Hasty, light footsteps sounded, coupled with a gleeful shriek Crispina instantly recognized. Max barreled into the atrium, heading straight for her. Crispina braced herself, expecting him to crash into her, but he skidded to a halt between her and Aelius, caught his breath, then nodded in a formal gesture of greeting.
“How polite you’ve become,” Crispina said with a smile. She opened her arms, and he closed the remaining distance between them. She bent to wrap her arms around his small body. He smelled like herbs and honey, and she took a deep breath, as if she could imprint the scent into her lungs.
With effort, she forced away the emotion that threatened to overwhelm her and gently pulled back from the embrace, reaching out to pat his hair back into place. Keeping her voice brisk, she asked, “Have you been good to Aelius and Gaia?”
“He makes me readall the time.” Max shot a glare at Aelius. “And practice writing until my fingers are about to fall off!”
Crispina dared a grateful smile at Aelius. “Thank you for keeping up with his lessons. That means a great deal to me.”
“I didn’t do it only for your sake.” Aelius stepped closer and laid a hand on Max’s shoulder. “It’s important for him to have the best education if he is to uphold the legacy of his new family.”
“His new…family?” Crispina glanced between them, not ready to let herself believe what Aelius seemed to be suggesting.
“I adopted Max last week,” Aelius said. “He is now officially my son and heir.”
Max grinned. “And Gaia is mygrandmother.”
Aelius swatted him lightly on the head. “We’ve talked about this.”
Adopted. Crispina gaped, and tears sprang to her eyes, breaking the composure she’d fought so hard to maintain. Aelius had truly accepted Max, whom he’d once seen as nothing more than an unruly inconvenience. They were a family now. Without her.
She pressed a hand to her mouth, but a sob of bittersweet joy still escaped. “I can’t believe it,” she whispered haltingly. “I can’t believe you did that for him.”
Aelius met her gaze. “Whatever may have happened between us, you gave me a son, Crispina.”
That undid the last of her control. A wave of sobs overtook her, releasing all the sadness and regret pent up inside her.
“You made her cry,” Max complained.
“I’m sorry, Crispina, I didn’t mean to upset you…” Aelius began.
“Upset me?” She took a gulping breath. “This is the most wonderful thing I’ve ever heard.” She scrubbed a hand across her eyes. Luckily she hadn’t worn much makeup today.
“I should have written to tell you,” Aelius said. “It was wrong to keep it from you until now.”
She shook her head. “You owe me nothing.” Her breathing steadied, and she dabbed at her damp cheeks with the edge of her palla.
His lips parted, as if to say something, but then his head jerked up as another set of footsteps sounded.
Gaia entered and surveyed Crispina, hands clasped as she approached. An uncommon coolness cloaked her, evident in her formal posture and distant gaze.
“Gaia, how good to see you,” Crispina said. “I’ve missed you so much.” She took a step forward, wanting to hug her mother-in-law, but drew to a halt when Gaia didn’t move to meet her.
“How nice of you to come,” was all Gaia said, her tone chilled.
Crispina’s lips pressed together. This austere welcome from Gaia, who was usually overflowing with warmth and kindness, tempered her momentary happiness at the news of Max’s adoption. “I know I owe you an apology, Gaia.”
Gaia lifted her chin. “You caused a great deal of pain. You broke my son’s heart.”
“Mama—” Aelius interjected, but Gaia held up a hand.
“I am not sure what the future holds between the two of you—that’s for Aelius to decide—but know that my first concern is his happiness. You took that from him, so forgive me if I am not overjoyed to see you.”
Crispina bowed her head. Gaia’s words cut deeper than any snide comment from her own mother. “I understand.”
A throat cleared, and Crispina turned to see Ajax entering the atrium from the front antechamber, Catullus behind him. “Gaius Valerius Catullus is here, sir,” Ajax said.
“Forgive me for the early arrival,” Catullus said. “Ah, Crispina, you’re here already. Have you told him yet?”
