“So. You didn’t care about being a mother,” Gemma said, her ears ringing. “Come clean, Fran. Now.”
Her mother coughed, and her lungs sounded phlegmy from her two packs a day. “Fine. Monty and I want us all to be a family. A girl needs a father—you’re proof of that. If you’d had a father, maybe you wouldn’t be in such a mess now.”
Gemma didn’t point out that it was Fran’s fault that Gemma didn’t have a father. “Right. So you’re making Monty’s case that we should be a family?” She sipped her coffee, somewhat surprised Fran’s defection didn’t hurt as much as she would’ve thought. Maybe she’d given up on Fran years ago and was just going through the motions every year when she called. Did thatmake her cold?
Orjust a realist?
Maybe she was merely a survivor.
“Yes,” Fran snapped. “We’ll be a family. Monty said he’d build us all a nice big house by the river with a mother-in-law apartment for me. So I can get to know my granddaughter and not have to worry about myself as I get older.”
So it was all about Fran. Good to know.
Gemma swallowed again. “I’m sorry to tell you, butMonty is dead.”
Fran was silent.
Gemma let her process the news for at least a minute, trying not to feel sorry for her mother. Even so, she kind of did. Fran had always seen Monty as her ticket to a life of comfort and now he wasgone. “Fran?”
“You’re sure?” Fran asked.
“Yes. Definitely sure,” Gemma said.
The flick of a match sounded over the line and then a deep inhale from Fran. “Did you kill him?” She’d lost thecajoling tone.
“No.” Gemma took another drink, her stomach hurting all of a sudden.
“Well, shit. Where the hell does this leave me?”
Gemma drew back, surprised even though she shouldn’t be. Fran wasn’t even sorry that Trudy’s father was gone. “It really is all aboutyou, isn’t it?”
“It’s a lesson you should’ve learned very young,” Fran snapped. “You have to take care of yourself.”
Trudy trundled out of her room at that moment, and just as she reached the master bedroom, Jethro stepped out. To avoid running into her, he lifted her in the air and swung her around.
A delighted squeal emerged from the little girl.
He settled her at his hip and gently brushed her hair away from her face. “Good morning, Urchin.”
Gemma’s entire chest lifted. “You’re wrong, Fran. You are so wrong, but I don’t have the words to explain it to you.” She turned away and moved into the mudroom, needing a moment of privacy. “We’re done. Just so you know, you and I are finished.” It was a difficult decision, but she couldn’t let this woman anywhere near Trudy and their new family.
“Fine,” Fran said. “I can’t get anything from you now anyway.” Sheended the call.
Gemma sucked in air as if she’d been punched. Why? This wasn’t a shock. Even so, she put the phone on the dryer and just stared at it. Unwanted tears filled her eyes. At least this call could definitely be considered closure.
Jethro appeared in the entryway, pulling her into his strong arms. “I heard the last part of that. I’m sorry.”
She let a couple of tears fall against his T-shirt and then wiped them away, holding him around the waist. “It’s silly to cry.” She leaned back so she could look up at his rugged face.
He pressed a kiss to her nose. “It’s never silly to cry.” He looked toward the kitchen. “We’re all regrouping today and making contingency plans. How about we have a big breakfast, build a snowman outside with Trudy, and then figure out how tomake you safe?”
That was kind, but she needed him to be just as safe. Just as present. She cleared her throat. “I’ve lost so much time always running. I like you.” What the heck was her mouth doing?
His dimple flashed. “I like you more.” He kissed her again, taking her under. Then he let her breathe. “I wish I wasn’t about to be yanked across the pond.”
Her heart swelled and ached. “You think you’ll have to go?” Would she be able to see him? Something told her probably not. While she didn’t understand the spy world, she had a bad feeling that he wouldn’t get to just go home and live out his years in a country estate. What would happen tohim? “Jethro—”
“I know, but there’s nothing we can do right now. So just trust me.” He held her tighter. “But you have to understand that I might be extradited within the next couple of days.”
