mother moved out of the way, they shook hands. His father pulled him in for an embrace.
