Page 45 of Wedding Season
“I’m sure there’s an anatomical way, but I know because she has girl energy.”
“That’s not a thing.”
“Can I show you to your bedroom?” Mariella wasn’t in the mood to be judged on her relationship with her fish. “You said your parents will be here by ten tomorrow morning. You probably want to get to bed early so we can have you back in your place before they arrive.”
Heather nodded and looked away. Mariella wasn’t sure if the girl was embarrassed to be hiding Mariella from her adoptive parents, but she needn’t have worried.
Mariella did not want to come face-to-face with the people who had done so much better of a job with her daughter than she could have. Insult to injury and all that.
“You have a nice house,” Heather said, almost reluctantly. “Thanks for letting me stay here tonight. I probably could have called Mary Ellen and—”
“I’m glad you’re here, and it’s fine that you want me hidden from your parents. I don’t blame you.” Both sentiments were true, which didn’t stop the pain they caused. Mariella could deal with pain. “I’m not going to make things difficult or cause a scene.”
Heather nodded and followed Mariella toward the back of the house where the bedrooms were situated. “I didn’t think you would. I’m sure you don’t want anybody to know that we have a history. It’s easier that way.”
Mariella turned to stare at the girl, whose delicate features appeared even more fragile in the glow from the hallway light. Her pale skin was pink around the edges of the bandage covering the scrape on her forehead.
“A history? You are my child. You may not feel that way and I didn’t expect you to come back into my life, but it doesn’t change the fact that you are my daughter.”
Mariella might not have earned a place in Heather’s life, but that didn’t stop her heart from craving a connection. “I’m not going to tell you this is easy or ask for understanding of why I made the choice I did. My feelings aren’t important right now. You are running this show, Heather. Whatever you need, I will agree. Hiding me from your parents is small potatoes compared to what I’m willing to give you.”
“And if I decide that I like it in Magnolia and don’t want to move to Chapel Hill in the fall but it’s hard having you here? What if I want you to leave?”
Mariella shrugged. “Then I’ll go.”
“But I followed you. This is your home.”
“Not if you don’t want me here.” Mariella still wasn’t sure how to be a mom or what sort of relationship she wanted with Heather, but she wasn’t lying when she said her needs didn’t matter. It might hurt, but she’d do what Heather needed. The idea of acting unselfishly actually calmed her nerves in ways she couldn’t quite explain.
The girl’s sky-blue gaze flicked away “It’s okay that you’re here,” she said into the silence. “I don’t mind.”
“Okay,” Mariella answered. As responses went, it was lame at best. But there were too many emotions coursing through her to come up with something better.
She continued down the hall, trying her best to ignore the hope welling inside her. She didn’t know what tomorrow would bring or if Heather’s unexpected vulnerability was due more to the trauma of the accident and the drugs they’d given her at the hospital than any lasting sentiment. It didn’t matter. This moment of connection with the daughter she’d never expected to know was more than she could have asked for.
She pulled down the sheets and comforter on the full-size guest bed.
No one had stayed in this room before now. Mariella hadn’t kept friends from her previous life. She wasn’t even sure why she’d furnished it up until this moment. Now she was glad she had.
“Do you need help?” she asked as she straightened the base of the lamp that sat on the nightstand. It was already straight.
“I’m fine.”
“I’ll leave you to it then.” She thought about hugging Heather but that seemed like it might be pushing her luck. Plus, she wasn’t much of a hugger to begin with.
“I thought I was going to die,” Heather said just as Mariella got to the doorway. “I didn’t mention that to the people from the office because I didn’t want to seem like more of a spectacle than I already was with the injury. But the first few seconds after the cord released, I thought it was the end.”
“That must have been terrifying.” Mariella tried for a supportive smile and hoped she succeeded. “I don’t think you have to worry about your coworkers thinking you made too much of it. Any normal person would have just about pooped their pants given the situation.”
One corner of Heather’s mouth lifted. “Have you ever thought about dying?”
“I have.” Far too often at one point in her life. “It wasn’t my time. Or yours. You have a long life ahead of you, Heather. With the little I know about you, I bet it’s going to be amazing.”
The girl nodded. “Thank you for your help tonight.”
“Anytime.” Mariella cleared her throat when her voice cracked on that one word. It was a simple answer but a vow she took seriously. Even if tonight was the closest she ever came to having a relationship with her daughter, Mariella knew that she would do anything for Heather. Even if it meant dismantling her own life in the process.
ALEXROCKEDBACKon his feet as he waited on the doorstep of Mariella’s front porch two nights later. Although he hadn’t spoken with her directly, he knew from talking to her friends that she needed an intervention at the moment.
