Rayna wiped a tear that streamed down her cheek. “Not that this excuses what I said but I said it because I thought you were better off not being born in the situation I put you in. The vitriol I’d directed toward you was all for me. I hate I made you feel that way and I especially hate that I said it. I hurt you and I’m so sorry. I’d cut out my own tongue if I thought that would make things better but I can’t take those words back. If you hate me for that then it’s no more than I deserve.”
Zora found it difficult to hold on to her anger when her mother sounded contrite. Sometimes when people apologized they did it to make themselves feel better but the genuine apologies were the ones that where no forgiveness was expected. She could feel her mother’s sincerity and she empathized. Zora had suffered but it sounded like Rayna had gotten the worse of it. “It’s going to take some time but I also know now your life wasn’t so easy. Get some rest, I’ll be back to check in on you.” Zora moved to get up. Her mother squeezed her hand.
“Do you promise you’ll come back?” There was such a piteous look in the older woman’s eyes, Zora’s heart melted slightly.
“Of course, I live here. Where would I go? Besides, you’re a guest in this home for as long as you need to be.”
“Thank you.”
“Get some rest, Mom.” When Zora stood up, she gave her mother a parting smile before heading toward the door. Something made her pause and turn back around. She walked back over to her mother, bent over and kissed her on the forehead. She’d never kissed her mother before and it felt nice.
Rayna smiled and then she closed her eyes, seeming at peace.
Once Zora was out of the room, she leaned into Heath. “That was tough.”
“You did a good thing in there.” Gavin leaned over and kissed her cheek.
“I was so scared to see her, but now I’m glad I did. I can’t believe all she endured because she was too frightened to love who she was meant to be with. Hopefully one day, she’ll find peace. My father, I mean Darren, was so evil. He nearly destroyed me, but I’m still standing and maybe one day she’ll stand tall again too. If I don’t say it enough, Heath, Logan, Gavin, I love you. And I’m glad you found me.”
“We’re glad we found you too. Our lives would be nothing without you,” Logan said gruffly, a mouthful for him.
Each man took turns kissing her before Zora pulled away from them. “Okay, how about we go back downstairs and look at color swatches?”
Her three bears gave a collective groan.