“A letter?” Lydia rubbed at her eyes, yawning. “From who?”
“From a lawyer who was hired to appeal the adoption agency’s decision. Lydia, they approved me. We’re going to adopt!”
“What?” She was definitely awake now, and so was Callum no thanks to her excited squeal. “How? Who? I mean, I didn’t know you hired a lawyer. That’s amazing news!”
“I didn’t hire a lawyer.” Tula replied. “That’s why I said to keep Callum forever. My lawyer is his cousin, Olivia?”
Gazing at Callum again, she shook her head in amazement. “That’s seriously the best news I’ve heard all day, Tula. I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you. Oh, hey—how’s your mom? Have you heard anything?”
“She’s been sleeping mostly. They say she’s just real tired, but should be back to her old self in a few weeks. Dad’s hoping they’ll let her go home in time for the New Year.”
“That’s good, I suppose. Remind that old cow to thank you for saving her life. You did a really selfless thing, Lydia.”
“It’s not like there were many other options for donors.” She replied sadly, feeling a light kiss to her shoulder. Reaching down to grasp Callum’s hand with her own, she sighed.
“You’re a good girl, Lydia McIntosh. Your Gran would be proud of you.”
“Thanks, Tula. I think she’d be proud of you, too.”
A knock sounded on the front door and Lydia glanced at the clock. Christ, it was only 10:00?
“Hey, there’s someone at the door, Tula. Can I call you back?”
“Sure thing, honey. We need to talk about your schedule for next week anyway. I’ll be releasing my new book in February!”
“Okay. Sounds great. Talk to you later.”
She hung up her phone and listened to another persistent knock on the door, groaning.
“Sounds like someone really wants in.” Callum remarked as he pushed the covers down and swung his legs over the side of the bed. “Want me to get it?”
“Please.” She bent down to pick up her shirt and pulled it on, running her fingers through her messy hair. “It’s probably Ags and Benji. I told them not to go out without a key.”
“You should probably get them a spare made for when they visit.” Callum chuckled.
Her eyes were glued to his muscular back as he walked out of the room in only a pair of jogging pants and she couldn’t help but to wonder, once again, how the hell she’d gotten so lucky to end up with such a beautiful, perfect man.
Thanks, Gran. She thought with a devious smile, hugging her arms around herself as she walked to the window and peered down at the street below. The snow had almost melted away, thank goodness, but there were still heaps of it on the sidewalks. Her mind raced back to the night, so shortly ago, when she’d found her mother’s car on its roof.
She’s going to be okay now.
Everything would be okay now, wouldn’t it?
“Babe? You have company.” Callum said, poking his head in the door. “Put on some pants.”
“I was working on it.” Lydia laughed, rolling her eyes. “Who is it?”
“Your parents.”
Oh, crap. Her gut immediately filled with butterflies—the bad kind—and she sucked in a deep, calming breath.
Ever since her father told her he planned to leave her mother after the New Year, there was very little else she could think of. How awful it was for her mama to survive a car accident only to have her heart crushed by the only man she’d ever loved.
It wasn’t fair to her.
“I’ll be right out.”
Once she was properly dressed and had her hair tied back, Lydia walked down the hallway as if she were walking to her execution. She did not want to see the sadness in her mother’s eyes over the divorce; it was nearly as heartbreaking as the disappointment she’d seen in them over her decision to go through with her transition.
Though she had every right to care less about what happened to her mother, she just couldn’t do it. No matter how shitty her mother had treated her, she was still her mom and she loved her.
The heart was a fucked up organ.
“There she is.” Her father said with a broad grin as he opened his arms for a hug. “Come here, kiddo.”
“Hi, Daddy.” She said, smiling and hugging him. “This is such a nice surprise.” I hope. “What brings you over here today?”
“Well, your mama got out of the hospital today and she wanted to stop by to make sure things were okay.”
Her eyes drifted to her mother and she pinched her eyebrows together. “Really?”
Mrs. McIntosh was seated in her wheelchair and for the first time in her life, Lydia saw just how frail she could be. As a kid, Mrs. McIntosh was one of the strongest, fiercest women she’d ever known—just beneath her Gran, of course. But that made sense, didn’t it? They were mother and daughter.
