And then to find out that my grandmother knew more about my… my… Darius than I did?
That was the final straw that got the flames in my chest burning like a Christmas bonfire.
Typical Tilly, always needing to know everything. It reminded me of the time when Tilly showed up for a visit to my mom’s house and tried talking her into a new experimental treatment. She’d somehow gotten her hands on my mother’s hospital records—despite every privacy law known to man—and thought she knew better than the doctors what was best for my mother’s cancer. She was a meddling, interfering control freak.
Without thinking, I made a beeline for Tilly. She stood in the center of the tent between the dining and dancing areas, talking to Blue and Simone.
“How did you know about Darius’s company?” I blurted.
Tilly studied me for a beat. “Google.”
I bit my teeth to keep from snapping at her while air sawed in and out of my nose. “And what business is it of yours? Why were you looking for information about him?”
She stood up even straighter than normal, and her face lifted in her usual imperial glare. “I wanted to look out for the safety and well-being of my grandchild.”
I made a disbelieving sound. “Right. As if you care. As if you ever cared.”
Blue stepped forward with a look of true concern on his face. “Miller—”
I held up a hand to stop him. “Don’t. This is between me and Tilly. She’s strong enough to defend herself.”
“I’m more concerned about protecting you from her,” Blue said, looking back and forth between us.
Tilly made a shooing gesture with her long fingers. “Leave us be. He’s right, and Miller obviously has some things he’d like to get off his chest.”
Blue stayed right where he was and folded his arms across his chest. I ignored him.
“I don’t understand you,” I informed her. “Why do you want me here? Is it all for show? Give your long-lost grandson a decent Christmas and absolve yourself of any guilt for what happened to his mom? Because you’ve made a big deal about inviting me here, and you made that pretty speech up there about family, but you and I both know that you couldn’t be bothered to come see—” I sucked in a breath just as my voice broke.
Strong, warm arms wrapped around me from behind.
“Walk with me,” Darius murmured. “This isn’t the place or the time for a confrontation. Let everyone enjoy their Christmas Eve celebration. Dinner is ready.”
Tears smarted in my eyes as I realized he was right. No, it wasn’t his place to call me down for my behavior, but I was grateful anyway. “Yeah,” I whispered. “Okay.”
I didn’t look at Tilly. Instead, I let Darius lead me across the tent and out into the frigid night air. The sharp sting of it on my heated face made my eyes water even more.
Darius began to apologize for interfering, but I cut him off with a kiss. I grabbed the sides of his face and lost myself in kissing him for just a minute.
All I needed was a minute.
His arms came around me and held me tight as I assaulted his mouth and clasped his face. Even as I was kissing him, I was saying a silent prayer of thanks for him. I was grateful for his steady presence, for feeling like I had someone on my side when it felt like everyone else was here for Tilly.
I pulled myself away. “I’m so angry,” I croaked. “I’m so fucking angry, and I can’t… I can’t hold it in any longer.”
“You don’t have to,” he said gently. “Let it out. Lean on me. Say what you want to say. I can take it. I promise.”
I could see the sincerity in his eyes. He truly meant it. Even though we barely knew each other, he was willing to carry my burden for a little while.
“She left my mom all alone in that place, the home for unwed mothers. And I get it, I do. I know she was young and afraid. I know she didn’t have options, and if she’d kept my mom, it wouldn’t have been a good life for either of them. But later… she had years to find my mom, Darius. Years after my mom’s adoptive parents died, when my mom was all alone in the world. Years when my mom was stuck in a crappy marriage. Years when it was just her and me, and she was working two jobs so I could have a good life. And then when we found her, when Tilly was already rich and settled, confident and happy, and all my mom wanted was to know her… Tilly left her all over again. Refused to see her until Grandpa and Harold talked her into it. How, Darius? How could she do that to my mom of all people, when my mom was the sweetest, most loving person?”