I felt Axel’s warmth at my back, providing unspoken support and comfort as I moved deeper into the room.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, noting the quiet audience we had as the girls looked on with wide eyes and the men stood scattered throughout the room, watching our exchange.
Her hand flew over her mouth as it visibly shook. “Is that…?” Her voice was a ragged whisper as she looked at Maddox.
“My son. Our son,” I amended with a nod, looking up at Axel.
“Oh, God,” she breathed.
Mad squealed, reaching his arms up for his daddy. Axel took him in his arms, moving to stand to my right as Sal took my left.
“Sal,” her voice was a murmur as she took us both in.
“What are you doing here?” his voice was cold and unyielding. For every bit of misguided attention she’d forced on me as a child, the only thing she’d offered Sal was indifference.
Sal’s father was a Spanish man from humble roots. Though I think my mother had loved him, she removed him from her life in search of pedigree and prestige.
My father had fit the bill to a T. I couldn’t fathom choosing money over love.
“I want to help,” she replied, effectively shocking the hell out of me.
“Come again?” Sal demanded.
She glanced around, clearly uncomfortable by the amount of eyes on her. “Can we talk, in private?”
I looked to Axel and then to Sal, letting them make the decision. After a brief moment of hesitation, Axel nodded.
“Take Mad,” he instructed Ryker, carefully handing our son to his uncle. He grasped my hand, his touch warm and firm as he led us back to Cal’s office.
Axel and Sal leaned against the desk as my mother took a seat. I couldn’t remain that still and stood, leaning against the wall pensively.
“Talk,” Sal ordered brusquely and despite myself, I winced at his tone.
“I know I’ve made a lot of mistakes, with both of you,” she began. “Despite what you may think, I love you both very much.” She swallowed as I sucked in a surprised breath. I could remember only one other occasion where she’d said she loved me in my entire life. “I’ve had a lot of time to reflect this last year. I’ve lost both of you and I want to try to make things right.” She twisted her hands in her lap, a nervous gesture I’d never seen in her before. She was always so put together, so impenetrable.
“Your father…” She shook her head, looking at me. “His sanity has…well, he’s changed,” she said primly, trying to hold on to her pride while delivering what I was sure she considered shameful news. “He’s obsessed with bringing you home. I’m worried he’s going to do something brash. Well, more brash,” she amended.
“You know he has men here in Hawthorne scouting?” Axel cut in.
She winced. “I didn’t know for sure. But I’ve caught wind of some of his conversations. I knew he might be planning something.”
“He belongs in the fucking nut house,” Sal muttered.
“You might be right,” she allowed. “I left him.” She shared the shocking news with quiet dignity. “I gathered what I could. I think it will help,” she offered, pulling a large file out of her purse and handing it over to Sal.
Sal reviewed the file, his brows lifting before he handed it over to Axel. “It will,” Sal nodded.
My shoulders sagged with relief, ready to be done with this insanity.
“Do you think after all this is over – if I came back to town, that we could talk?” she asked cautiously, her gaze snapping from mine to Sal’s.
A heavy silence followed her words as Sal remained motionless with his arms crossed and gaze to his boots. I could understand his reaction but as for me well, I wanted to believe that redemption was possible.
“Maybe,” I nodded.
“Maybe,” she swallowed, accepting the words before rising and straightening her blouse. “He’s beautiful,” she told me and I knew she meant Maddox.
“Thank you.” I nodded, moving toward Axel as he lifted his arm to pull me into his body.
