Ashes (Web of Desire #3) - Aleatha Romig Page 0,54

people in Patrick’s inner circle.

Truly, I wasn’t upset about the lack of connectivity.

I wanted no part in alerting Andros or Marion of my location.

The only people who contacted me through those other accounts were those associated with Andros and Marion and of course, Ruby. Since my daughter was curled up on the sofa, wearing headphones and watching a movie on an iPad, I didn’t need remote access to her.

Many times I found myself staring at her across the room.

It was surreal that we were together and safe.

I couldn’t recall another time in her sixteen and a half years that I’d felt this way.

Strangely, having everything right made me tired.

I realized that I should be energized, but that wasn’t the way I felt.

It was as if a nearly seventeen-year marathon had finally come to the finish line. My energy to fight and resist was depleted. I’d run a good race, one that wasn’t without pitfalls and mistakes, yet I’d succeeded, crossing the finish line.

No matter what happened to me or in the future, I believed that Ruby was finally safe.

“Mom?”

I looked away from whatever was on the laptop, turning back to Ruby. “What, honey?”

“I didn’t know you were planning on going to another tournament next weekend.”

My stomach dropped as I stepped down from the stool at the kitchen bar and walked toward Ruby. “I’m not planning on going anywhere.”

“We can’t stay locked up in here forever.” She tilted her chin toward the windows. “It’s clear now, but the forecast is for more snow. Can I go with you to New Orleans?”

“No,” I said out of habit. “You’ve never gone with me. You know Andros…” I let out a long breath and sat in the theater seat beside my daughter. “I’m sorry. It will take me some time to not think about Andros’s response.”

“Worry about it, you mean?”

I forced my lips to curl into a grin. “None of it matters now.”

“Did you and Patrick work things…? I mean, is this real? It seems rushed. And I think it would be best for me to go back to school. I don’t mind the break, but honestly, it’s kind of boring here.”

Settling against the sofa, I wrapped my arms around my midsection. “I know it’s hard to understand, but boring is the best possible scenario.”

Ruby reached out to my elbow. “I wish you’d tell me what’s happening. I’m not a kid. I know things. I see things.”

Letting out a ragged breath, I lifted my jean-covered legs and sock-clad feet beneath me and stared into my daughter’s eyes. “Someday you’ll understand how much as a mother you want to protect your child.”

“I’m not a child.”

My cheeks rose in a smile as I scanned her beautiful face—high cheekbones, naturally long lashes surrounding her vivid blue eyes—down to her slender neck and over her maturing curves currently covered with a soft sweatshirt and leggings. “You’re not. Still, there are ghosts better left in the past.”

“Did he hurt you? Now that we’re gone, you can tell me.” When I didn’t answer, she clarified, “Andros.”

“Now that we’re gone,” I said, “we can move on.”

“You did a good job protecting me. I don’t think I realized how much until seeing you here. I was so used to it, you always being worried, concerned, and on alert. Watching you last night at dinner, this morning at breakfast, and here now, you seem…I don’t know if it’s good or bad. I think you’re not as stressed, but you also seem out of it.”

Laying my hand over hers, I confessed, “I’m all of that. I have so many things on my mind. First and foremost, I’m happy you are here and I’m here. I’m a bit in shock that we made it.”

“What if Patrick changes his mind?” Ruby asked. “It’s a big adjustment to find out your wife is alive and she had a daughter over sixteen years ago.”

“What if we change our minds?” I asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Ruby, I did a terrible job of one thing. I did everything I could for you, but in the process, I showed you that it’s acceptable to be dependent upon someone else, a man, even when he wasn’t the best man. Patrick is not Andros. I loved him and I still do. It’s funny, but after all this time, I feel like I’m falling in love again. I know you don’t want to hear your mom say things like that.”

“No,” she said, her eyes sparkling. “You’re right, it’s mush, but I do like it. I