“Um, he disappeared that way.” She points toward the hall that I watched Nick and Plum heading down.
“Thanks, sis,” I say, and she grins brightly at me. Rhian gives me a grateful look, and I’m about to go look for the three of them when Rhian’s eyes go wide as he stares at something behind me. Sable grabs his hand and frowns.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” she asks him, but Rhian only manages a shake of his head.
Turning around slowly, hoping whatever it is, it’s not bad when I see the last person I expected. A petite, brown-haired omega walks in with a cardboard box and a small gift bag clutched tightly to her chest. She’s glancing around the room with a nervous look on her face.
"Mom?" I ask, my body moving toward her even though my brain hasn’t caught up to what I’m seeing yet. “Mom…” I say again, struggling to believe what I’m seeing. Guilt tightening my throat when she winces at my tone.
“Holy shit,” I hear my brother say behind me as he pushes past me, grabbing the gifts from her arms to place on the gift table.
“Benny, I brought some cookies.” She shrugs, nibbling her lip and watching Rhian take them to the dessert table. She looks as unsure as she sounds, butshe’s here.
“Stella is going to be so happy to see you.” I try not to sound too shocked as I gather her in my arms, feeling her slight tremble as she hugs me back. Her apple scent is a little sweet with a hint of Granny Smith sour. It’s comforting. Not in the same way it was as a young kid, but I still smile when I breathe it in. “I'm so glad you could make it,” I add as I step back.
“Me too.” She nods as Rhian shuffles over to hug her next. His eyes meet mine with a question, and I shrug, shaking my head. I don’t know, but I have a guess.
I’m pretty sure our overprotective big brother had a hand in this. I don’t think anyone else could have gotten through to her. Lord knows Rhian’s tried.
“Is your sister here yet?” she asks softly, crossing her arms when my brother steps back.
“No, but they will be here any second. Come over and meet Val’s parents.” Rhian gently leads her away, and I have to fight not to snort when Valente and Valentine absolutely freak out when they see her.
Plum comes out of the hallway, stealing my attention away as I watch her and Sable scurry to the bar. She’s blushing bright red, and when Sable leans in to whisper something to her, they both giggle.
Nick and Kai walk out together a minute later, the alpha smirking as he ambles over but abruptly stopping when he sees our mom with Rhi. Kai notices next and pulls his lips between his teeth, holding back a laugh. His best friend’s parents are a lot.
Nick looks both relieved and proud as he smiles after the shock passes. I reach out to squeeze his shoulder when he stops by my side.
“I know you had something to do with that. Stella is going to be so happy. How did you convince her to come?”
“I told her the truth. Stella needs her; even if she isn’t perfect, she still needs to try.” Nick has always put the rest of us first. Being the parent when we needed it, the brother when warranted, and the best friend I couldn’t imagine living without. I’m not surprised he was able to finally talk sense into Mom.
I watch as he pulls her in for a hug, and she pats his back. The moment doesn’t last long before it’s interrupted.
“They’re here!” Felicity shouts, getting everyone’s attention.
Stella is all smiles as she walks in hand-in-hand with Val.
Everyone cheers, clapping for the happy couple. It takes a second for Stella to catch sight of our mother, since she’s smaller than half the crowd, but when she does, she squeals.
“Mom,” she whispers, clearly in as much shock as I was, with wide eyes that are rapidly filling with tears. “You’re here…”
“Congratulations, Stella,” Mom says gently, and Stella’s self-control snaps as she charges our mother at full speed. Thankfully, Nick provides stability and prevents them from falling as the two omegas start crying, holding each other tightly.
Val has to pull his soon-to-be wife off of Mom, but the second they’re separated, Stella is hugging Nick.
“Thank you. I can’t…” She chokes on the rest of it, stepping back and settling against the side of Val. “Thank you.”
Nick manages to remain stoic as our sister swipes at her tears.
Later, after we’ve spent the evening drinking and building gingerbread houses, Stella stops by our table to hug Nick once again. She holds up a delicate gold dragonfly necklace to show him after.
“Mamaw’s necklace?” Nick asks, surprised to see it again after so many years.
“Mom’s gift. My something old.” She sniffs, looking the happiest I’ve seen her since she got to town.
I look over to see Mom laughing with Val’s parents and looking more alive than she has in years. Part of me resents that it’s taken this long for change, that she’s missed so much, but I can’t let the past keep shadowing what’s to come.