And that’s all Lydia had ever wanted with her mom; that bond she’d seen between the two of them countless times.
“Really.” Her mother replied, clearing her throat and resting her hands on her lap. The bruise on her left cheek was healing nicely, not nearly as nasty as the day before. Soon, hopefully, her accident would be nothing more than a distant memory. “May we have a moment alone?”
“Um,” Lydia glanced at Callum nervously, unsure of what to say.
“How about we go outside and try to shovel some more snow off the sidewalk?” Callum offered, clasping a hand down on her father’s shoulder. “That way Mrs. M. won’t have so much trouble getting back to the car.”
“Sounds good, son.” Her father nodded. “We’ll leave you two to it then.”
No, please don’t leave me here alone with her. Lydia thought as they closed the door behind them.
She shifted her weight from one bare foot to the other anxiously, nibbling at her inner cheek.
“Come and sit.” Her mother requested, reaching out to pat the couch arm.
Lydia did.
Taking in a shaky breath, Mrs. McIntosh peered at her and her eyes suddenly filled with tears.
Oh no. Her throat tightened. She’s going to tell me about the divorce. Do I act like I don’t know?
“Thank you.”
What?
“For donating your blood to me. That was...exceptionally kind of you considering how I’ve treated you for most of your life.”
Watching as her mother bowed her head in shame, Lydia subtly pinched at her arm to see if she was really awake. Did her mother just thank her?
“I know that I haven’t been an ideal mother to you in a very long time and for that,”—she sighed and closed her eyes as a tear fell down her cheek—“I cannot apologize enough.”
Her eyes widened as she stared at her in stunned silence. Was this really happening? Surely she was still asleep because there was no way her mother would ever actually say that.
“When I found out I was pregnant with you all those years ago, I was ecstatic. I was thrilled that your father and I were going to have a baby.” Her mother smiled sadly and gazed at her. “And all I wanted was for you to be healthy. I didn’t care if you were a boy or a girl. All that mattered to me was that you were my baby and I couldn’t wait to be your mother.”
Lydia fought back tears as she opened her mouth to speak, but her mother lifted her hand to silence her.
“I have been awful to you. I have been a horrible, terrible, wretched person towards you and I can’t take that back.” She released a shuddery sigh and wiped at her eyes. “I became so lost in my fear and anger and...my ignorance about your feelings that I didn’t realize how atrocious my behavior was until your father told me he wanted a divorce.”
“Mama, I’m so sorry.” She whispered, shaking her head. “I never meant for anything like that to happen. I’m—”
“Hush. Please let me finish.”
She nodded and fell silent once more.
“When you were in my belly,”—she instinctively rested a palm against her stomac
h—“all I could think about was how wonderful and perfect you were going to be. I had two separate names picked out for you because we weren’t sure what we were having and I have to say your choice is far better than mine ever could have been.”
She arched an eyebrow, curious.
“Helen, by the way. I don’t think it would have suited you at all. Sweetheart.” She reached for her hand and took it into her own, holding it as tightly as she could as another tear rolled down her cheek. “Do you think you could ever forgive me for being so heartless, for being a terrible mother?”
“Mama...”
“Please. I am begging for your forgiveness. I know I don’t deserve it and God, I can’t go back in time to change anything, but I want to be there for you—as I should have always been there for you. Lydia...”
Hearing her name come from her mother’s mouth for the first time did something to her. A weight vanished from her shoulders and the hole in her heart suddenly filled with tender, loving warmth.
“I love you so much and I will do whatever it takes to show you just how much.”
“Oh, Mama.” Lydia sprung from the couch and wrapped her arms around her, careful not to hurt her. “Mama, I love you, too. You’re forgiven.”
“Good.” Her mother sobbed, burying her face against her neck as she tightened her arms around her body. “Because I owe you my life now. You and Jebson saved me.”
Laughing softly, Lydia pulled away and wiped at her tears, smiling in spite of them. “Blood is thicker than water and I’d shed every ounce of it if it meant saving your life.”
