Page 72 of Bought For Us

“Never thought that would be a conversation we’d have, but it was one I have always hoped for.” He grins.

“Really?” I laugh. “You’re crazy.”

“About you? Always have been.” I sigh as he kisses me softly. It’s over soon and then he drags me inside.

“Mom!” Zack shouts. “I’m here.”

“Zack?” I hear her voice in the distance. “I wasn’t expecting you.” This time it’s close.

She’s at the top of the stairs and doesn’t look at us as she quickly makes her way down. A ball forms in my throat as my heart starts to race. She looks older now, but still beautiful as ever.

“How have you—” she looks up and her gaze finds mine. She pauses, eyes widening. She gasps, hand going to her mouth as she whispers. “Cora.”

“Hi, Rose.” my voice cracks as I smile and my eyes start to water.

“Oh my goodness.” She looks up to Zack. “You found her?”

“She found us.” Zack grins down at me. “Mom.” I realize that our hands are still together when he brings them up and kisses the back of my hand. “We have things to talk about.”

“I’M SO SORRY, CORA.” Rose is crying now and I feel horrible. I just got done giving her a basic rundown of how my last ten years went. “I wish I didn’t let him take you. I wish so much I had fought harder to get custody of you. I didn’t know how bad it was. He lied,” she snarls angrily. “He told me your life was better. That you had friends, got a job and you were loving school. I didn’t want to take you away from that. So, I let it go. I was dealing with so much.” She looks down like she’s ashamed.

“It’s not your fault.” I reach out and grab her hand in mine. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I wasn't your responsibility.”

“But you were. I agreed to love you like my own when I married your father. And I did. I did, Cora. You were truly like a daughter to me.” She smiles and I give her a smile back.

“I loved you like a mother. You were the only one I knew and I couldn’t have asked for a better one.”

“I wish I did more. I wish I pressed charges.” She covers her eyes. “I could have taken custody of you and none of that horrible stuff would have happened to you.”

“There are a lot of what ifs. But the thing is, it’s in the past. We can’t change what's already happened, we just need to do better going forward. I got out of that life. And honestly, I hope this doesn’t make me sound like a bad person, but the best thing that could have happened to me was him dying.” I feel guilty saying it, but he wasn’t a good man. Not by a long shot.

“It doesn’t, honey.” She pats my hand. “He was a monster and was very good at hiding it.”

“Until he wasn’t.” I sigh.

“So.” She looks from me to Zack. “What brings you back to Detroit?”

I lick my lips and look up at Zack. We haven’t told her yet, wanting to, I guess, catch up first?

“New start,” I tell her honestly.

“And how did you two find one another again?” She raises a brow, looking down to where Zack’s hand is still in mine. He refuses to let go no matter how much I try.

“Well. How much do you want to hear?” My cheeks are going pink and I look up at Zack.

“We found one another at an event,” he tells her. “Kimmy and I, were there looking for someone for Kimmy.”

Rose’s eyes widen. “By someone, you mean?”

“A partner for Kimmy. Yes,” Zack continues. “Cora was there and, well, we knew we had to talk to her. So....” he looks at me, not sure what to say. I don’t want to tell Rose that her son and his wife bought me for the weekend and I sure as hell don’t wanna tell her how much debt my father left me with because knowing Rose and her kind soul, she's going to feel the need to try and help.

“They approached me and convinced me to talk to them. The rest is a long story.”

“Does that end with the three of you being together?” she asks with a knowing smirk.

“Would you be upset if I said yes?” I ask her, my stomach in knots.

“Not at all.” She laughs. “I knew Kimmy liked girls. I just thought it was mostly for Cora.” She grins.

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