Page 171 of Remiss

Rebel nodded and limped to a chair.

Their mother remained near the director’s door, where the man lurked. Rule had never met him. He’d seen him around, though.

“Rule?” Mom said hesitantly, glancing from him to Rebel. His sister nodded.

At Mom’s visible relief, Rule gritted his teeth. He’d have to talk to the priest. True, he had guardianship but it was temporary. Megan Caldwell was still his mother.

Though she wore an orthopedic boot, she rushed toward him. It dawned on Rule that Mom looked normal, the way she had before she’d gotten pregnant with Jo. Energetic, her eyes sparkling, and her hair flowing.

Her hug was fierce, her arms enveloping him as only she could. With a mother’s love and forgiveness, absolving him even though he hadn’t apologized to her yet. Kissing his cheek. Loving him because that’s what she did.Loved. Kept their family together. Kept Dad together.

It was everything. Everything he’d dreamed about, prayed for, and wished for.

“I’m so sorry, Mom. I love you so much. I never meant…I would never forgive myself if I’d hurt you and Reb.”

“We survived, son,” Mom said, sounding as if she struggled not to breakdown. She hugged him again and rested her head on his shoulder. “You survived.”

Her cherry blossom scent enveloped him. It calmed him, since he’d smelled it on her in one variation or another: body wash, shampoo and conditioner, lotion, and even perfume.

“Is Dad here? CJ?”

Straightening, Mom shook her head. “Reb and I have been in LA for some girl time. We couldn’t leave without seeing you.”

“If you hadn’t seen me today, would you have left?” he asked quietly.

“I was going to call your aunt Kendall.”

Rule nodded, though he wondered why she wouldn’t call Dad. Now that he thought about it, he realized it was unusual that she was so far away from home without him.

“Are you…?Whenare you going home?”

“Tomorrow.”

“What…what are you doing the rest of the day?”

Mom kissed his cheek again. “I would love for me and Reb to spend it with you.”

“Really?” Rule breathed.

“Yes, love,” Mom said gently. “If you’d like us to stay. This is about you, sweetheart. Not us.”

Rule hugged her again. “You’re wrong, Mom. It is about us. We’re a family.”

Smiling through her tears, Mom hugged her tightly. “I love you, Rule.”

“I love you, too, Mom,” Rule choked out.

“Are you hungry?”

He was suddenly ravenous. “Yeah,” he said, sniffling.

“Okay. I’ll see about getting us lunch.” She wheeled him to Rebel and put the brakes in place. “Would you like Father Wilkins and Freya to join us?”

“Did he try to keep you from seeing me?”

“It was a miscommunication, love.” She slid her fingers through his hair. “Don’t stress yourself out.”

Mom was doing what she did best—smoothing things over. Rule decided to let it go. Once he talked to Father Wilkins, he’d think about telling Dad.