“Oh, my sweet girl.” Her mother embraced her again, kissing her cheek repeatedly. “My sweet, sweet girl. I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Lydia laughed in pure delight, her emotions running amuck as she cuddled into her mother’s loving embrace. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
“I’m fine, sweetheart. Everything will be fine now.”
“But,” Lydia lifted her head to stare at her. “What about you and Daddy?”
“All he wanted to do was give me a wake up call.” Her mother nodded, pursing her lips together. “It’s a shame that his threat of a divorce and a near-death experience is what it took to make me realize the error of my ways, but I’d like to think that it happened for a reason—kind of like how your grandmother required you to stay in Prairie Town for six whole months. Have you made a decision on if you want to stay or not?”
“I’d like to.” She nodded. “I have a few reasons to stay now.”
“I hope that maybe I can become one of those reasons in the future.” Mrs. McIntosh cupped her cheek and smiled. “But I know it’s that boy, isn’t it? I know love when I see it. I am happy for you.”
“Thank you.” Lydia moved in to hug her again and kissed her cheek, grateful to experience something she thought was lost to her forever.
“And you’re getting married, too. That’s wonderful.” Her mother slid her thumb over Lydia’s ring and hummed happily. “I always knew you’d get married first.”
She arched an eyebrow.
“Well, of course back then I always thought it would be different, but I like this much more. I hope you will let me help you when it comes time to pick your wedding dress?”
“Of course. I’d like that a lot.”
“Good.” Mrs. McIntosh released her grip on her and wiped at her eyes with both hands. “Now go get those boys back in here before they freeze to death. I think we need to plan another dinner to make up for the one from Christmas.”
“Okay.” She stood up and wiped her hands off on her jeans, releasing a calm breath. “I’ll go get them right now.”
“Okay. Oh, and Lydia?”
“Yes, Mama?” She smiled, still unable to believe her mother was using her name—her real name.
“Invite all your friends, too. I’d like a second chance at introducing myself.”
“Sure.” Her smile grew bigger. “They’d like that a lot.”
“Good.” Relaxing in her wheelchair, Mrs. McIntosh watched her as she hurried towards the door.
Still wondering if she was dreaming, Lydia pulled open the door and nearly ran into Callum, Jeb, Laney, and her father—all huddled up against the door, eavesdropping.
“Really?” She crossed her arms over her chest.
Laney was crying and Jeb was grinning. Her father was smiling and Callum was gazing at her with a twinkle in his eye.
“We just wanted to know how it was going to go.” Her father insisted, looking as innocent as possible.
“And now you know.” She stepped aside so he could re-enter the apartment. “Get in here, you nosey geese.”
“Good, because I really need to use the bathroom.” Laney practically ran down the hallway and Lydia laughed softly, lightly, feeling happier than she ever imagined possible.
She watched as her father made his way to her mother’s side, leaning down to kiss her temple. Their hands tangled together and it gave her hope.
They weren’t going to get divorced, thank God.
“I’m hungry.” Jeb announced, rummaging through the cabinets. “What is there to eat in this place?”
Rolling her eyes again, Lydia felt Callum’s strong arms wrap around her from behind and she leaned back against him, grinning.
“So when your one-hundred and eighty days are officially up, Miss McIntosh, what do you think will happen?”
“I really don’t know,” she replied honestly. “But I think it’ll involve changing the address on my driver’s license.”
“Oh yeah?” He kissed her cheek noisily and pulled her body closer, nuzzling his nose against her cheek. “You think Prairie Town is suitable for you now?”
“I think maybe it always was.” She responded thoughtfully. “I just needed to leave the palace in a hurry and lose a glass slipper in the process.”
“Mhm.” He chuckled. “And I was the lucky guy who got to find it?”
“Yes.” She nodded, turning in his arms to gaze at him.
“And you did forgive your mother in the end.” He added, dipping his head down to press a sweet kiss to her lips. “You know what this means now, don’t you?”
“I do.” She murmured, brushing her lips over his again. “We live happily ever after.”
The End
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