as a wave of pain rushed into my temple. I shouldn’t have consumed a third glass of wine.
“Whatever do you mean, darling? It’s a beautiful day and after your meeting, you can enjoy spending time with Matteo. Now, tomorrow, we’re going to need to select your wedding dress. Maybe we can have lunch together afterwards.”
I was sickened by her audacity even though I realized she had no choice. “I feel so sorry for you, Mother. I know you’re a prisoner in this way of life. I just don’t understand why you’d want your daughter to face the same. I don’t plan on living that way. No, I refuse to. I’m not weak.”
When I didn’t hear anything, I shifted in order to see what she was doing. Her shoulders were slumped, and she’d placed both hands on the doorjamb of the closet.
“Did you know that I met your father when I was fifteen years old?” she asked. I’d never heard such a conciliatory tone in my mother’s voice. I could tell she was tired, as if no longer wanting to hide behind the façade.
“You’ve told me very little about your relationship. I assume it’s because you hated it so much.”
Sighing, she slowly moved around the bed, finally sitting down and taking my hand into hers. “I’m so sorry that you’ve believed that all these years, Winter. I adore your father. The very first day I laid eyes on him I think I fell in love with him. He was so big and strong, his smile dazzling. There wasn’t a girl in high school who didn’t have a crush on him. He was the captain of the football team, made straight A’s, and we all knew he was going to be someone special. I will never forget telling my mother all about him. I was so excited because he’d actually asked me to the school dance. Me! I was just a sophomore and he was a senior.” She laughed although she looked away shaking her head.
I’d never heard the story before. In fact, they’d talked very little about their past. “That sounds lovely.”
She shifted until she could look into my eyes. “That was the very day my mother told me about the Box and the requirements. That was also the day my father forbade me to see Donovan. I will never forget how angry I was, screaming my hatred. My father didn’t budge. Somehow, he was able to make certain I didn’t have an opportunity to see Donovan again, at least until my twenty-fourth birthday.”
“The Council.”
Nodding, she gave me a half smile. “I didn’t know that then, but yes. Needless to say, I was both excited and terrified that his name was in my Box.”
“Why terrified?”
“Because he’d changed, becoming ruthless and unforgiving. He was already a self-made millionaire with his business, and I assure you that he wasn’t well liked. He wasn’t too fond of me either,” she said, laughing. “But we both did as we were required, the wedding ceremony a beautiful and lavish orchestration. We learned to really love and rely on each other even though we were entirely different people. I’m not going to tell you that it hasn’t been tough, but I wouldn’t have wanted a different outcome. I became his light, pulling him out of his darkness. And you are my greatest gift, a true miracle.”
Tears trickled down her cheeks. “Why a miracle?” I asked, uncertain I wanted to know the answer. When she hesitated, her mouth twisting, I squeezed her hand. “It’s okay, Mama. You can tell me.”
“Because I’d had three miscarriages. After the last baby was lost, the doctor ran several tests. He told us that I had significant scarring on my ovaries as well as other issues. Given my high blood pressure, he was worried about me attempting a fourth time, afraid I would die. We were devastated. I’d wanted to have a beautiful baby so badly. So did your father. We discussed trying one last time and Donovan refused, unwilling to risk my life.”
My heart raced simply seeing the pain on her face. “Then how?”
She smiled as she wiped away her tears with both hands. “I can be very convincing. The pregnancy was difficult. I was put on bed rest at five months, and even then, there were complications, but I refused to allow my baby girl to be taken from me. And look at you now. You had ten perfect little fingers and toes. I’ve never seen your father so happy. I