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“What?”
“I was attacked in a parking lot. I’ve told no one, and you can’t either.”
“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry about your loss.”
“I’m protective of Foxy because I can’t lose him, and honestly, I don’t see that changing soon. But I also know how much he would benefit from having his father in his life.”
“So would you. Start with your parents. Think of them as your practice run before you tell James. This is something you want to tell him yourself, Laura. James is an excellent investigator.“
“I know. I’ll tell him right after Kensi’s surgery.”
“Why not before? It’s the perfect time to bring some happiness to his life.”
“Because I’ll be busy.”
“What’s more important than telling him?”
“Kensi’s surgery.”
Her brows drew together.
“I’ll be unavailable during her surgery and a bit after.” I filled my lungs with a breath of courage. “Because I’m her match.”
“What?”
“They’re taking a piece of my liver out for Kensi next week, and I’ve told no one except you.”
Out of nowhere, she got up from her seat and threw her arms around my neck. A tiny sob escaped from her chest, and I smoothed my hand over her back. “I would love for you to spend some time with Foxy during my surgery and recovery. I mean, my babysitter’s available but I thought you’d like to get to know him? I’ll tell James the truth as soon as I get better. He’ll be too busy with Kensi over the next few weeks, so I should have enough time to recover.”
“What is your cover for the surgery?” she asked.
“I don’t have one yet.”
“Let me worry about that because, knowing my son, you’ll need one.”
“You’re going to help me?”
“We’re family, and family helps one another. We’ll employ Emma to keep her eyes and ears open, and we’ll figure out what to do about Tiffany.”
“What do you mean, Tiffany?”
“She’s been trying to get back with James for years. She still loves him, and she won’t give up easily. Tiffany will dig for dirt, and she knows how to dig.”
“So you’re not a fan?”
She burst out a laugh. “No, I’m not. Thank God you showed up when you did. Now, tell me, what are we having for brunch? And do you prefer a strawberry or melon daiquiri?”
I hugged her so hard that afternoon I felt the squeeze in my muscles by the evening. Teresa’s warm soul changed the trajectory of my day. When I’d arrived in the early morning, I’d expected murder, yet she showed me kindness and offered support along with encouragement. She was everything I’d always wanted in a mother, and her immeasurable love overlooked my flaws. Teresa would not only keep my secret, she would also help me reveal the truth after my surgery.
* * *
I opened my eyes to bright light, straining my blurred vision. My head throbbed. The smell of sanitized air swirled around my nose, and my mouth tasted like the desert.
“Water,” I mumbled, and someone passed a straw to my lips.
I sucked until the cup emptied and shifted in the bed. A throbbing pain assaulted my side.
“Don’t move.” I heard a whisper and turned my head sideways to meet Teresa’s grateful eyes. “The surgery finished a few hours ago, and everything went well.”
