Page 59 of Broken Bonds

This time it’s Lionel who clears his throat. I have no idea what to answer. To be frank, even though I’ve decided to stay, our relationship is far from being ready to run the marathon. We need to continue taking baby steps.

“And all these wooden things on the countertops, what project are you into now?”

Lionel smiles and walks over to me, taking one of my hands from the granite countertop. “Actually, it’s Stella’s project. She makes honey-based cold-pressed soaps. Our kitchen is her part-time factory. Alexandra Conrad placed an order for her company party.”

Those words have left Johanna Kral speechless. She looks at Lionel with her mouth open, and after what seems like an eon, she turns to face me.

“You turned out to be a hidden gem,” she tells me, but her voice is full of sarcasm.

“You have no idea.” It’s Lionel who answers.

I take a sip of my beer, trying to distract myself because the tension is so thick, it can almost be cut with a knife.

Lionel leaves his bottle on the counter before speaking to his mother. “Did you want to talk to me about something important?”

She looks for something in her handbag, it turns out to be a yellow envelope which she hands over to him. “This is for you. I’ve made a little investigation of my own.”

My husband takes a long, deep breath before answering her. “I told you in the hospital that isn’t necessary. Ethan is taking care of everything, and you know he’s the best in the business, and I also trust his expertise.”

Mrs. Kral presses her mouth into a thin line. My mother does the same when my answer doesn’t please her. Perhaps it is something inherent in motherhood.

“Information never hurts.” This woman is used to getting what she wants. It’s her way or the highway, just like her son.

Lionel grabs the envelope but doesn’t open it, doesn’t even give it a second look.

“I’ll talk to Ethan on Monday,” he says, patting her hand. “No need to be worried, Mom. Everything is under control here.”

Mrs. Kral looks at him, again her eyes softening. For the first time, I see a few fine wrinkles appear around her green eyes.

“It’s a mother’s job, don’t ask me to do otherwise,” she replies. “Someday, you will understand.” She clears her throat again and puts her hair behind her ear before changing the subject. “My mission here is accomplished, now I must go, it’s late, and tomorrow will be a long day. Maxine Deepler invited me to have brunch with her in Calabasas.”

“I’ll walk you to the car,” Lionel says, his hand reaching for mine to entwine our fingers. “Are you coming with us, baby?”

“I’ll give you both a moment alone,” I reply. “Good evening, Mrs. Kral. It was a pleasure to see you again.”

I nod to Lionel, and before he lets go of my hand, he kisses the inside of my wrist.

“I’ll be back in a moment,” he says, and I nod again.

After they walk down the hall heading to the front door, I take a moment to pick up the leftovers from the patio, put them in the fridge, throw the bottles in the recycling bin, and wash the wine glass.

Lionel is still with his mother, so I go upstairs to our room. What am I supposed to do now? Do I wait for him naked in bed? Do I look for something sexy to wear?

The latter isn’t possible because the few flirty clothes I own are in my house in Carrollton. That was the last thing on my mind when I was packing.

I get an idea, so I scramble around the room, before time runs out. Afterward, I wait for Lionel sitting in the armchair next to the window, looking into the dark night sky, broken by the moon’s reflection on the ocean and the city’s lights.

The room is lit only by the lamp on the side of the bed, filling it with a soft golden glow. I’m still sitting when Lionel enters the room, looking worried.

“I thought you were asleep,” he says as he looks at me dressed in one of his shirts, his eyes traveling over my body. “My mother… she wanted to catch up, you know.”

“Don’t worry,” I say, but I’m the one worrying.

What could she have said to him?

Lionel sits next to me, and although the chair is quite large, he takes up most of the space, so his body is glued to mine.

“I know this isn’t easy for you, Hvezda,” he murmurs. “Just because I want you doesn’t mean you should feel compelled to do so.”

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