Two Can Play (Celeste and Dominic) novel Chapter 502

"I do not have a brother, Mom." I kept my voice even. "I have already cut ties with him. I do not want him in my life anymore."

My mother was quiet for a moment, and then she sighed. "I was very upset with him too, Celeste. What he did, all that foolish and ridiculous behaviour, it broke my heart. You know it did. But he has changed. He is not the same man who did those things.

I was at the small wedding ceremony he held with Sierra, and I really watched him. He is trying his best now, Celeste. He is trying to make up for all the hurt he caused you. He talks about you. He asks about you every time I see him. Please, my child. Put the past behind you. Bury the hatchet and give him another chance, for the sake of old times. He is the only brother you have."

I looked down at my hands and let the silence sit between us for a moment, because I owed her that much, a real consideration of her words before I refused them. Then I shook my head. "I cannot do that, Mom. I want to live my life in peace, and I cannot have peace with him in it. I have taken a restraining order against him, and he knows about it. It is better if he stays away from me. And if he has truly changed, then someday, when I am convinced of it, I will consider looking into my relationship with him again. But in the meantime I want nothing to do with him. That is where I stand."

My mother studied my face for a long moment, and then she nodded slowly and reached across the table to take my hand. "All right, my princess. I will not press you. Take all the time you need. Whatever you decide, I will stand by you. You know that."

"I know, Mom." I squeezed her fingers. "Thank you."

She sniffed and straightened, and the brightness came back into her voice with the speed of a woman who had spent her life learning how to put her sadness away. "Now. Enough heavy talk. What are you wearing to this engagement party of yours?"

"It is a surprise."

"Celeste Adams, I am your mother. I changed your nappies. There are no surprises between us."

"You will see it when you see it." I smiled at her, and I could feel Dominic watching me, could feel the warmth of his attention like a hand on the back of my neck. "What you need to know is that my outfit will be matching the outfit of my prince charming. That is all I am saying."

My mother's eyes slid to Dominic, and a slow, wicked grin spread across her face. "Prince charming. Listen to her. And what is prince charming wearing, if I may ask?"

"Goodnight, my son."

In the car, Dominic started the engine, and I watched the porch light shrink in the side mirror until it was nothing but a warm point in the dark.

"Your mother," he said.

"Your mother now."

"My mother." He said it slowly, tasting it, and the smile that spread across his face made my chest ache. "I like the way that sounds."