Page 69 of Sweetest Sin

“Why are we just learning about his existence now?” my mother asks. “I don’t understand.”

“Peyton had planned to tell me, but she saw some things that scared her away.” I give my mother a knowing look, and she nods in understanding. “So, she made the decision to raise Damien in Coral Bay, but they’re here now and living with me.”

My mother approaches Peyton first and takes her hands in her own. “My name is Larisa. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Then, she lowers herself until she’s eye level with Damien. “And since I’m your second grandmother, would you like to call meBabushka? It means grandma in Russian.”

Damien giggles. “Bah-bush?” he repeats, completely butchering the word.

My mom laughs and glances up at me with watery eyes before she turns back to Damien. “Yes, my sweet boy. I’m yourbabushka. Your grandma.”

“Babush, I got a cookie. You want some?” he asks, holding it out for her.

“Oh, no, sweetie. You eat it. Martha makes the best cookies.”

Damien nods and takes a bite, and my mother stands.

“I was wondering if I could speak to you. I came home, hoping to catch you in person, but you seemed to have caught me.” She grins over at Peyton and then down at Damien.

“Damien,” Peyton says, “why don’t we go get some milk and a plate for that cookie?” She takes his hand and smiles at my mother. “It was nice to meet you.”

“It was my pleasure,” Mom says. “I look forward to getting to know you both.”

Once they’re gone, Mom says, “They’re both lovely.”

“They are,” I agree. “But she isn’t thrilled about our lifestyle.”

My mother nods in understanding. “She’ll come around. You’re nothing like your father, and she seems like a wonderful mother.”

“She is. So, what did you need to speak to me about?”

“I’ve met someone,” she gushes.

“I figured as much. The guard said you’ve been staying over at a man’s house. Walter Freedman. Married for twenty-five years. Widowed for six. Two kids, who work for him at his finance firm, located in downtown North Harbor Point.”

“Of course you looked him up.” Mom shakes her head.

“I did … and Matteo paid him a visit last week.”

Mom laughs. “I love you boys.”

“And we love you.”

“He asked me to move in with him,” she says.

“Out of wedlock?” I half joke.

“Actually”—she extends her hand and shows off her diamond ring—“he proposed.”

“Congratulations, Mother.” I pull her into a hug and kiss the crown of her head. “How soon do you plan to move in with him?”

“Immediately.” She glances around the house. “If you don’t want to keep this place …”

I think about Damien swimming in the pool earlier today and then playing in the backyard. “I think we’ll keep it for now. Damien loves the tree in the back. George put up a tire swing for him.”

Mom grins. “That’s always been my favorite shade tree.” She pats me on the chest. “I’m going to head back to Walter’s. We’d love to do dinner with everyone soon. I want to be the one to tell Matteo and Brielle.”

“Of course. But you know you have to keep the guards, right? Anthony went after Damien. We took out the two men he’d hired, but he’s still out there.”

“That boy.” She sighs. “He’s always been a bad apple. And what he did to your sister …”