Page 95 of Reckless
A laugh bursts from me. “That absolutely sounds like the way Theo would see it.”
“Thank you for sharing that story with me, Winter. I can see why you’ve enchanted my boy.”
I give her a wry grin. “That story is not enchanting.”
“No, but you are. Your ability for reflection shows a type of maturity and strength that not all adults possess.”
I wave her off and drop her gaze, still not comfortable with that level of compliment. Though I can’t help but think of my parents, of Rob. Reflective is not the word I would use for them.
“I brought you this. I packed it and knew I wanted to give it to you. I just wasn’t sure when the right time would be. I think today is perfect.”
I glance down at her outstretched hand as her fingers unfurl from a fist. A thin string of dainty misshapen pearls with a golden clasp rests on her palm.
“This was from my mom. She passed it down to me. They’re river pearls. That’s why they’re all a little asymmetrical and the colors are a bit different. I saw you in this dress and thought it would be the perfect touch.”
I reach out and run the pad of my fingers over the lumpy edges. Soft whites, creams, and pale pinks reflect over the satiny smooth beads. It’s gorgeous, but I’m not sure I feel right taking it from her.
“What about your daughter? Surely, you’d rather keep it in the family.”
Loretta’s head tilts as she assesses me. “Winter, doll. Youarethe family. Whatever happens between you and Theo? This little girl right here”—she trails a finger over the bridge of Vivi’s nose—“is a gift. She’s part of us all. As far as I’m concerned, you and Vivi are a two-for-one deal. I see your connection, how much of yourself you’ve given to her, and I just...it reminds me of myself in those early days.”
I haven’t cried in weeks. With all the people rallying around me, all the effortless support, tears haven’t sprung up out of nowhere anymore. The urge to climb Theo like a tree has replaced the urge to cry.
That’s what keeps me up at night instead of my mistakes in life.
If his mom wasn’t living with him, I would have broken into his house in the middle of the night and begged him to fuck me by now.
“I think—”
Loretta doesn’t let me finish. “I think you should pass it down to Vivi at an equally important time in her life.”
My eyes water, and I try to blink the moisture away. “Maybe I spoke too soon,” I say as I finally take the necklace. It’s short and will fit like a choker. It’s dainty, but alsosexy and unique. “I love it. Though I’m not sure this could be considered an important time in my life.”
She smiles at me, kind and wise, like she knows something I don’t. “I was thinking I could bring Vivi home and put her to bed when the timing is right. Let you kids have some fun tonight. You could let your hair down a bit. Maybe that’s important for you right now.”
“I could.” I’m still running my fingers over the pearls. “I’m not good at letting my hair down though.”
She huffs out a laugh. “Spend more time around Theo, and he’ll show you how.”
“That’s what worries me,” I whisper, confessing one of the anxieties I have about Theo Silva. “He just...I have a hard time trusting anyone.” I snort and glance up at her. “I’m like a walking, talking daddy issue. And no matter how hard I try not to let my head go back to that place...it does.”
Loretta nods, her mouth curling into a smile. “As the person who has known him the longest in this life, I’m going to tell you what I know about Theo.”
“Okay.”
“Theo loves easily. That’s just his nature. But he doesn’t often lovehard. He keeps that part of himself, the one that’s seen loss too, locked up tight where it can’t get hurt. But you, girl? He loves you hard.”
I blink, trying to absorb what she’s just told me.
“Okay?” She pushes to stand.
“Okay,” I reply again.
It’s when she’s almost at the door with a sleeping Vivi in her arms that she turns back to me on a soft chuckle. “I just remembered that he called me the morning after you two first got together. And do you know what he said to me?
I shake my head. It’s all I can manage.
“He said, ‘Mom, I met her.’ And I said, ‘Who?’” Loretta’s lips curve up, her eyes taking on a faraway look. “He said, ‘The woman I’m going to marry one day.’”
