Page 97 of Bianca and the Monsters

Sir Jimmy isSir Huffyall of a sudden. “People name their dogsLucy, but no one names their dogsOctavia. Imagine going through life with a name like that. You could beanythingwith a name like that.” His intensity deflates and he admits, “When your mom vanished the night we brought you home, I didn’t have the heart to even name you, thinking she would show up and we could keep arguing about it, maybe until you were old enough to name yourself.”

He locks down, swallowing back three decades of pain. “Anyway, I called youBabyfor months and then justB, and eventually,Biancabecause Brunhilda, Buffy, and Betty just weren’t right.” He sighs raggedly. “Bianca meanspureand you were this pure, perfect little person who came from the complicated and powerful love between two stubborn, passionate, flawed people.”

My mother and I are losing control of our tears. Her hands are white she’s holding them so tightly. While Dad collects himself, I nod for Queen Mom to continue.

“It’s a lovely name, really.” Then she mutters, “And it’s infinitely better thanOctavia.”

We all manage to laugh together, a first for the Weston family.

My Dad leans closer to her. “Please, Jilly, tell me what happened.”

“I used to dream of being able to share what happened.” She glances from my dad to me and then to Nico’s sleeping form. “I’m so grateful to have this chance.”

After a deep sigh, she says, “You went to the store to clean out the ice cream section, I’m pretty sure, and Bianca was sleeping. I just needed a minute, so I went outside and sat on the porch. I stared up at this magnificent starry sky, thinking how every day is a new beginning, a new adventure, and that my adventure in motherhood had finally begun. I wasn’t outside for more than a few minutes when they came.”

“They?Who?” he presses.

“Monsters. They dragged me away while I screamed for you, for our baby, for our life together. They took me through a portal and…” She gestures toward her horns, her expression bitter. “… right into the monster version of hell. If I could have died in that place, I would gladly have ended, but nothing there is allowed to die. But yourJillydid die there and Deirdre was born.”

She gives me an arch look. “Deirdrewas the name of my own evil stepmother, so it felt appropriate, especially after the arrival of my horns.” She reaches toward Dad, but then draws her hand back. “Did they blame you for my abduction?”

He slumps, his jaw tight. “They investigated me and some of the town blamed me, but my alibi was solid and you were never found.”

“You thought I left.”

Deep exhaustion hits him. “I wish I could say I never thought it, but in three decades, you think everything at some point. But the one thing that remained constant was my hope that you were happy, wherever you were.”

“I wasn’t, but I guess our stories aren’t over yet, are they?”

Dad desperately wants more but doesn’t want to push her.

I summon a little leftover rage at her involvement in Nico’s pain and do Dad’s dirty work. “Please, tell us what happened, just broad strokes if you want. I mean, you already said some things to me, but…”

She nods, her understanding clear. This is our day-and-a-half ride through all the potholes in memory lane, and when we reach Clumberton Castle, all my focus is going to be on my new family. So my parents need to be ready to work through their own stuff without me.

It’s not that I don’t care or that I don’t want to get to know my mother, but there’s a weariness inside me that’s growing unwieldy. It’s beena lotsince I crossed that portal and I need to embrace my new normal. I need to embrace my monsters and allow us to heal each other of everything we’ve lacked for so long and also the trauma we’ve experienced before and after finding each other.

This Clumberton family needs uninterrupted time together to truly forge our forever bond. I’m not kicking my folks to the curb, but I’m also not going to allow anything or anyone to distract me from tending to my family.

Dad and I listen as my mother shares her story. I’m truly impressed with her candor about the treacherous path she walked, and by the end, I marvel at her journey from there to here. I come from seriously strong genes. She only lightly touched on her daughter’s life and death, but I think the trust necessary to share even the darkest stories will come in time.

After hours of less heavy, almost natural, conversation, my dad chuckles, seemingly to himself.

“What?” I ask.

“Your mom’s aqueen. You do know what they call a queen’s daughter.”

“Yes, Dad, I certainly do.”

The absolute reverence in his eyes is stunning. “I always knew you were a princess.”

“You totally called it—no doubt.” I glance at my mother. “Just don’t ever expect me to be queen of anywhere but Clumberton Castle.”

She affects her most authentic snootiness. “We’ll just see about that.”

Chapter63

Bianca

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