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She knew she was treading dangerous territory, but Skylar wasn’t going to let Adele talk down about Elena. Elena had worked her ass off to achieve everything she had in life, and her parents should be proud of that. Beside her, Adele sighed.
“I know, but I don’t expect you to understand. You don’t have kids. You don’t know what it’s like to have them go against everything you taught them.”
“I know I’m not the most religious person, but I did go to church enough to know that God loves everyone no matter what. And if He makes everyone in His own image, then he made Elena exactly how she is.”
Adele seemed to think about the words, so Skylar kept talking.
“Your daughter has shared her musical gift all over the country and even the world. She spends time with each fan at meet and greets and thanks them for coming to the show, and that she’s thankful for them. There’s a reason Elena is so beloved and had a career after Maine Event. She’s spreading the love that you taught her to have around the world to the people that need it.”
Still, Adele said nothing. She looked away from Skylar at a spot on the tile floor.
“And I know you wanted Elena to follow the social norms and be with a man. But I can assure you, Adele, that I love Elena more than anyone else on this planet ever could. I’ve loved her for years. Hell,” Skylar laughed, but Adele’s quick look up at her told her cussing was not funny, “sorry. I was just going to say that the band broke up the first time because I loved Elena so much, but she didn’t want to come out then. She didn’t want to upset you or Felix or anyone else who still saw her as a good Catholic girl.”
Adele’s brow furrowed in confusion. “So, wait. You’re telling me that you and Elena were together ten years ago, and I never knew?”
“We were.”
“But why? Why didn’t she tell us then? She just told us you left the band, and we never asked any more questions.”
“She stayed in the closet to make life easier for you and Felix.” Skylar shrugged. “It was never my place to make Elena do anything she isn’t ready to do. I don’t know if you’ve met your daughter, but she’s a little stubborn.”
“A little?” Adele heartedly laughed. “She’s just like her father. Stubborn as a mule.”
“But you gotta love them.”
“I do,” she sighed and wiped a tear from her cheek. “I do love Elena.”
“I know you do.”
Skylar stood and moved to the chair beside Adele. She gently picked up her hand and placed it on her own as she gave it a squeeze. When Adele made eye contact with her, Skylar smiled.
“And I need you to understand that I love Elena, too. I thought I blew my chance with her ten years ago, but the universe brought us back together for a reason that’s bigger than a Maine Event reunion tour. I’d be lying if I said Elena and I had anything figured out for life after the tour, but I can assure you that I am not going anywhere.”
Adele covered Skylar’s hand with hers and smiled. “I’m glad.”
Chapter 27
Elena
The methodical beeping of the machines was almost in sync with Elena’s own heartbeat. She hadn’t been able to move from her spot by the door since she entered the hospital room. Elena had never seen her father take a sick day, let alone seen him in a hospital bed attached to more machines than Elena could count. He looked smaller than his six-foot-tall frame. Maybe it was just the fact Elena wasn’t used to seeing him lying down.
Felix Cruz had always had a bigger-than-life personality. He commanded any room he walked in and always had a smile on his face. Or, well, he did, unless he was yelling at his daughter when she came out to him. Elena wondered if her parents had told any of her siblings. None of them were close; her brother was the only one that occasionally contacted her when he wanted money, and often Elena just ignored his requests. She’d worked hard for her money and didn’t freely give it to people who didn’t need it.
Elena wondered for the millionth time in her life how things could be different if she was actually close to anyone in her family. She’d grown apart from her siblings as they were older and already out of the house by the time Elena was old enough to hang out with. Then when Maine Event got big, they all thought Elena was too good for them. And maybe, on some level, she did have that mentality. It was the first time in her life her siblings paid her any attention, even if it was negative attention.
Her parents had never made it a point to have family dinners or gatherings. They were too busy with their own careers to worry about all their kids getting along or developing actual relationships. As far as Elena knew, none of her siblings were in regular contact with each other.
It was a stark contrast to other families in the Cove. Maybe it was because they were Cove transplants. Maybe the magic that seemed to live in the Cove was only available to those that were born there. Elena’s mind wandered back to their time with Alexis and Blake and their sweet family. There was no way those three kids wouldn’t be the best of friends as they grew up. Even if she didn’t want to admit it, she wished she had that.
A soft knock on the door startled her from her thoughts. She had assumed it was Skylar or her mother, but a nurse entered instead. He offered Elena a smile and walked over to the bedside.
“Hi, I’m Shawn. I’ve been taking care of your dad since he was admitted to the CCU.”
“Thank you.” Elena offered him a quick smile. “I’m Elena.”
Shawn grinned and laughed. “Yeah, I know.”
“Oh. Duh.”
