Page 88 of My Heart Belongs to You

“Who’s Joseph?” My mom’s eyes bounced from Raven to me.

“A guy I dated for a very short time.”

Raven chortled then stared into the distance.

“Well, what happened?”

“Um, well, we drifted apart. I got busy with the restaurant and he started seeing someone else.”

My mom hummed. “I see. Was he at the soft opening?”

I shook my head. “We didn’t end on the best of terms.”

There was much more to the story but I decided against sharing. It would only lead to more questions I wasn’t willing to answer. The gentle touch of my mom’s hand on my arm made me smile.

“It sounds like you made the best choice.”

“I did.”

“Speaking of choices...” Raven looked at my mom. Her eyes were low, clearly settling into the gummy from earlier. “Why did you bring up grandchildren on camera?”

I gulped the rest of my champagne then reached for the carafe to refill my glass.

My mom tucked her hair behind her ear and sighed. “You know, I regret doing that. The look on your face made me realize how out of place that was. The producers were texting topics to discuss and I just blurted it out without thinking. I’m sorry for putting you and Sadé on the spot.”

She went on to explain the pressure she’d gotten to include their family life.

“Carlos is just trying to abide by their requirements. We signed a contract for three seasons and sold them on showcasing our close-knit family working together. Once they caught wind of Robyn’s restaurant, they pushed for us to film it.”

Hearing how much pressure the show had added to their lives made us lighten up a little. I was hopeful we could come to an arrangement that pleased us all.

“Next season, we will come to visit you all. How about that?” Raven said, seemingly calmer now.

My mom smiled. “Sounds good and I won’t blindside you like that again. I understand how important it is to protect your relationship. Also, I’m in no rush to become a grandma. I’m too busy and will need to settle down before then.”

I laughed. “So, no time soon?”

She shook her head. “I’ll need at least another three to five years.”

Me and Raven shared a look. “Good. Starling should be married by then.”

My mom cackled at Raven’s remark. “Something tells me that he’s waiting for Carmen...”

As we went around the table sharing our observations on Starling and Carmen’s relationship, I couldn’t help but smile. The last time the three of us did this was during the holidays. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed spending time with my mom and sister. With everyone leading busy lives, it meant a lot that they’d set aside this time for us.

“I’m so glad we got this time without the guys. Ugh, I spend too much time with them.” My mom rolled her eyes, referring to my dad and brother.

Raven rolled her eyes. “We don’t believe you.”

“Right. Mom, you know you love being the queen of the castle.”

We laughed. The sounds of our cackles filled the air and my heart.

“True, but I miss having my princesses nearby. However, I admire how easily you all left home and forged your own paths. If I had my way, all my babies would be home with me, but the true test of good parenting is how well your kids do without you.”

Raven reached for Mom’s hand, examining her manicure.

“Let me do your nails,” she said after a moment.