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Footsteps sounded before Raleigh’s bright face came into view. “Good morning, sweet girl,” she called cheerily. “Come on into the kitchen. I’ve already started breakfast.”
She didn’t wait for me to respond before she turned and headed back where she’d come from.
My chest tightened. I hadn’t expected Raleigh to be up so early. So much for sneaking out undetected.
The kitchen was warm and smelled like fresh coffee, sizzling bacon, and blueberry muffins. My stomach grumbled as I took a seat at the large farm table. Raleigh set a full mug of coffee in front of me.
“What can I get you to eat?”
I wrapped my hands around the mug, inhaling the rich aroma of java. “I think I’ll just have the coffee.”
Raleigh’s smile fell. “Excuse me?” She raised a brow. “You need some substance, baby.”
Without another word, she spun toward the stove and came back with a plate of thick-cut bacon, fresh fruit, and a warm muffin.
“Eat.” She set the plate in front of me.
“Yes, ma’am.” I hadn’t had much of an appetite since yesterday, but I wouldn’t disobey a direct order from Raleigh Ramsey. I took a bite of the muffin, my eyes lolling closed at the burst of sweet flavor. “Oh, my God,” I moaned around the mouthful. “This is amazing.”
Raleigh’s smile returned as she took a seat across from me, a mug of tea in her hand. “It’s my mother’s recipe.”
I stilled at the mention of a mother. I chewed slowly and swallowed, wondering what kind of legacy my mother was going to leave me one day. I doubted she had a stash of personal recipes somewhere. I was the one who cooked for us back in the day.
The silence that settled around us was heavy on my shoulders. I continued to pick at my food. It was all amazing, but my stomach was twisted in knots.
“So,” Raleigh set her mug on the table, “are you going to tell me what happened?”
My mouth went dry, and I sipped my coffee. “What do you mean?”
“Baby, I’ve raised six children. And you, Lark, might as well be my seventh. I think I know when something is going on with one of my kids.”
My eyes burned, and I inhaled steadily through my nose. “Reid hasn’t said anything to you?”
She shook her head. “He called me to make sure you got settled in safely, but he didn’t tell me much else.”
I traced the rim of my coffee mug with a finger. “My mother has been lying to me.”
Raleigh was quiet a beat before she spoke. “What did she lie about?”
My throat constricted. “She wasn’t as injured in her car accident as she let on…she’s been playing ill so that I would come home and take care of her.”
“Oh, honey.” Her tone dripped with sympathy. “I am so sorry.”
I stared down at my coffee, not wanting to meet her eyes as I said the next part. “Reid knew about it and he didn’t tell me.”
A shot of pain laced through my chest. I hated bringing up her son, but I needed to talk about it with someone.
The sound of the heavy chair being pushed back echoed through the room. A moment later, a warm hand grabbed mine as Raleigh sank into the seat right beside me. With her other hand, she tilted my chin over to meet her gaze.
“Things are changing between you and him, aren’t they?” she asked.
My eyes started to fill with tears again. “Yes,” I breathed.
She gave a knowing nod. She let my chin go and patted my arm. “Do you love him?”
My chest shuddered with a deep breath. “Yes.”
“Lark, you’ve been through way too much in your young life, but being in love—and having that love returned—will be your most difficult and fulfilling journey yet.”
