Page 47 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 3

“You guys are sooooooo romantic,” Emily gushed as I took her elbow once more.

“One day,chérie, you will find a love like mine and Christo’s.”

“You think so?”

“Of course. You are beautiful, intelligent and know your own mind.”

“You think all that about me?”

I turned to face her. “You are more than worthy of deep, life-altering love. When you are older and it is your time, it will find you like your Uncle Christophe found me. I am certain of it.”

She nodded but didn’t say anything more until we made it to the lush green gardens. Tourists lined each path taking photosand posing for family pictures. The sun was shining, and the sky was so blue it was rather blinding in its glory.

“Do you think that my mom and dad were a bad match and that’s why they didn’t work out?” Emily asked, nibbling on her thumbnail.

I removed her hand from her mouth and tsked. “Don’t bite your nails. It’s a nasty habit and not becoming of the lady you are growing up to be.”

She frowned and then put her hands together in front of her, fidgeting.

“From an outsider’s perspective, your mother and father’s love burned very bright, very fast. And often those things burn out quickly. Unfortunately for them, that is what I believe happened. However, both would absolutely agree that you were their reward for the love they once shared. And I know your father doesn’t regret a single moment of your lives together.” I reached out and took her hand. “Does that make sense,chérie?”

“Yeah, I guess so. But, what about Maia?”

“I think he and Maia found one another exactly when they were meant to. You being a part of this new unit you three are building makes that love stronger. You’re choosing to be a family. Like your love for me and Uncle Christo. We are not your blood, but that doesn’t make us any less family, nor our love for one another less, does it?”

She shook her head emphatically. “No. I’ve never known anything but love from you and Uncle Christo my whole life. More than I get from my mom.” She looked down and scuffed the toe of her shoe on the concrete.

I looped my arm around her shoulders and tucked her to my side. “Your mother is a complicated woman, whose priorities aren’t where they should be. Alas, I know her well, which means I also know that she loves you very much, in her own way.”

“Yeah, but do you think it’s weird that I’m already feeling so close to Maia after only a short time? I mean, she’s so cool and nice. And she seems to like me. Really like me. I even texted her and Dad, and she responded with pics of them smiling and saying they missed me.”

I smiled and ran my fingers through her long blond hair. It was as soft as spun silk.

“I believe there is enough love to go around. Love is never a bad thing. And you’re allowed to feel whatever it is you feel for Maia. She’s a wonderful woman who’s eager to be a part of your family. How about we focus more on enjoying each other’s company and less on who may or may not be mad about you loving someone who deserves your affection, hmmm?”

“You mean, Mom,” she sighed. The weight this young woman was carrying broke my heart. She didn’t deserve to be worried about hurting her mother’s feelings because she liked her father’s fiancée.

“I mean your mom. Portia is…well, she’s Portia. Let your father deal with any concerns she may have about Maia, and you just be you. Okay, love?”

“Thanks Auntie Alana. I mean,merci!”

We both laughed as my phone rang. I pulled it and the brightly packaged energy bar from my purse. I handed the snack to her and noted the caller ID saidDiego Salazar. My heart started to beat rapidly as I pressed the button to take his call.

“Hola, Señor Salazar,” I answered.

“Mrs. Toussaint, I have some bad news. Are you in a safe place?” he asked instantly.

“I am,oui.”

“I’ve confirmed the person that requested our services on Maia Field has been incarcerated. She is not a concern for the time being.”

Relief plowed through the center of my chest, and I put my hand over my heart. “That’s wonderful news.”

“No, it’s not. She is just one cog in the much larger wheel of what is taking place. During my investigation, I tracked down that her boss was the one that threatened you. He never gets his hands dirty, but for some reason, he did so with you. That alone is concerning. And he is unaccounted for.”

“This is the man that you were most concerned about. The one that is more powerful than even you?”

“Sí,” he growled, sounding like he was chewing on rocks. It was obvious Diego had a deep distaste for whomever this individual was.

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