Alexa didn’t quite know how to feel about the fact that Maverick had shared all her dirty secrets with her mother, but she had to admit it was the first time since they’d arrived that her mom had stopped yelling and crying. And was actually listening.
“Language, Maverick,” her mother said, no heat to the admonishment at all.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said.
Her mom looked at her. “Is all that true, baby? Grant hurt you? And he’s blackmailing you, over me?”
Alexa swallowed hard, the heat of shame and embarrassment crawling up her face. She nodded and hugged herself, feeling raw and exposed. But at least it was for a good cause, because Alexa could see that Maverick had gotten through to her mother by appealing to her as a mother. Smart man.
“Oh,” Mom said on a gasp, her hand going to her mouth. “Oh, my poor girl. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was ashamed for you to know,” Alexa said, her gaze dropping to the floor. “For anyone to know.” She felt Mav’s gaze on her, but couldn’t meet it. Not just then.
“Alexa,” Lillian said, “how someone treats you is a reflection of them, not you.”
“I know that,” Alexa said, finally looking at the other woman. “But I also let him get away with an awful lot.” She shook her head, refusing to dwell on her mistakes when there was so much she could be doing to try to fix them. “I’m not doing that anymore, though.”
Lillian’s expression was full of sympathy and approval. “Cynthia, what does learning about the details of Alexa’s situation make you feel?”
“Well, I feel terrible, of course. And obviously she can’t be with someone like that,” Mom said. Regret and trepidation were clear in her voice, but it was as if Maverick’s tirade had flipped some sort of reset switch inside her mom’s mind. And it was closer to an apology than she usually got from her mom. So there was that.
“So how do you feel about giving this move a chance?” Lillian asked.
After a long moment, Mom nodded. “I guess we have to, don’t we?” She nodded again. “So . . . we will.” Alexa felt a weight lift off her shoulders, at least a little. And she had Maverick to thank for bringing her mother around.
“Good,” Lillian said. “Then how about the four of us come up with a game plan that will make this as easy on you as it can be?”
“Fine,” her mother said, a little cantankerousness sliding back into her tone. “But first I’d like to see this new place. Because I can’t plan anything without knowing what kind of place I’m going to and how much space it has.”
“That we can do,” Maverick said. His hand went to Alexa’s lower back, and his thumb slowly stroked like he knew she needed the comfort. She did.
Alexa finally looked at him, and the fierce protectiveness blazing from his dark blue eyes absolutely slayed her. Just sliced right open to the heart of her. Which wasn’t so hard since her heart clearly beat for him. “Thank you,” she mouthed.
He gave her a barely perceptible nod, the intensity of his expression communicating so much. Support. Concern. Need.
“Will you come, Lillian?” her mother asked as she stacked the photo albums on the floor again and rose.
“I’d love to see your new home, Cynthia. Now remember what Alexa said. There’s a crew of men there working to fix it up. So it’s not quite ready for you yet but it will be,” Lillian said. Alexa appreciated the older woman offering the reminder.
“Of course,” Mom said. “Let me just get my purse.” Making her way through a path lined with boxes and stacks of every possible thing, she disappeared back down the hallway toward her bedroom.
Alexa blew out a long breath. “I can’t believe you did that,” she said to Maverick, “or that it worked so well.”
“I couldn’t listen to her continue to berate you when she didn’t know all the facts,” he said, gravel in his voice. “I’m sorry if you didn’t want her to know. But I had to do something.”
“I know that was hard, Alexa, but I think she needed to hear it,” Lillian said. “It pushed her into a place of acceptance and cooperation, which is a start. But be prepared for there to be setbacks and resistance as all this progresses.”
Alexa nodded. “I know.” She turned to Maverick. “And don’t worry. It’s okay.” He gave a tight nod just as her mother returned. Alexa donned a bright smile. “Okay, Mom. Let’s go see your new house.”
She’d only been by Creed’s little rancher before, never gone inside, but no matter what it was like, it would be better than here. Better than something Grant could give—or take away. Creed’s house would be safer and happier for the both of them.