“No, you aren’t. Your pen name isn’t you, darling. It’s your job.”
I stare at her. “It’s not just my job,” I whisper in denial.
“It is, though. It's work. It’s something you could put away and walk away from. It's not your everything.”
I stare at her, wishing I could explain. It’s not like flower dyeing or the waltz lessons, or basket weaving. This is my hearton a plate. It’s a whole chunk of me that no one has ever seen. The mail from readers has touched me in ways I have never been touched. The stories have challenged me. It’s something I built from nothing.
Lynn Marino is me. But Mum's right, too. She’s not all of me. She’s just a big chunk that I am so proud of. I don’t want to close the book on her. I don’t want to say goodbye.
But I’ll do it.
So I can be with them.
“They didn’t care about her?”
“No, they are choosing to be with you. To focus on you. At least for today, it was promising.”
I stare at her.
“Well.”
“Well, what?” I say in confusion.
“Don’t you want to go get ready?”
I gasp. Yes, I smell like Gale. Shower. Makeup. Something pretty. Ugh, I need to shave!
“When are they coming over?”
“I will delay them. You just go and get ready. Take your time. I have some mama bear questions for them.”
I pause, twirling around. “No. Don't do that.”
“I’ll only ask the nice ones.”
“Mum, please.”
“I get to have fun. I raised you all alone, and I have been looking forward to this day. Let me tease them.”
I snort a laugh and shake my head in resignation. “All right, fine. But not too much. I want to keep them if I can.”
“Have you told them yet?”
My gut tenses. “No, I haven’t had a chance. The whole town seems to be intent on keeping us apart right now.”
Mum’s face softens. “They will understand, and it will work out.”
“How do you know?”
She shrugs. “These things just work out. Oh, and baby?”
“Yeah?”
“Randall is going to move in and bond with me. Just letting you know. So, you don’t need to watch out for me so much. I’m going to be okay.”
I stare at her, feeling the room tilt. “But you haven’t ever-”
“Since your dad left, I know. But it’s time. Seeing you live your life so bravely has made me want things. And your daddy’s bond mark is just a twinge of uncomfortable scar tissue now. I want a bond with the alpha who loves me.”
