Mom opened the glass front, adjusted the hands to the correct time on her watch, then set the pendulum swinging with a gentle push.
The clock started ticking.
The sound filled the room. Steady. Rhythmic. Alive.
We all looked at each other, then at the stupid fucking clock.
“We all tried to get that thing going. I can’t believe it was that simple.” Mitch shook his head.
“Not everything has to be hard.” Edith turned back to us, tears streaming down her face. “I know my apologies and time won’t erase what I did. I can’t undo the years we lost together. And I never expect you to forgive me. I don’t deserve that. But maybe we can have a new future. If you’re willing. If you can find it in yourselves to let me be a part of your lives.”
Cassidy stood and crossed to the woman who’d been the only mother Cassidy had ever known. As they shared a hug, Cassidy squeezed her eyes shut, like she was trying to hold in decades of emotions. “Welcome home, Mom.”
Mom released a loud sob.
Cassidy eased back, nodded at Mom, then stepped away, trying to discreetly wipe her eyes, but her tears and emotions were impossible to miss.
Cassidy would forgive Mom. She’d literally saved her life.
“I don’t know if I can forgive you,” Mitch said, his shoulders sagging.
“I understand,” Mom said. “I’m not asking you to.”
“I can’t either,” I said.
“I ... I don’t know. I just don’t know.” Declan shook his head like he had the weight of the world crushing his brain.
Mom’s face crumpled. “I can’t imagine what you’re all thinking, but I accept whatever decision you make about me being back in your lives. I deserve any punishment you want to dish out.” Her voice cracked.
Rose watched from her chair, tears streaming down her weathered face. I suspected Rose had hoped this would go better, but twenty years of damage couldn’t be undone in one dinner.
Mom looked at each of us. “You’re all so strong. You survived Frank … and Bob. You kept strong for each other. And now ...” She glanced at the ticking clock. “Now that Frank’s behind bars, we have time to heal and rebuild. You are already a wonderful family, but if you’ll have me, I’d like to be part of this family again.”
Sapphire laced her fingers in my hand under the table and nudged her shoulder to mine.
Mom must’ve noticed because she smiled through her tears. “You must be Sapphire. Rose has told me about you. About all of you.” Her gaze moved to Charlie, Bella, and Xavier. “The partners my children chose. Thank you for loving them.”
“Hard not to,” Xavier said, squeezing Cassidy’s shoulder. “They’re pretty lovable.”
“You okay?” Sapphire whispered in my ear.
Shock, grief, and anger were all crashing around in my mind, tangling into a goddamn mess. This family was too fucking complicated.
“I don’t know,” I admitted.
She leaned her head against my shoulder. “Yeah. I get that. But you will be.”
The damn clock kept ticking.
I wasn’t sure Sapphire was right. How would we all survive so many lies? And deceit. And murder.
But maybe, with family beside me, the one I’d been born into and the ones we’d found, we could survive this, too. Those ticking seconds proved that no matter what happened, time kept moving. Life kept happening.
And for the first time in twenty years, this family actually felt whole again.
Chapter 27
Kayden
