“I can’t ask you to do that. If you see her, I’ll come with you.”
“Are you sure?”
He nods. “It’s my job to mediate family issues like this. I’d be a shit brother if I left you to talk to Mum alone, wouldn’t I?”
I wobble my hand from side to side. “I’m not sure I’d phrase it exactly like that.”
Beau laughs. “You’d be thinking it, though.” He crosses his arms. “I’ve given Dad dozens of chances. The least I can do is give Mum one.”
My chin trembles. “Thank you.”
“Are you going to see her?”
“I don’t know. I’ve done nothing but think about it, but I haven’t reached a decision yet. I’m afraid of what she might say. It’s like staring at Pandora’s box. If I open it, I might let out answers I’d rather left locked away.”
“Do you remember what was left when all the horrors of the world escaped the box?”
I nod. “Hope.” I’m not sure a myth makes me feel any better.
“Take your time making a decision,” Beau counsels. “There’s no rush.”
“No.”
“Whatever you decide, I’ll follow your lead.” Beau taps the side of the mug. “Are we okay?”
I reach across the table and put my hand over his. “Yes. Always. I think that when it comes to Mum and Dad, we’re never going to be in complete agreement.”
He laughs bitterly. “No kidding. I wish we were.”
“I know.”
“I hate butting heads with you.”
“Me too.”
He gives me a fragile smile. “Can we try not to do it too often?”
“Definitely.”
Beau blows out a breath. “How are things going with Quinn?”
“Good. It’s very new.”
“But he makes you happy?”
“Very.”
“I sense a but.”
I shake my head. “No.”
Beau arches an eyebrow.
“I’m not exactly a relationship expert. Put me in a dungeon with a sub, and I’ll know exactly what to do. But I haven’t exactly had many relationships outside of that. Or any.”
“What about Charles?”
“Does that count? He called all the shots. We weren’t dating. He was my mentor in every way possible. I wasn’t in love with him. He sure as hell wasn’t in love with me.” I tap my fingers on the table. “And it’s not as if we had good role models growing up, is it?”
