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“Yes, ma’am. I hear you. You have my word.”
“Do you hate me?” Genevieve asked.
“I don’t hate you,” Willow responded. “I wish you’d said something to me before doing the DNA test, but I can understand why you did it the way you did.”
“Will you tell him?”
“That’s an easy one. I will, and I’ll do it without hesitation or a smidgen of guilt. It won’t be due to any ill will I may harbor toward AJ. It will be because two years ago, my brothers were estranged. If not for you and me and Brooke and Auntie, Lucas and Jake wouldn’t have known a thing about the circumstances of the other’s life.”
Genevieve grimaced. “I have PTSD remembering that.”
“I know, Mom. I also know without a doubt that in similar circumstances, both Jake and Lucas would each want to know that he was an uncle.”
“Oh, Willow.” Genevieve sat back in her chair. “You are so right. I never even considered that point. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it.”
“It’s the PTSD,” Willow said, waving her point away. “How did Auntie leave it? Are the Randalls expecting another call from her?”
“Yes. Helen told Lisa Randall that after she verified the information she was given, someone would contact her with more information about Jenna Randall’s estate. We figuredif you didn’t want to say anything about AJ, we’d send a generic box of something.”
“You two are sneaky.”
“You know your aunt.”
“Oh, you hold your own with her, Mama.”
“Thank you, dear. So, we’re good? You’re okay with my buttinskiness?”
“I want honesty. Truth. Zero secrets. I’m done with secrets, Mom. I know I’ve been the villain in this regard, so I have no room to complain. As far as I’m concerned, we’re good.”
“Excellent. So, since that’s out of the way, why did you send up the bat signal this morning?”
“Stop it. That was the mama bear signal.” Willow gave her mother a quick summary of the thought process that had led to her cry for help. “I don’t know how this news about AJ changes anything. I don’t know what to do.”
“I think you know. I think you’re ready. The fact that you sent up the bat signal for me tells me you are.”
“What if I scare him off ?”
“Then he’s not the man I think he is. Better to know that now than before you invest any more of your heart.”
“Mama! Mama! Look!” AJ held up a tower of blocks.
Out of the blue, tears stung Willow’s eyes. “That’s good, AJ.”
Seeing Willow’s reaction, Genevieve reached over and wrapped her daughter in a hug. “It’s okay, honey.”
“No, it’s not. I’m not AJ’s mama.”
“I know, baby.”
“He’s a sweet little boy, but half of the time when he calls me Mama, the image of that woman in bed with my husband flashes through my mind. I think of how Andy lied to me, cheated on me, and betrayed Drew and Emma. Howhe betrayed our family. I cringe to say this, but I resent AJ, Mom. He’s just a little boy, and I resent him. It makes me feel like pond scum.”
Genevieve chastised her with a look. “Let’s see. Pond scum who has taken that little boy into her home and cared for him and shown him affection.”
“But—”
“Nobuts. I’ve seen you, Willow. Maybe it hasn’t always been easy, but you’ve been sweet with that boy. I’ve admired you for it. You are not pond scum. You’re human.”
“But—”
