was quiet for a moment. “Is it because he’s related to Celeste Beaumont?”
“You know how she feels about me.”
“I know that you’ve let her bully you for years because you feel guilty about what happened to Wes. You have to stop that. I’ve let you wallow, but it’s time to be my sassy, take-no-prisoners daughter again. You were a girl who knew what she wanted and went after it.”
That was where her mother was wrong. “But I didn’t. I didn’t go after anything. I got lost after high school, and I haven’t figured out what I want to do with my life. Everyone else seemed to know.”
“Not everyone. It only seems like you’re alone. Life threw you a curveball. You needed a couple of years to adjust, but it’s time to get back into the game. If you don’t, you’re going to find yourself like me.” Her mother’s voice softened over the line. “Don’t get me wrong. I love my life and that it’s surrounded with friends and with my family, but I wish I’d taken the time to explore more. I wish I’d dated. I told myself I needed to concentrate on you kids, but now I know the truth. I was scared. It was easier to hide away after your father died. It was easier to lock my heart up, but I regret it now. I know that Jackson fellow hurt you, but that’s his loss. If you’re interested in this man, you should go for it. Don’t use Luc as an excuse to not take care of yourself. You’re a good mom, Seraphina. You’re a good person. You deserve to have a life as much as that Celeste Beaumont does.”
Tears pulsed behind Sera’s eyes. Her mother was pointing out all the worries that simmered under her surface, everything that kept her up at night, kept her mouth closed when she would have spoken up. She had changed since Wes died, since Luc was born. She’d pushed aside all of her own hopes and dreams in favor of making herself less of a target.
She’d made herself small and now she was allowing her guilt to keep her from something that could be wonderful. Harry.
“He stole the truck out from under me,” she said with a sniffle. “He manipulated everything so he could spend time with me. He’s a sneaky bastard, and I think I could really like him.”
She might be able to love him if she let herself try.
Her mom chuckled. “He’s a man who obviously knows what he wants.”
“He’s says he’s going to leave, but I’ll be honest, I think I’m more afraid that he’ll stay.”
“No one gets through life without facing their fears. Unless you want to end up like your Aunt Irene. You know there’s always a story under the surface. Irene wasn’t born hating the world. She wasn’t born a hermit. Something happened to her when she was a young woman. I don’t know what it was. I only know that your great-grandmother said she changed after she went away for college. I think someone hurt her and she came home and never left again, never dated. I don’t want that for you. Take a chance. Even if this isn’t something that lasts forever, it’s something you need. Unless you don’t think he’s worth it.”
That wasn’t the problem at all. “I could cost him a relationship with his aunt. He won’t let us hide if we’re dating.”
“I knew I liked him.” She could practically see her momma smiling. “He’s a man, Sera. Let him make his own choices. If you’ve talked about this and he’s made the decision, then you’re the only one holding you back. And you’re the only one who can free yourself. I love you, baby. I’ll be by your side no matter what you do, but I think there’s a reason you got caught with him tonight. Although I know that motel. Couldn’t you have gotten caught at a five-star in New Orleans?”
Sera laughed at the thought and wiped her tears away. Her mother had a point. Maybe it was time to start taking back some of her life. “What if I’m making another mistake and it ends up hurting people?”
“Are you going into this with any thought to hurt someone else?”
She was trying desperately not to. “No.”
“Then do your best and know that we love you. Know that your family stands by you.”
“Hey, Momma, are you trying to get Sera to jump Harry’s bones?” She could hear her brother