Page 118 of Modern Romance March 2025 (5-8)

She takes a sip of her wine. Even though it was the right thing to do, I realize that her staying back in Greece after I left, making a conscious choice not to interfere, to let me live on my own and make my own successes and mistakes, was not only a gift to me but must have been incredibly hard on her.

“Thank you, Mom. I…” I glance out over Paris, at the sights that have become so familiar to me. “I’m happy here. Happier than I’ve ever been.”

“But you’re still sad.”

I think of Rafe. Nod.

“You went to Corfu with Rafe.”

“How did you…?”

She gives me a look. “One, I’m your mother. Two, people talk.”

“Gossip strikes again,” I mutter, with no small degree of irritability.

“Are you and he getting back together?”

I shake my head, will myself not to lose my control and cry. “No. I wanted to, but he… Lucifer really did a number on him.”

“On both those boys,” my mother says grimly. “I had my suspicions. But every time I talked to Lucifer or them, they would either say nothing or insist everything was fine.”

“He… Rafe doesn’t think he can be a good husband. And he doesn’t want kids.”

“Oh.” Her mouth tightens. “But you…”

“Yes,” I say gently. “I can.”

Her eyes glint as she gives me a watery smile and then looks away. We sit for a long time, watching as more lights wink on across the city and life streams by on the sidewalks below.

“Do you love him?”

I don’t even hesitate as I nod.

“Have you told him?”

“What’s the point?” I finish off my glass of wine and set it down harder than I intended. “He doesn’t want kids.”

“If he truly doesn’t and you do, then no, it won’t work.” She frowns. “I just wonder…”

“I don’t want to push him, Mom. I don’t…” I try to think of a way to rephrase my next words so I won’t hurt her.

“You don’t want him to feel pressured into being someone he’s not.”

I nod, grateful she understands.

“I agree. I respect you, too, for learning a lesson I should have learned far sooner. I just wonder if he told you something and you backed off, or if you had a conversation about it. If you told him how you felt about him.”

The thought of telling Rafe I love him makes my breath hitch.

“I didn’t.”

“Because it was the right thing to do?” my mother asks gently. “Or because you’re afraid?”

The question stabs straight to my heart. I stare at her as the truth of why I held back even as I fervently wished for Rafe to put his soul on the line.

“Oh, God.” I run my hands through my hair. “I’m an idiot.”

“No. You’re just in love.” My mother surprises me by laughing and clapping her hands together as she looks up to the sky. “One of my wishes was that my daughters would always fall in love.”

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