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He couldn’t wait to see her.
How much longer? He looked at his watch and when he looked up again his mother was there in front of him. “Ma?”
Then he saw Taylor’s mom and Betsy, Chloe’s grandmother, were here too. Danielle was getting shots of Taylor and the boys. The baby on her chest slept soundly through it all. He chuckled. At least there would be photographic evidence that Venery’s drummer sometimes wore a shirt.
“Why aren’t you with Chloe?”
“I thought Michael needed a moment or two with his daughter before she got married.” She took his hand. “Walk with me?”
They left the room hand in hand and walked through the glass conservatory, here in the middle of Coventry Park, where their wedding ceremony would soon take place amongst the flora that flourished here in the dead of winter. Linnea and Brendan had followed them out to direct some workers who were still arranging chairs and the roses that he and Taylor had insisted upon. Monica waved to them from the end of the aisle where they would stand in wait for Chloe.
He waved back.
His mother kept walking. Through the glass door and into the heated white tent that was all set up for their New Year’s Eve reception. Jesse hadn’t seen inside until now and his jaw dropped. He was so fucking blown away at the opulence before him. Gold chairs. Crystal. Burgundy velvet sofas. Candelabras. Roses everywhere. Chloe was going to flip—Taylor too!
Linnea. Brendan. How the fuck did you do all this?
Jesse squeezed his mother’s hand clasped in his and she softly spoke. “Magnificent, isn’t it?”
“I don’t have the words, Ma.”
“Kyan’s girl is quite talented…” She smirked then. “…but I didn’t know my nephew had it in him.”
They both laughed and she led him to one of the burgundy sofas. “Sit with me. A mother needs a moment or two with her son before he gets married too, you know.”
They sat together.
Jesse was afraid to hear what she had to say. He knew she blamed him for his father’s death. It was his fault after all, and isn’t that why she went to Ireland after he graduated from college and went pro? To get away from him. She was ashamed of him just like his father was. He was more than surprised when she agreed to come to his wedding.
“I’ve missed ya, Jesse, and I love ya. I’m sorry I’ve stayed away from here for so long, but…”
“No, Ma.” Jesse held onto his mother’s shoulders and looked into her familiar blue eyes. They were misty. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I didn’t mean for Dad to find out like that, I swear.”
Colleen lifted her hands and gently placed them on his taut forearms. “Find out what? What are you talking about, Jesse?”
“Dad saw me and Tay…umm…together. Then he killed himself.”
His mother put her arms around him and hugged him so tight. He’d almost forgotten how wonderful it felt and how much he’d missed it. “Oh, Jesse, is that what you think?”
He nodded. “Dad was ashamed of me and…”
“Stop.” She pulled her head back and her eyes bored into his. “Stop thinking that nonsense right this minute.” With a strangled sob she smoothed his long hair. “Your father’s suicide had nothing to do with you. Nothing. Do you hear me?”
Confused, Jesse angled his head. His eyes were beginning to burn and he suddenly wished he had a glass of whiskey. He had the feeling he was going to need it.
“I caught your father in an affair and I threatened to divorce him. He’d been in love with someone else for years.” Her voice dropped to almost a whisper. “Another man.”
What. The. Fuck?
Stunned. He’d had no idea. The fluid that burned his eyes stung on his cheeks.
“I wish I could take back those words, Jesse, but I can’t and I’m so sorry. If I hadn’t said those things to your dad, hadn’t made those threats, he’d still be here with us. I wouldn’t have found him in the garage that morning.” A sob escaped her then. “I loved your father, Jesse. God knows I loved him. It was just too painful to stay here, so once you finished school I left and…”
“I thought…”
“That it was your fault? That I blamed you?”
She rocked him in her arms and he nodded.
