“Your new Senior Partner seems to be working out well. She should be able to take over your remaining caseload when you have the baby.” He laughed.
She raised an eyebrow. “What’s funny?”
“Everyone would flip if they knew we were already married.”
Braylee giggled. “Yes, they would but your mother more than anyone. She feels as if she’s already missed so much. This is a secret we’re going to have to carry with us to the grave. I can’t have her pissed at me.”
He laughed. “You’re right, and she adores you by the way.” Alex fed Braylee the remaining piece of watermelon. “She’s been here a month already, and I don’t see any plans for her going back to Sicily after the baby is born, at least not right away.”
“Between your mom, my dad, Fabi, Cecily, and Stephanie being here we’ve barely had a chance to christen all of the rooms in the house.” She smiled cheekily. “But, that’s okay. I love it.”
“Speaking of that, I was thinking of building another one and just leaving them all here. You might love them, but they are keeping me from making love to my wife anytime I feel like it.”
Braylee couldn’t tell if he was serious or not about moving. “The house is quiet now, and you know what they say? Good sex can bring on labor, and I’m more than ready to have this baby.”
Alex stood, swooped Braylee up in his arms. “Your wish is my command.”
*****
It was late morning when Braylee walked out on the veranda of the facility where she was going to meet her mother for breakfast. She was already seated at a table. Absentmindedly, Braylee rubbed her stomach, took a deep breath and went to join her.
“Mom?”
Katherine Hinsdale swiveled around to see Braylee. Braylee stood frozen. Waiting—waiting for what exactly she didn’t know.
“Wow. You look great Braylee. Much better than me when I was ready to deliver you. It can’t be much longer now can it? Please sit.” It was her mother’s voice, but it was softer.
Braylee was still holding her breath somewhat as she sat down opposite her. She looked around. “You look good, Mom.” And she did. There was something in her mother’s face that she couldn’t ever remember seeing. She knew what it was in an instant—there was life in her eyes.
She smiled, and it was a real one. “I feel good too. Medication helps but I’ve been working hard to get better.” She looked at Braylee’s swollen stomach. “I can remember when I was pregnant with you; I was so afraid I was going to mess it up. Thank God, He takes care of babies and fools.”
“I don’t know what to say to that.”
“I know and you wouldn’t. That is why I invited you here today, Braylee, to tell you something; I’ve never told a living soul outside of these walls. You have a right to know since it’s affected you the most.”
Braylee frowned. “Like what?”
Anxiously, Katherine rubbed her hands together. “Braylee, I was abused by my mother. It went on for a very long time. I hid so much of my pain from that time in my life behind a mask that I didn’t have room in my heart for the people that loved me the most. It was too full of pain.”
“You loved Phillip.”
“It wasn’t a healthy kind of love. It was one born of constantly trying to prove my worth. It seemed the more he pushed me away, the more I needed to prove to him how much I loved him. Not realizing, love is a gift. It’s not anything you have to beg someone for. Your father wanted to give me his heart. I didn’t understand that kind of love. But, since I’ve been here, I realized that I’ve done the same things to you that my mother did to me. I blamed and channeled all my hurt and pain into you. I’m sorry. Braylee, I can’t change the past. I just hope, one day you will forgive me and we can attempt to build a healthy friendship.”
Braylee wanted to cry. Her mother was reaching out to her. As much as she’d hoped for this day, she didn’t think it would ever come. “I’d like that. I’d like that a lot.”
*****
Later that evening, Braylee and Alex were lying in bed watching television. She had given him a full accounting of her meeting with her mother. He held her through all of it.
They were quiet watching a sci-fi show when Braylee had to use the bathroom. “Ugh—I’ve got to go again.” When Braylee stood up, she realized she couldn’t hold it, and her clothing was wet. Suddenly there was a full puddle at the bottom of her feet. “Alex?”
“Hmm…”
“I think my water just broke.”
Eight hours later, the newest generation and the hope of both their families arrived; Lucinda Riley Hinsdale-Manchetti was born.
THANK YOU
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Other Books by LaShawn Vasser
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