Page 68 of Banshee
“Where is your brother?” Diana asked.
“Downstairs. He asked me to come get you. He wants to introduce you to Sam.”
Diana nodded. This had to be hard for her, knowing her son called another woman Momma.
“Sam is amazing. She’s been a mom to all of us.”
I wasn’t sure if they were the right words to say to my sister, especially with her knowing how I felt about my own parents. But I never blamed my mother. It hadn’t been her decision, and while she was the only person I knew who could wrangle my father, she could still only do so much.
“I’m sure she is. And I am thankful she stepped in for my children while I couldn’t be there, I just...” She let her words trail off before voicing her fears.
“She would never try to take your place, Diana.” I looked at Kytten before continuing, “But she shouldn’t have to step aside completely.”
“No, she shouldn’t.” Diana looked at her daughter. “She really named one of the babies after you?”
Kytten nodded proudly. “Rosebud Delilah. Delilah was Jack’s mom’s name. He never met her; she gave him up at birth to save him from his father.” Kytten smiled brighter. “The other one is named after you.”
“What? Why? How?”
“Well, the day they were born, Sam wanted to name the second baby Josephine Vivian, ’cause that’s what we all thought your name was. But Thorne was being, well, Thorne, and said no. So, Sam named her after her grandmother—Diana.” Kytten chuckled. “I don’t think Thorne has realized it yet.”
“Okay, let’s go. Aspen,” Diana said with ease. “Will you come with me?”
I smiled at my sister. “Of course.”
We made our way downstairs and found Sam on the sofa. Her arms were empty as she read a book. As we moved in closer, she looked up and smiled.
“You must be Diana.” She set her book down and stood, pulling my sister into her embrace. “I am so incredibly happy to meet you. And I’m honored to have taken care of your babies for you until you made it home to them.”
Diana’s eyes watered, and tears slipped down her cheeks. “I wanted to hate you.” She laughed. Sam laughed along with her.
“Come sit down so we can get to know each other. I want to introduce you to someone.” Sam looked around the room and shouted, “Romeo, bring me my baby.”
“Come on, Sam. I just got my hands on her,” he whined as he made his way toward us.
“You can show her off to your old lady later.”
“Old lady?” I asked. “What old lady?”
Romeo handed the baby to Sam and winked at me. “You’ll meet her someday.” I stared at the man as he sauntered off. I couldn’t wait to meet the woman who had tamed him.
Focusing back on my sister, I watched as Sam set Josie in her arms.
“This is Josephine Diana. She was always meant to be named after you. It was something I wanted to do for both Mimic and Kytten. But he...”
“I told her, Sam,” Kytten said.
“Well, I guess it was meant to be after all,” Sam commented.
“She’s beautiful.” Diana looked up at Sam. “And the other one? Rosebud?”
“Mimic has her. He doesn’t give her up often. Even Jack has trouble getting his hands on her.”
“Thank you, Sam. For taking care of them.” Diana reached over and grabbed my hand. “All of them.”
I looked across the room and saw Bane staring at my sister while she held the baby. I leaned over and whispered, “Looks like your husband might be getting ideas over there.”
Her head snapped up, and she looked at Bane, blushing when he winked at her.
