“I’m sorry,” I say faintly. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
She laughs. “That’s the response I usually get.” I walk forward slowly. “I’m sorry. Hi. I’m Silvie.”
“Hi,” she says warmly. “I figured that’s who you were.”
My heart does a little flip-flop. “I didn’t know you knew who I was.”
She waves a hand. “Of course I do. I had to come to Coconut Beach and see for myself the very woman who married my favorite nephew and brought my sister back to life.”
I glance down at myself. “This is unexpected.”
“So is hearing a billionaire heiress married my favorite nephew.”
I choke.
Before I can recover, she gestures toward the hallway. “Carly’s in the shower. She’ll be down soon.”
“Oh,” I say, pretending to be chill. “Great. I brought coffee for her. I would have brought you one...you know, you can have mine.”
“Not a chance,” Donna says. “I’m all set.”
I set the cups on the coffee table, nervous as Donna watches me with curiosity.
“She’s doing better, thanks to you,” she says. She studies me for a moment, and her eyes are kind.
I pause and glance over at her. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve helped,” she says. “I appreciate that.”
That hits me straight in the heart. Because when I fell in love with Cal, I didn’t expect to fall in love with his mom as well. She’s become like a mother to me that I never knew I craved, not having my own mother be there for me when I needed her.
“She’s laughing more,” Donna continues. “She has had visitors, and she talks about the world as if it’s not something she’s watching through a window. She’s participating in life, now.”
My chest tightens at her words. “Cal has...”
Donna shakes her head. “Cal isn’t behind this one. This one is all you, my dear.”
I don’t know what to say, so I don’t say anything.
“You have changed the temperature around here.”
I blink back tears.
Donna shifts, tucking a leg under her. “You have changed him, too.”
I laugh nervously. “I didn’t do anything.”
She gives me a look. “Sweetheart.”
Her words rattle around in my head. I think of Cal in the kitchen this morning, barefoot, making coffee for me like it’s already a ritual. Like he’s been doing it for years and most of all, I’ve come to appreciate and anticipate our routines.
Donna leans forward slightly. “You know this man loves you more than anything, right?”
Her question is casual, but it lands heavy with me. I still have no idea what to say. I’m still coming down from the high of realizing she’s actually in the room with me, much less praising me.
I scoff because it’s easier than being honest with her...and myself.
Donna tilts her head. “You’re adorable. You love him just as much. I can tell.”
