Kissing Under the Mistletoe - Bella Andre Page 0,77
moved into the room, holding her mother’s gaze all the while. But before she could take more than a couple of steps, pure joy moved across her mother’s face, and her arms lifted from the covers, wide open for her daughter.
Her emotions bubbled to the surface, and Mary felt incredible release as she ran into the room and put her arms around her mother. Despite her not being well, her mother pulled her even closer. Sitting on the bed together, Mary breathed in the familiar smell of her perfume and felt how strong and warm her arms still were.
Her tears fell then, not just for all the years they’d lost, but because between her and her mother, Jack and her father, the small room was overflowing with love.
Mary and her mother held each other close for a long time, and when they finally drew back, Lucia framed Mary’s face in her hands. “Let me look at you, my beautiful girl.”
There was so much Mary wanted to say to her mother, and she was sure there was at least as much that her mother wanted to say to her, but for now, just being with each other again was enough.
“You’re not a girl anymore.” Mary could read her mother’s regret at losing those years just as clearly as she could see the pride in what she’d grown to become. “You are a woman now.”
Another tear slid down Mary’s cheek. Of all the things she needed to say, two stood out above all the others. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. More than you will ever know.”
Her heart so full she thought it might burst, Mary said, “Jack came home with me, to meet you and Papa. I love him, too.”
Hearing his name, Jack came closer. Mary took his left hand in hers even as he held out his right hand for her mother. “It’s very nice to meet you, Signora Ferrer.”
Mary was amazed to hear him speak Italian, however halting. Was there nothing he wouldn’t do for her?
As her mother studied Jack carefully, Mary could almost read her mind. He wasn’t Italian or one of the men from the village, but he was clearly solid…and handsome enough to make even a happily married woman’s heart beat a little faster.
But instead of taking Jack’s hand, Lucia said, “You need to promise me you will always be a good husband to my little one. That you will never hurt her. And that you will love her even when she makes mistakes.”
Mary flushed as she translated her mother’s demands. All the while, Jack never took his eyes from Lucia, and his gaze remained as serious as hers.
“I love your daughter.” He spoke in English this time and paused so that Mary could translate. “I will always put her and our family first.” Again, he paused while she translated his sweet vow in a voice that grew thicker and thicker with emotion. “And I promise you, I will never, ever hurt her.”
Finally, Lucia smiled. But instead of taking his hand, she opened her arms and hugged him as if he were already her son-in-law.
That was when her mother began to cough, a deep rattling sound that jarred Mary’s heart just as badly. “Mama, you need to rest.”
“No, I need you here with me. I need you to stay.”
It was what her mother had said thirteen years ago, but instead of feeling trapped by the words this time, Mary felt only the sweet warmth of knowing she was loved.
“I’m not going anywhere, I promise.” Brushing the hair back from her mother’s forehead, just as her mother used to do when she was sick, Mary said, “Rest now, and when you wake up I’ll have made you pastina in brodo. We’ll eat together.”
“I don’t want soup. I want to talk to you. I need to talk to you.” Her mother coughed again, this attack longer as she was obviously too exhausted to fight it. “I need to tell you everything I was too proud to say before.”
Both men had left the bedroom by then. “I love you, Mama," Mary said again. “I never stopped loving you, not for one single second. How could I?”
Mary pressed a kiss to her mother’s soft cheek. She could see the pill bottles by the side of the bed for antibiotics and cough suppressants, but while she prayed they would do the job of healing the infection inside her mother’s lungs, there was one thing she knew would likely be more powerful