Page 66 of Promised Secret
Her shoulders drooped. Taking a closer look at her, the dark circles merged deep into her cheekbones. It was clear she’d lost sleep over how we’d left things last night.
“I’m sorry things ended how they did last night,” I told her. My apology was genuine, and I truly wished things hadn’t come out the way they had. But that was the only thing I was sorry for. “But that’s the only thing I can apologize for. I don’t regret anything else.”
I was proud of how clear and steady my voice was as I spoke, and I sat up a little straighter.
Sandra studied me for a moment. Her green gaze was a familiar one that I’d felt so many times throughout the years.
Not from her, but from Clay. He had her eyes, there was no doubt about that, but it surprised me to learn just how similar they were. The only difference was the crow’s feet and deep exhaustion that currently decorated hers.
“So, it’s true,” she askedwearily. There was no disappointment or anger in her tone, just tiredness.
I hated seeing her like this, but I now knew all lying did was delay the heartache. I’d kept this secret all my life. I’d promised myself I would. But some things were always meant to come out, and avoiding the fallout wasn’t the answer.
“I love him. I’ve always loved him,” I admitted to her, fists clenching in my lap. “I’ll do anything to make this right. I just want to be with him.”
I waited for her to cry, yell at me, and tell me it was my fault our family was falling apart. There was none of that. Instead, she reached out and took one of my hands.
For such a frail-looking woman, her grip was surprisingly strong. It must be the same strength that had her staying in a terrible relationship because she thought it would be best for her baby boy. It was the same strength that had her packing them both up and leaving to protect him.
Clay was the protective man he was now because he had the greatest guardian on his side as an example.
“I’ve always suspected,” she said.
I hung my head.
“Look at me,” she murmured. The request was something else I was familiar with. She and Clay were so fucking alike. Maybe it was inevitable that the Yao men fell in love with the members of the Segall family.
When I finally gathered my courage to meet her gaze, I was met with eyes that shone with love and care. I couldn’t fathom how she could look at me like that right now when I was the whole reason we were in this mess in the first place.
“I should be the one apologizing to you,” she said softly.
“What? Why? You’ve done nothing wrong.”
Sandra shook her head and squeezed my hand. “Ever since we moved to Kither Springs, I thought Clay’s relationship with you was…special. I mean, the boy was always so agreeable except when it came to you. Do you remember how he threw a tantrum because you had to leave for the weekend with yourlao-bafor a conference?”
I nodded.
It happened about a year after I’d met Clay. We’d become best friends by then, but that was also around the time I was still figuring out my feelings for him.
I hadn’t even known what love really was, but I knew my heart would go crazy every time I was aroundClay. I’d thought the trip out of town would be good for my abnormal heart, though all the time apart did was trade in my fast pulse for a deep ache at missing him.
“Did Clay ever tell you he was so depressed that weekend that he barely ate?”
I shook my head, genuinely surprised by even the idea of Clay skipping a meal.
“I’m happy it was only a two-day trip, or else he might have passed out from malnutrition before you got back,” Sandra said jokingly. She shook her head and chuckled.
“At that time, I chalked up his closeness to you as him having a best friend for the first time. I didn’t think anything of it until a few years later. Yourlao-baand I were already dating by then, and I think I was so wrapped up in my own happiness that I didn’t want to see your relationship for anything more than friendship.”
She sighed again, and this time I was the one to squeeze her hand.
“The day we told you and Clay about us wanting to get married, I saw how distraught you were at our announcement. I spoke to yourlao-baabout it afterwards, and he said you were just nervous about the change, but I wasn’t convinced. I started to notice things, the way your gaze always lingered on Clay, and the hopelessness in your eyes when you thought nobody was looking. I knew you loved Clay, but I chose to ignore it. I love yourlao-baso much, I chose myhappiness over yours. For that, I can’t apologize enough.”
I let her words sink in. This moment was a reminder that parents were humans, too. Even if they wanted to do their best for their kids, they deserved lives of their own as well.
“Your happiness is important, too. Anyone can see you and mylao-baare in love. You’re an amazing wife to him,” I said truthfully.
She chuckled. “But not an amazing stepmom?”
