Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 125866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
I frowned. “Maybe Braden forgot something?”
“He has the code,” Kyle said with a frown of his own. “I’ll go see.”
He hopped up just in time for Sebastian to run down the stairs, hair still wet, a fresh pair of shorts and his favorite dinosaur t-shirt on. He knew now how to put on the movie by himself, and once it started playing, he curled up beside me and Raven on the couch, leaning his head on my arm.
My whole fucking life was complete.
We weren’t even through the beginning bot scene when I heard voices by the front door. Curious, I told Sebastian I’d be right back, and with Raven in my arms, I made my way toward the noise.
When I laid eyes on Lynette Robbins, I froze in my tracks.
She looked so much older than when we were kids. Her hair was gray now, her face lined and weathered. She was wringing her hands together with her eyes cast up nervously at her son, the two of them talking in hushed voices.
She started to cry.
And then, rigidly, Kyle took her into his arms.
I watched another mother break in that moment, clinging to Kyle as she sobbed, and he held onto her as if he still wasn’t sure he should be holding her at all. But there was a tender forgiveness and understanding in that embrace, and when they pulled back, Kyle wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb.
Then, her eyes found me.
“Oh, Madelyn,” she whispered, her eyes flooding again. And when that gaze dropped to Raven, she covered her mouth with her hands. “Is this her?”
I looked to Kyle for guidance, and he swallowed, nodding, promising me with that one look that he’d explain what I’d missed later. Gently, he guided his mother over to where I stood.
“Mom, this is Raven Isabel.”
“Oh,” she said again, her hands shaking. “Oh, she’s beautiful.”
I offered a small smile. “Would you like to hold her?”
Mrs. Robbins’s eyes shot wide when they found mine. “Could I? Once I wash up, of course,” she said quickly, holding out her hands before she was wringing them together again. “Airplane travel and all.”
I nodded. “Absolutely. Nothing better for a baby than grandma cuddles.”
The look Lynette gave me then was one of disbelief, like she couldn’t believe I was treating her with such kindness after what she’d done to me, to Kyle, to both of us.
But if there was one thing I believed in now more than ever, it was forgiveness. It was compassion for people who were just trying to do what they thought was right, just trying to survive. I may never understand why she did what she did, but she was still the mother of the man I loved.
I would respect her always for that, if nothing else.
“Come inside,” I said, leading her toward the living room. “We just put on a movie. And I can make you some tea.”
“I will make tea,” Kyle said. “You go rest.”
I chuckled, leaning into his kiss when he pressed it against my cheek.
Lynette watched the whole interaction with tears in her eyes.
After she’d washed up and Kyle had taken her bag upstairs to a guest room, Lynette and I sat down on the couch next to one another. I gently handed Raven over to her, making sure her little head was supported as Lynette did her best not to cry once her granddaughter was safely in her arms.
She was quiet for a moment, staring down at our precious new addition to the family before she looked at me.
“You’ve always brought out the best in him,” she whispered. “I’m sorry I didn’t stand up for that, for you, when I should have.”
I swallowed, covering her hand with mine. I didn’t think I’d ever be able to tell her it was okay — because it wasn’t. But I nodded. I wanted her to know that she was welcome now, even if we still had a lot to work through.
Kyle brought us both a cup of tea, and then he sat down on the floor next to Sebastian, who had sprawled out in his favorite Lovesac. I laughed as they watched the movie together, both of them reciting the same parts that they knew by memory since this was my son’s favorite movie in the world.
And next to me, a woman I thought was out of our lives forever was coming back in, asking for forgiveness, willing to try to be better.
I didn’t need all the details right now. All I cared about was that my family was in this house — my parents, my future husband, my son and my daughter. And now, my future mother-in-law, who showed bravery just by coming here on her own. I knew without asking that that hadn’t been easy for her to do, that there likely had been a fight, that she’d made a choice — her son over her husband.