Then she gasped. “My rings.”
“Back when you first bought the house, Colt gave me a key. You may not remember, but six months ago, I ran into you and asked about your wedding rings. You said you put them into storage in the spare room.” She lifted a shoulder. “I got angry. I felt like they belonged to my family and you weren’t with Colt anymore. So I came and I took them when you weren’t home.”
Unbelievable. She’d stolen them. Not just stolen them. Broken into her house and searched through her things to steal them.
“Take them,” Sylvia said gently. “They’re yours.”
Indie took the rings from her palm, and when she looked at Sylvia again, there were tears in the older woman’s eyes before she said, “I’m sorry.”
Indie blinked. The two words sounded genuine. “You’re sorry?”
“Yes. For everything. For years, I haven’t treated you well. I should have welcomed you into my family. When you were going through the hardest battle of your life to become a mother, I should have asked what I could do to help. I should have asked you if you needed support during your medical appointments and brought you meals.”
Indie almost wanted to press a hand to her chest to stem the ache. She’d craved those words for so long. So many times, she’d wondered whatshe’ddone wrong. Whatshecould have done differently.
Sylvia stepped forward. “I told myself that it was because you were weak, but it was the opposite. You were strong and brave in ways that I’ve never been, and you loved my son. Really loved him. I got scared.”
“Scared of what?”
“That you were going to take my boy from me. That he would stop visiting. Stop calling. Stop wanting to be a part of my life because he was building his own with you. I was scaredthat he’d see all your strengths, and they would accentuate my weaknesses. I saw you as a threat when I should have seen and treated you like the daughter I never had. You deserved more from me.”
Now tears gathered in Indie’s eyes. Everything Sylvia said was so late but also so validating. “I needed to hear that.”
“I’m going to do better. I’ve told my friends that the rumors I started about you were lies. I’m going to do better for my son, for you, and for my grandchild.” Her gaze flicked to Indie’s stomach. “I promise.”
Indie inhaled deeply. “It will take time, Sylvia. A lot of time.” And even then, she wasn’t sure they’d get there. But for Colt, she wanted to.
The front door opened, and Colt stepped in. His expression was hard, probably because he’d seen his mother’s car on the street. His eyes narrowed when they landed on Sylvia. “What’s going on?”
She blinked the tears away and straightened. “I just brought some meals and had a conversation with Indie.”
Concern was etched into his features as he turned to Indie. “Are you all right?”
She nodded, so many emotions swirling inside her that she didn’t knowwhatto feel.
Sylvia crossed the room and gripped Colt’s shoulders before pressing a kiss to his cheek. Then she turned to Indie. There was genuine warmth in her eyes before she leaned forward and hugged her.Reallyhugged her, like she’d never done before. It wasn’t cold or tentative or quick. It was the hug of a mother.
When she leaned back, she smiled warmly. “Ben and I would love to have you both over for dinner on Sunday. Please let me know.”
“Ben and you?” Colt asked.
Her smile softened. “Yes…we would be hosting together.”
Then she walked out.
Colt immediately stepped in front of Indie. “What was that?”
“I think it was a new beginning.” Hopefully, one where she and her mother-in-law weren’t at war. Where she was pregnant with her baby. And she and Colt were married and in love and at peace.
Life was pretty good.
Colt lookedat the now-closed door before shifting his focus back to Indie. Then his gaze lowered to her fisted hand. “What are you holding?”
She opened her hand, and there in her palm was her wedding and engagement ring.
“You found them?”
Her gaze flashed to the door.
