Though as much as I would love my mother to meet someone, I prayed her baby days were over. Mine certainly were. I became a widow at the age of twenty-two and lost my child. Sure, I could meet someone, maybe fall in love again and have more babies... but despite my relationship with Jude being a whirlwind, I loved him with everything I had. I was certain I would never find a love like that again.
“Mother, Romeo is a manwhore. I’m surprised I haven’t heard rumors around town about you.”
She waved her hand at me. “Sugar shut those down real quick. It was quite impressive, actually. That woman doesn’t play, especially with her family.”
She was right. Sugar Potter, James now, had been the topic of most of the rumors around Rosewood. Lies spread by her ex-husband’s sister, who was in love with her, but Sugar wouldn’t give her the time of day.
Ever since then, Sugar was quick to shut down any rumors she heard, and she did it in a way that put the fear of God into you.
It made me wonder if Sugar knew about my connection to her cousin Romeo and the Silver Shadows. If she did, she’d never tell a soul. Not even her husband, Enigma.
“Your secrets are safe, my dear. Romeo is a flirt, and everyone knows it. He even flirted with Martha Cohen to make sure no one saw anything amiss.”
“Martha Cohen? Seriously?”
“Oh, she loved it, dear.” My mother smiled.
“Did he flirt with Granny too?”
Granny was Martha Steiner. Frank and George Steiner’s grandmother. With both women having the same first name, everyone in town had taken to calling Mrs. Steiner Granny.
“He was nothing but respectful to Granny. The boy acted like he was meeting his girl’s mama for the first time every time he spoke to her.”
“Really? That is not like Rome. The man will never have a girl. He’ll never settle down.” Romeo was too much of a manwhore to settle down with one woman.
“Never say never. From what I hear, quite a few of his brothers have settled down, including your brother. Maybe there’s something in the water in Nebraska.”
“Maybe,” I muttered.
I never thought Jude would want to settle down. He’d shocked the hell out of me when he asked me to marry him. Despite declaring our love for each other, I always assumed it was a fling. Something that would fizzle out after college when I went home.
Only, it never did. Even in his death, my love for him was as strong as ever. It made me wonder about my father. Was he still in love with his childhood love?
“Why did you and Dad never get married?”
My mother smiled. I’d never asked this question. It was always there, in the back of my mind, but honestly, I was afraid of the answer.
“He asked.”
My eyes snapped up to hers. “He did?”
“He sure did. Begged me even.”
“Then why didn’t you?”
My mother shrugged. “I wasn’t in love with him. Don’t get me wrong, I love your father very much. And when you were little, we...” She looked up at me and smiled.
“Please skip over that part.” I exaggerated my shiver, causing my mother to laugh.
“Your father has been wonderful to both of us through the years, but if I ever get married, it will be because I am in love with someone. Someone I can’t see myself living without.”
My eyes dropped to my plate, and I pushed my food around with my fork. Tears began to well up, and my mother reached over.
“I’m so sorry, Morgan.”
“It’s not your fault, Mom. I was the one who fell in love. I just never knew how much it would hurt. I never thought I would lose him so soon. Or lose...”
She lowered her voice and whispered, “What you went through was incredibly painful, and I am so very thankful your brother was there for you when I couldn’t be. Even if neither of you knew he was your brother. The connection between siblings is stronger than most people realize.”
