“Done,” he whispered, leaning in to kiss me lightly on the lips. I wanted more of that, but he was tired. When he turned over, he scooted back until we were in the middle of the bed. Reaching behind me, I pulled the quilt over us as I nestled against him, wrapping my arm around his middle. Thomas laced his fingers with mine and released a contented sigh, making my heart squeeze. I drifted to sleep, happier than I’d ever been in my life.
The next morning, we woke to the sound of my phone ringing. Rolling to my back, I reached for it on the nightstand. Axel’s name flashed across the screen.
“Good morning,” I croaked into the phone.
“Morning. How did you sleep?”
I looked over at Thomas. “Like a rock,” I said, yawning. “Are you finished with your meeting? I don’t even know what time it is.”
He chuckled in my ear. “It’s almost ten. I stepped out to check on Mum. Perry said she was having a good day if we wanted to come by.”
My gut clenched at the thought of meeting her. Before I passed judgment, I wanted to hear her side of the story. People with money could get anything they wanted. I just hoped she hadn’t chosen that over me.
“Mason?” Axel called.
“Yeah, sorry. That sounds good. What time are you thinking?”
“I should be finished here about one, so let’s say two. Will that work?”
I looked over at Thomas and held up two fingers. He nodded.
“Okay. I’ll see you then.”
“Later, Brother.”
Axel ended the call as I turned to look at Thomas. “Two o’clock. She’s having a good day.”
He smiled, but it didn’t meet his eyes. There was a sadness there I don’t ever remember seeing. “Are you prepared that she might not remember you?”
I hadn’t been, but I knew it was a possibility. “I hope she’ll know me. If she doesn’t, then… I’ll deal with it.” I ran my hand over my face. “I’m in this weird headspace, caught between what I feel and how I think Ishouldfeel.”
“What do you mean?”
Looking up at the ceiling, I tried to explain it. “She’s my mother. I should love her and feel a connection, but I don’t. Her absence from my life doesn’t hurt because I never had her to begin with. Melinda was all I knew. It leaves me more numb than anything, which makes me think if she doesn’t remember me, it won’t hurt as much as my father keeping it from me.”
Thomas reached for me, and I went into his arms eagerly. “It’s going to be okay, either way.” His touch reassured me I wasn’t alone.
We had breakfast and went for a run around the neighborhood. The cloudless sky overhead had to be a good omen, and when we arrived later that afternoon, I was sure Thomas and Axel could hear my heart beating.
“Is this where you grew up?” I asked Axel as I took in the white brick cottage. The walls were draped in Ivy, with a small garden. It was beautiful.
“No,” he said, following my gaze. “I bought it for them a few years ago. It was a better location for her, and for Perry.”
I needed to pay for half of this, too. But before I could mention it, the door opened. A kind-looking man stood with wide eyes.
Axel took over introductions. “Perry Jones, this is Mason. And Thomas Kingsley.”
I extended my hand. “Nice to meet you, Perry. Thank you for allowing us to stop by.”
He smiled kindly at me. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Mason. You boys really are identical,” he mused. “Come on in. She’s in the den.”
As we entered the foyer of the house, Thomas stopped to greet Perry, while I followed Axel. Perry put his hand on my shoulder when he passed me as he entered the room. I stopped in the hallway to look at the wall filled with photos. I watched as he leaned down and spoke gently to her. “Shannon, Axel has arrived and brought someone for you to meet.”
Axel gestured for us to follow. When she came into view, her back was to the door. Axel looked back over his shoulder. “You ready?”
I nodded, all of a sudden tongue-tied. He squeezed my shoulder and smiled before he walked into the room. “Mum,” Axel said, entering the room. “How are you today?”
I watched as she turned to look at him. He circled in front of her and held out his hands. She stood as he took her in his arms. “Axel, sweetheart. What are you doing in London? I thought you were in Germany.”
