Page 173 of Lush

For a moment, she stood there, quiet. Slowly, she turned to me, her expression unreadable.

Then, as if the dam had finally broken, her face relaxed.

“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice raw in a way I hadn’t heard in years. “For everything. For pushing you to be perfect all thetime. For not seeing you as a person, as my daughter, but as some…some pawn in this game I was playing.”

Her words came out in a rush, and I stayed silent, letting her speak.

“I didn’t handle Grandpa Ben’s sickness, his death, the way I should’ve,” she continued. “I was scared. I was hurt. And all I could think about was keeping our family together—keeping us on our throne. But I pushed everyone away in the process, didn’t I?”

“You did.”

“I’ve been so damn wrong, Laurene,” she said, her voice thick now. “It feels overwhelming right now. Choosing where to start to fix things. I know I have to apologize to everyone at some point.”

I nodded slowly, not trusting myself to speak. She was finally admitting it, but I had so much more to say.

“I’m so proud of you,” she whispered, the words almost like a prayer. “You’re the best woman I could’ve ever hoped you grow into. You did it all on your own. You’ve made our legacy proud.”

I swallowed hard, my throat tight, and a tear escaped my eye.

“I don’t know about therapy… I’m considering it. Right now I’m meditating, speaking with somebodyinformally. No therapists yet. When I’m ready I’ll go.”

“As long as you make the change,” I said, and then Mama stepped closer, and before I could say anything, she pulled me into a hug.

I froze, every muscle in my body locking up. The shock hit me like a punch to the gut. This was the last thing I expected. The last thing I ever thought she’d do.

My mind screamed to pull away, but my body didn’t move. I just stood there, my heart pounding in my chest.

You know what to do,my conscience said.

Slowly I lifted my arms, and hugged her back.

I don’t know how long we stood there, but when we released one another, I saw a tear fall from her face.

“Excuse me,” Mama said, wiping it quickly. She brushed past me and I watched her go, disappearing into the crowd and around a corner.

I felt Reese’s arms around me. “Everything okay?”

“Perfect,” I nodded, my brain reeling.

“Since you are the curator, I think I need a VIP tour of the collection, beginning in your office.”

I couldn’t help but laugh softly, rolling my eyes. “You really can’t resist, can you?”

He leaned down and I kissed him again. “Let’s start in my office, but I may have to end it early if you make a lot of noise.”

“I’ll be quiet.” He grinned.

I was home.

Finally, where I belonged.

With him.

Epilogue

A YEAR LATER…

“A girls’brunch, at last!” Noelle exclaimed, relaxing.

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