My head jolts back.Five years?I pick up my snifter, remember it’s empty, and set it down. “You’ve had a boyfriend for five years? While married to Dad?”
She laughs, the sound startlingly genuine. “Oh, please. Your father had Naomi and God knows how many others. Did you expect me to remain faithful to a man who never returned the courtesy?”
“But—" Sebastian starts.
“I was just more discreet about it,” she continues. “Once I realized your father would never change, I changed my views on marriage. I became more like him. The difference is, I simply chose not to advertise my choices the way he did.”
My mother. The proper, traditional, perfect Catherine Blackstone has been carrying on a long-term affair while maintaining her public image as the devoted wife.
“Good for you,” Ivy says, raising her glass in a small toast.
My mother looks at her with newfound interest. “Thank you, dear. It was, indeed, very good for me.”
Rosalia coughs to hide a laugh. Lillianna doesn’t bother hiding hers.
“I can’t believe this,” Sebastian mutters.
“Believe it,” our mother replies. “Thomas is waiting for me at the airport hotel. We leave for Florence tomorrow afternoon.”
She stands, smoothing invisible wrinkles from her dress. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some last-minute packing to do. Madison, it was... interesting to meet you. I suspect you have more of your father in you than just his eyes. Let’s hope it’s the better parts.”
With that parting shot, which somehow manages to be both acknowledgment and warning, she sweeps from the library, leaving us in silence.
“Well,” Ivy says after a moment. “That was…”
“Typical Blackstone drama,” I finish, running a hand down my trim beard. “Welcome to the family.”
“I like her,” Madison declares, surprising us all.
“You do?” Lillianna asks.
Madison nods. “She didn’t pretend to be happy about me being here, but wasn’t cruel.” Her gaze snaps to me. “Unlike other people, when I first met them.”
“Keep it up, kid,” I say without any real heat. “I can bring back that attitude.”
She holds up a hand. “No, no. The one you still have now is more than enough.”
I snort and Lillianna outright laughs. “I like you, Madison.”
The happiness that flashes in Madison's eyes makes even my cold heart pinch.
Checking her watch, Lillianna says, “I have to go. I’m meeting one of my students at the book part of 3Bs.”
My brows furrow. “Student? When did you start teaching again? Don’t you help Rosalia at 3Bs?” I ask. The bookstore, bar, and boutique hotel had been their passion project since my sister returned to help Rosalisa after I gave it to her before moving to Quebec. After what I’d done to her, it was the least I could do.
“I do, but things are settled. I have more free time, so I’ve started tutoring kids in French and Spanish. Today is a French student.”
“Can I come?” asks Madison. Her shoulders hunch slightly as if preparing for rejection. “I plan on taking French in high school. The headstart would be great.”
Lillianna shrugs. “Sure.”
They get up and wave a quick goodbye. Sebastian and his wife follow. “Speaking of 3Bs, tonight is Romance Book Club,” Rosalia says.
“You still do that even though you have the bar and hotel added on to the bookstore?”
“Well, Daniel’s fiancée, Anna, has taken over most of the book clubs. But this one is my favorite, so I help out,” Rosalia replies.
My brother takes her hand and they start for the door. “Where are you going?” I ask, pointing at the papers spread over the table. “There’s more we need to discuss.”
