So, I’d kept quiet about my plans.
I could tell it had been eating at Capri as to what I had going on since we were locked at the hip most of the time. She hadn’t asked until that day and I was struggling with telling her, but I wouldn’t lie to her either.
“It’s been awhile since I’ve gone to see my mother and I know you might not understand why I could even be there for her after what she’d done, but I can’t abandon her fully.” I blew out a deep breath.
I had got it out but wasn’t expecting Capri’s reply.
Placing her hand on top of mine that rested on the counter, she looked at me with what seemed to be understanding. Could that really be what I was seeing?
“She’s your mom, Pax.”
God, I loved when she called me that in her sweet voice.
“I’d give anything to have my mom here with me,” she choked out with sadness in her voice. “Yours is still here and as horrible as what she did is, I understand why you need to be there for her. Gemma understands too and your sister supports you as do all your friends.”
She picked up her hand and placed it on my chest.
“That includes me.” Her palm swept calmly back and forth against my skin. “Can I come with you?”
My brows shot up to my hairline. “You want to come with me to see my mom? The one that is mentally ill and in a hospital?”
She knew all that but I couldn’t help in my state of surprise reminding her where I was going to visit my mom.
“Yes. You’ve been here for me and I want to be there for you,” she replied softly.
Our gazes locked and I searched her eyes to find honesty and compassion. And something else that looked a lot likelove.
I’d never experienced that with a woman and had truly only been witness to what that looked like when I met my sister and her awesome group of friends, who were now my friends too. I wasn’t sure what was happening with Capri and me, but it did feel a lot like I was tumbling head over heels for her.
My heart hammered faster and faster in my chest. I didn’t know how it happened so quickly or if we were ready to put a label on us yet, but I decided I couldn’t fight the feelings that slammed into me like a freight train at that moment. All I could do was go along for the ride.
“Yes, you can come.”
When her striking smile beamed across her face there was only one thing I could do.
Kiss her, of course.
* * *
Capri kept surprising me daily.
The woman was amazing and beautiful, inside and out.
I had watched her for two weeks warm up even more to her friends now that she felt she didn’t have to keep herself away or hide from them. Brinley and her, working right next door to one another with their own businesses, were closer than ever.
She’d met with the older lady who owned the building and for the first time Capri got to tell her a little bit about what she had been through and thank her for her help when she first arrived in Portland. Although, when the woman hugged Capri and I saw her eyes mist over, it tore me up inside. I knew she was thinking about her mom and the hugs she would never receive from her again.
Then to see her with her customers was an eye-opener. I knew she was generous, loving, and sweet, but now that she knew she wasn’t going to run, she could be herself even more. She told me when we worked at the bakery the first day that her mom was the most amazing baker and her dad had a way with people.
Capri had the best part of both of them. She could bake better than anyone in my opinion, even if I might have been biased a bit, and she was a charmer like her dad. Everyone that came into her shop felt special, cared for, and like fast friends, not just customers.
But, God, it was when she met my mother that I knew I was never letting Capri go.
For the first time in my life, I knew deep down in my soul what love was.
I didn’t give a shit that it had only been six months since we met, I figured it started to happen almost the moment I first laid eyes on her. As we got to know each other she wiggled her way into my heart and was planted there for the rest of my days. I hoped she felt the same way.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Miss Brewer.” Capri held out her hand and my mother accepted.
