“It’s going to be fine, Lee,” Jace whispered. “You’ll see.”
She nodded, straightened up, and walked into the kitchen.
Andrew and their mother were standing over a large roast, in the middle of a debate, and Drake, Lizzie, their father and the woman who must be Andrew’s fiancé were gathered around them like spectators.
“The thermometer says it’s done,” said Andrew.
His mother shook her head. “There’s no way it could be done in that little time.”
“We can cut it open.”
“And lose all the juices?”
Andrew mumbled something she couldn’t hear, and then there was a pause. So Selena took a deep breath and stepped forward. “Hi everyone.”
She held her breath as they all turned around. Andrew’s expression was guarded, and his mother just looked her up and down, assessing. Selena tried to take in each person’s reaction, but it wasn’t easy. Years ago, she had hurt Jace. Badly. They had every right to be wary, so she just stood in the quiet kitchen, waiting.
Then Jace’s father smiled. It was a new version of the way he used to smile at her, the kind of smile that crinkled at the corners of his eyes. “Selena, s-s-sweetheart. Welcome home.”
Chapter Fifteen
Jace watched as his father slowly made his way across his parents’ kitchen. The room was quiet aside from his heavy steps and the thump of his cane, but his father was smiling. Selena took a few steps forward, meeting him halfway.
“It’s so good to see you,” she whispered, and some of the tension in her shoulders eased as his father wrapped his good arm around her.
Jace could see the moment Andrew decided to give Selena a chance. He abandoned the food and led Mary Louise to Selena, hugging and introducing her, and Drake followed right behind. Lizzie hung back behind Drake, his sister’s smile tentative but warm. Of all his family, Lizzie had been the closest to Selena, and she had been the most hurt when Selena left without saying goodbye.
He understood that it would take time before they trusted that he and Selena were together for real this time. Hell, they were just starting to build trust between each other. But Jace’s family had loved her once. It could take a little time, but she belonged in his family.
His mother… well, that would have to be a work in progress. Wary was the nicest way to characterize her reaction when Jace had told her that he and Selena were rekindling their relationship. But as his mother watched the rest of the family gather around Selena, her sharp gaze was softening.
The rest of the family began to move dishes and drinks to the dining room table, leaving Selena and his mother facing each other. Selena set the gift bag she had brought onto the counter and pulled out a card from it. Her chest rose and fell in a long breath, and then she walked over to his mother.
Jace wanted to follow her, stand next to her and make sure this went well, but it was better for Selena to do this on her own. Instead, he headed for the refrigerator and pretended to look for drinks while he eavesdropped.
“I’m sure you have a lot of questions,” said Selena. Her voice was quiet. “I wrote you a card, for later. And if you want to talk, I’d be happy to do that too.”
Jace stilled, waiting for his mother’s response. Was she going to reject it? Andrew came back in the room, and grabbed the roast off the counter, but his mother didn’t even glance in his direction. The kitchen was quiet again, and Jace struggled to get a read on the situation from his not-so-subtle position. As far as he could tell, neither of them had moved.
Finally, his mother reached for the card. “Did you make this?”
Selena nodded, and his mother’s expression softened. Oh, how he loved this woman, who took the time to learn the road to his prickly mother’s heart.
“Thank you. I’ll read it.” She slipped the card into her pocket, then reached for Selena’s cheek, stroking it with her hand. “If you two want a second chance, please use it wisely.”
Selena nodded. “That’s important to me, too.”
Jace let out a sigh. It was a good start.
His mother nodded, then joined the rest of the family as they finished getting the table ready for brunch, so Jace closed the refrigerator door and headed for Selena.
She raised an eyebrow at him. “Did you find what you were looking for in there?”
Jace chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her on the temple. “You made my mother a card?”
She nodded. “There’s one for Lizzie, too. But I’m waiting for the right time, when we’re alone.”
“You’re amazing,” he whispered, relaxing into the warmth of her body.
