Slow Burn (Dynasties Seven Sins #7) - Janice Maynard Page 0,50
time with his family. If he was leaving after the wedding, he needed to fulfill his responsibilities as a son and a brother.
Oddly, the movie with Oliver, the rushed lunch with Joshua at Black Crescent and the afternoon tea at his mother’s Friday afternoon were cathartic. He’d had in mind offering his support to them, but he ended up being the one who felt comforted.
His mother, especially, surprised him. They bypassed the pleasantries quickly and waded into deep water. “How are you doing, Mom? Really, I mean. I know you went to see Dad.”
Eve Lowell looked much as she always had. Younger than her years. Dignified. Stylish. She was older now, of course. But she still had the posture of a beauty queen.
She wrinkled her nose at his question. “It was all small talk. But enough to show me that it’s time to move on. I’m not the same person I was. It took me a long time to find my strength, but I did. I still have my rough days, but I’m in a good place now, just like Oliver. When Oliver told me about his visit and how he came to the same conclusions, I was glad he went. It was healthy and positive for both of us.”
“Do you still love Dad?” Jake hadn’t known he was going to ask that question. When his mother was silent, he wished he hadn’t. Finally, she shook her head slowly. “It depends on what you mean by love. Your father was declared legally dead. I’m no longer bound to him by law. But I said vows a million years ago. Vows I meant at the time. I certainly didn’t know my husband was going to become a felon.”
“So, is that a yes or a no?”
She looked at him wistfully. “We can’t always choose whom we love, and we can’t always stop loving them simply because they don’t deserve our love. I know your father sent you away, Jake.”
“He didn’t send me away.” Anger snapped in each word. “He left. He left you. He left me. He left all of us. And I couldn’t handle the gutter press. They hounded our family and made us miserable. Because of him.” Jake shook with sudden fury—fury he hadn’t realized he’d pushed down, and had pushed down forever, it seemed.
“My poor boy. He left you homeless, didn’t he?”
Jake felt raw suddenly. And he hated that vulnerability. “I owe you an apology, Mother,” he said formally. “I never should have left you to face everything on your own. I’m sorry I didn’t stay. I’m sorry I didn’t come back.”
“I had Joshua,” she said, waving a hand. “We got by.”
Though her words weren’t meant to wound, Jake felt them cut deep. He loved his brother dearly, but always being cast as the screwup was not a role Jake relished.
“Is there anything you need?” he asked. “I’ve done well financially.”
“Jake, dear boy.” She patted his hand. “Over the years you’ve sent me jewelry and artwork for my birthdays and Christmas. I never felt forgotten. I knew why you couldn’t come home. But I hoped that one day the hurt would fade.” She paused, her expression turning crafty, mischievous even. “Now tell me about Nikki and this baby of yours. Joshua has filled me in on the basics.”
Jake hunched his shoulders. “Emma is four. She’s mine. I’m making arrangements with Nikki, so I can fly in for the occasional visit. And, of course, we can video chat.”
His mother’s face fell. “I don’t get to see my granddaughter?”
“I suppose that’s up to you and Nikki.”
“It strikes me that I haven’t heard you talk about Nikki and you.”
“There’s nothing there, Mom.”
“You made a baby together.”
“That was five years ago. We bumped into each other one evening in Atlantic City and...well, you know.”
Eve’s smile was sweet. “I may be getting older, son, but I do understand sexual chemistry.”
“We’ve been apart fifteen years. Whatever we had is gone.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“Why?” He frowned at her.
“Because you’ve never found another woman to settle down with and make a home. That strikes me as odd. You have a huge heart, Jake. A generous spirit. And though you’d chew glass before you’d admit it, you’re a sensitive and loving and wonderful man.”
“I thought you were disappointed in me,” he said gruffly, caught off guard by her praise. “I failed you.”
“Nonsense,” she said stoutly. “You followed your own path. Don’t hide in the shadows forever, dear boy. You may not get too many chances for