Page 98 of Even Beneath the Stars

And I guess that's the thing about lighthouses: they can only guide you through the storm—they can't stop it from coming. And my mother? She's category five, heading straight for shore.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Maggie

Finn and I step into the coat room, shrugging off our jackets. We just came back from his two-hour art class. He was distracted the whole time, though, squirming in his seat with excitement. Itching to come home to see his mother.

The house feels different today. Somewhere in these sprawling halls, Jacee Rockwell exists. Though I've yet to catch a glimpse of her.

Last night, watching Xavier tell Finn about their mother's impending arrival, I saw another side of the brothers' relationship. Another burden Xave shoulders as Finn's only real caregiver. I fell for him a little more, watching him sit cross-legged on Finn's bedroom floor, speaking in that steady voice he reserves just for him.

"Mom's coming home tomorrow," he told Finn, running a hand through his hair. "But remember, it's probably just for a few days, right? She's got a photoshoot thing she's here for, but she'll probably be leaving real soon after."

Finn's whole face lit up at first, then dimmed slightly. "Like last time?"

"Yeah, buddy. Like last time. But hey—we can plan something awesome for after she leaves. Maybe check out that new indoor rock climbing place? And we'll keep doing fun stuff with Maggie, right? That's not gonna change."

No promises of presents. No bitter comments about their mom's fleeting visits. Just a reminder of the positive stuff that will still be there when his mother won't be. Honest words wrapped in gentleness, preparing Finn while protecting his heart.

I hang my keys on the hook, remembering Xavier's expression afterward, something vulnerable flickering across his face before he looked away. For all his faults dealing with Finn, he's learned to navigate these choppy waters with impressive strength. And always alone—being both brother and buffer between Finn and their parents' ineptitude.

"I think Xave's in the pool!" Finn exclaims at the sound of voices coming from the Solarium down the hall. "Maybe my mom's there!" He rushes to finish hanging up his jacket then races off before I have a chance to remove the green paint from his cheek. I follow after him, wondering if I'll finally encounter the elusive Jacee Rockwell. I'm dreading it, to be honest. After watching Xavier handle everything so carefully with Finn last night, I'm not sure I trust myself to maintain the same level of diplomacy when faced with the woman who keeps breaking these boys’ hearts over and over.

Steam rises from the hot tub as I step into the Solarium, the tropical plants casting dappled shadows across the tile floor. Four shirtless guys lounge in the bubbling water, their laughter echoing off the glass walls.

"Sup, Maggs," Seb calls out, splashing water at Finn, who's sitting on the edge of the hot tub in his dinosaur underwear, feet in the swarming bubbles, clothes already discarded in a colorful pile by the floor-to-ceiling windows. "How's the tiny apocalypse coming along?"

"It's coming." I smile. "Still working on it."

"Hey, Maggs." Xavier grins as I reach them. But it isn't the easy smile I've become accustomed to these past few days. It's something more reserved. "This is Mason and Nick from the team." He gestures to the two guys I haven't met before. "Guys, this is Maggie."

"The famous Maggie." Mason grins.

"That's me." I force a smile, curious what Xavier's told them about me.

Nick launches into a story about Xavier wiping out during practice, complete with dramatic reenactment. The guys crack up, splashing water everywhere. Xavier laughs too, but it doesn't reach his eyes. He's pulled back behind that carefully constructed wall—the one I thought we'd finally started breakingdown. He's the golden boy of Sandy Haven again, keeping everyone at arm's length.

The Solarium door suddenly swings open, and time seems to slow. A woman glides in through the rising steam, her gold string bikini catching the light like she's been dipped in liquid metal. The gauzy wrap floating around her hips does nothing to hide her perfect figure. Even her heels click across the tile with practiced precision.

The guys fall silent, their conversation dying mid-sentence. Mason's mouth actually drops open. Xavier's jaw, on the other hand, is clenched, shoulders rigid.

This has to be Jacee Rockwell. Everything about her screams 'look at me'—from her flawless tan to her perfectly styled dark hair cascading over one shoulder. She moves like she's on a runway, each step calculated for maximum impact.

"Mommy!" Finn squeals, leaping up from his perch by the hot tub. Water droplets spray everywhere as he runs toward her.

She bends down, arms outstretched in a practiced pose. "Well hello, honey. How's my baby boy?" Her voice is honey-sweet, but there's something artificial about it. It'stoosweet. Too gushing.

Finn crashes into her embrace, but she stiffens slightly.

"Oh, sweetheart, you're all wet…" She takes a step back, perfectly manicured hands hovering over his small shoulders, holding him at arm's length. "Get a towel, alright? So you don't get mommy all wet."

"Okay!" Finn doesn't seem to notice the rejection in her body language. He dashes over to the shelves stacked with pristine white towels, grabs one, and wraps it around himself like a superhero cape.

Xavier's voice cuts through the heavy air, taut and weary. "Christ, Mom, why do—" He pauses. Swallows, and tries again. "Could you… just…"

"Just what?"

"Maybe put on a cover-up or something."

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