Tomás began to wriggle. “‘Buelita wanna see…”
“Want to see what, sweet heart?”
His eyes glowed. “TREASURE.”
“Treasure?”
Shit.“You know, I think it’swaypast bedtime,” Maya garbled, standing up.
“He can show me as we get ready, can’t he?” Gabriela stood, reaching for Tomás. “Does he still have a bath before bed? A bottle, or—”
She swayed and went pale.
“Excuse me,” she whispered, and fled.
Maya and Corin stared after her.
“I’ll take Tomás,” Corin said. She squeezed his hand in thanks and followed her mom.
Gabriela was in the garden at the back of the house.
“Mom?” Maya asked quietly. “Are you okay?”
Gabriela jumped. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m fine. Just a—hoo,” she said, blowing out her cheeks and waving her hands to cool her face. “This heartburn! Yes, that’s it. My poor stomach is causing me so much grief these days.”
“I’ve got antacids, if you need them?”
“Oh, I have plenty in my purse. Don’t worry about me.”
How am I meant to NOT worry about you?Maya bit her lip. “Did you want to talk now?”
Her mom opened her mouth. For a moment, Maya thought she was about to reveal whatever was weighing on her.
Then—
“Tomorrow,” Gabriela said firmly. “Like you said, it’s been a long day, and I’m not feeling … my best. Let’s talk tomorrow.”
Maya bit back a sigh. But what could one more day hurt? “Okay. Tomorrow.”
26
Corin
That night, he stoically dealt with half an hour of Maya tossing and turning in bed before rolling on top of her and holding her in place.
“Ugh,” she groaned, grimacing.
“That isn’t precisely the reaction I expect to pinning down my mate in bed,” he murmured.
“Sorry. And sorry for disturbing you. I just—ugh.”
“Still haven’t come up with the perfect way to tell your mom about shifters?”
“I—” she winced. “I have a good idea of what we can do tomorrow? We can visit Lainie and Harrison, and the baby. Lainie will enjoy the company. We’ll be far enough from the main bit of town that Mom won’t see any magic she’s not meant to, especially if your cousins are sticking around. Tomás will probably stay in human form—he wouldn’t if we were visiting Jacqueline, because Tally is always turning into a seal and he follows suit, but the baby can’t shift yet so he should be fine?”
“None of that sounds like a plan for telling your mom everything.”
“I know. Believe me. I know. But…” Her face fell.
