“Chelsie?”
She turned at the sound of her mother’s high-pitched voice, in time to see the older woman step outside. She hadn’t seen Ellen Russell since the day of the hearing and was surprised to see her well-groomed mother in walking shorts and an oversized shirt, looking... human. She couldn’t help but wonder if grief had done what nothing else could.
Chelsie went toward her, and when her mother’s arms opened wide, her walk turned into a run.
* * *
The morning sun streamed through the kitchen window. Chelsie blinked into the Florida sunlight. For the first time in years, she felt at peace in her parents’ home. Although they’d put off the harder discussions last night one thing had been clear. The rift between them had closed.
She picked through the basket of assorted rolls on the kitchen table and settled herself into a wicker chair. She popped a piece of blueberry muffin into her mouth and wondered when the last time was she’d taken the time to sit down to breakfast to relax and stop running to work, to meetings, to appointments, to Alix... and from life. Setting things in order now not only felt good, it felt right.
She only wished she hadn’t had to lose Griff in order to reclaim the rest of her life. With one daughter gone, her parents had obviously taken stock. If they remained understanding and not judgmental, she’d finally have two loving parents, and Alix would have grandparents who cared and role models to emulate. The mother who’d taken up gardening was far removed from the socialite who had tried to mold both Chelsie and Shannon as they grew up, an emotionally contrite woman who wasn’t the same person who had tried to bribe Griff a few months earlier.
The whoosh of the sliding glass door signaled her parents’ return from their morning walk. She washed the dry muffin down with a sip of orange juice and turned. “Hi.”
“Morning.” Her mother, still out of breath, joined her at the table. After grabbing two glasses and pouring juice, so did her father.
“How was your walk?” Chelsie asked.
“Refreshing.”
Chelsie laughed. “I’m sorry, but I don’t recognize either of you. You two look like a television ad for vitamins or something.”
“Instead of one for Tiffany Jewelers?” her mother asked. The older woman didn’t join in the laughter.
Time for honesty, Chelsie thought. No matter how hard or what the results. She glanced at her mother. “Well, now that you mention it, yes.”
Her mother glanced down at her hands. Skin once soft and smooth now showed signs of work. Chelsie had to admit she was proud of the change. She hoped it extended to her mother’s sense of understanding, as well.
“I suppose I deserved that.”
Chelsie shook her head and placed her hand on top of her mother’s. “No, you didn’t. I didn’t come here for anger or recriminations.”
“Then why did you come?”
“Forgiveness,” Chelsie whispered.
“There’s nothing to forgive.” Her mother’s voice cracked.
Her father stepped in to fill the silent void. “We never should have sued Griffin for custody, never should have attempted to bribe him. Never should have used your feelings for your sister as a means to get you to do our dirty work.”
“What your father is trying to say is we never blamed you for losing custody. We blamed ourselves for attempting to get it in the first place. That little girl deserves better than we would have given her.” Her mother drew a steadying breath. “Better than we gave you and your sister.”
Chelsie fought the relief and accompanying dizziness and forced herself to concentrate on their words, words she never thought she’d hear. “Shannon and I had everything growing up.” She couldn’t bear to hear her parents so full of guilt and blame. They’d lost one daughter and were about to get yet another shock from her.
“Every advantage, yes. I saw to that by working hard and providing you with the upbringing neither your mother nor I had.” Darren Russell’s low voice was contrite and anguished. Chelsie couldn’t remember a time in her life when she’d heard him so honest... or so empty.
“We got carried away by the money and the lifestyle,” her mother said. “It became more important than people. What people thought of us became more important than our own children or our grandchildren.” She glanced down at their intertwined hands. “We were wrong. We lost out on years of more important things, years of closeness with you and your sister, and we’re sorry.” Her head lowered in shame. “And we’ll make it up to you and any grandchildren we’re lucky enough to have.”
Chelsie swallowed over the painful lump in her throat. They’d given her what she’d always wanted. They’d given her back her parents, while she was about to take away their last dreams. “So am I. And I...”
“We don’t expect your forgiveness.”
She raised damp eyes to meet their expectant gaze. “But you have it. You always have. But...” Chelsie inhaled for courage.
“But what?” Her mother rolled her hand over, capturing Chelsie’s and holding on tight. “We’ve been through the worst. I think it’s time we heard all of it. Then we can finally be a family.”
Chelsie nodded and turned to her mother. Images of Griff and Alix assailed her. The very people who’d given her back her life. She owed it to them to come all the way back, even if Griff no longer wanted any part of her.