Page 36 of Awakened by Sin

She waited, but she didn’t hear his voice in her mind. The silence stretched, and a tear slipped down her cheek when she realized she was truly alone. She’d broken their tie. She went up to the urn and touched the metal with her broken fingernail.

“I love you,” she whispered. “I built my life around you. My heart beat for you. You loved me, even my flaws, and I loved you with every breath I had.” Her face crumpled. It took a minute to regain her composure, and when she did, she forced a smile. “I’m going to live enough for the both of us. That fucker took you from me, but he didn’t break me. I want to dance on his grave, you know? I have to show everyone that your widow’s still smoking hot. I love you, babe. I always will.”

She kissed the metal and walked away. She closed the bedroom door and leaned back against it as tears streamed down her face. She didn’t want Vinny to see her cry. He’d seen enough of that already. She had to do this for the both of them; Lyla needed to know life went on even after you went through war.

Mom paced in the kitchen but stopped when she entered.

“Are you okay?” she asked and gave her another hug.

“Yeah.”

Mom rubbed her back. “You’ve been crying.”

“I …” She swallowed and tried again. “I had to tell Vinny it’s over. Gavin got him.”

Mom’s hand stopped at the top of her spine. “He’s dead?”

“Yeah.”

“Thank God.”

Her lips curved, and she pulled back. “Yes. It wasn’t official until I told Vinny.”

Mom pushed her into a chair. “Everyone’s all right?”

“Yes.”

Her mother murmured prayers under her breath as she turned to the stove. She came back with a steaming bowl of mac and cheese. “Eat that. You’re too skinny.”

Carmen didn’t hesitate. She grabbed the fork and took a bite. Her taste buds moaned in delight, and she dug in with gusto. Her queasy belly instantly leveled out as cheesy goodness filled the emptiness.

“Carmen?”

She looked up to find Mom staring at her. “What?”

“You’re eating.”

“Yes.”

Mom beamed. “I haven’t seen you eat like this in years. You’re getting better.”

“Better than what?”

“Just … better. You smiled, laughed, and ate, but you can’t fool me. I know you, Carmen. You were wasting away and now …” She clasped her hands together. “You’re back.”

Apparently, her acting skills needed work. “I couldn’t move on with that fuck still on the loose, but now I can. I just said goodbye to Vinny.”

Her mother nodded. “I understand.”

“Did … did you say goodbye to Dad?”

Mom hesitated and then said, “Yes, I had to.”

She eyed her mother who didn’t look recently widowed. Mom looked a decade younger than when her father had passed. Mom had adapted amazingly well, unlike her. “You’re good? You’ve been living alone for four months.”

“Yes, I’m great, dear. Are you moving back in?”

“Yes. Now that it’s over, everything will go back to normal.”

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