10. Orion

Chapter 10

Orion

C alista spends the night at my house. With Juniper.

It's quick, but we both agree it feels right. Juniper was less than thrilled to be told that her room is the extra bedroom that is currently pretty bland, but that quickly changed when Calista and I told her she could paint it whatever color she wanted. After pointing many times to the exact shade of pink she wanted (it was on the boots Amara bought for her), she felt she had made her point and eventually went to sleep.

Calista and I talked. She told me about all of Juniper's big moments. She showed me pictures, videos, and talked me through dozens of stories. She tried to apologize about a hundred more times, but I stopped her every time.

I don't care about the path that got us here. All I care about is that they're both here. With me.

There's only one person left to share our news with.

Calista and I agree that we're going to tell my mom. Together.

Amara, who is clearly pleased with the news, agrees to come get Juniper the next day. She's barely been gone ten minutes when we hear a knock on the door.

Calista freezes.

"Relax," I murmur. "We're a team. We're going to handle this together. Deal?"

"Deal," she says. But her voice is shaking.

"You and me," I say. "Together."

Calista nods.

I open the door. "Morning, Mother."

"Well, it's about time you invited me over. I thought you were never going to apologize," my mom says as she breezes in. She takes off her shoes, and I see the moment she notices Calista. She freezes, staring at Calista like a cat.

"Sit down, Mom," I say softly. "Calista and I would like to talk."

Robotically, my mom comes to sit on the couch.

I sit next to Calista and take her hand. "Calista and I are fated mates," I say. She can sense it, but I want to tell her, just to be clear.

My mom's eyes widen. "No, you're not."

"Mom. You can tell."

"I…" She frowns, then focuses. Her eyes pop open, and she looks between the two of us. "How?"

"I think the words you're looking for are ‘congratulations, I'm so happy for you,'" I hiss sharply.

She sucks in a breath. "No. I will not say that."

"Why?"

"Because she's going to steal you from me!"

My mother's shriek is shrill, and it makes my skin itch.

But Calista floods our bond with calming energy. It's all I need.

"Mom," I say with all the kindness I can muster. "Do you think that I can't love you and Calista?"

She splutters. "Well. You made it clear the other day that you were choosing me or her! And you chose her!"

"No, Stop twisting my words." I shake my head. "I said that if you didn't stop meddling in my personal life, I would need to keep you away from it."

"You would abandon me! For her!"

"No. I love you. I will always love you. But you do not get to interfere in my personal life. Calista is my fated mate," I say slowly. "She is the greatest gift that I have ever had. She's going to be part of my life forever. And I want you to be part of it, too."

My mother blinks.

"I love you, Mom," I tell her. "I want you to be a part of my life… of our life." I look at Calista, and then back to my mom.

She looks at the two of us. "She hates me," she says, pointing at Calista.

Calista shakes her head. "Esther, I do not hate you."

"Then why do you want him all to yourself? You're going to make him move back to Florida with you."

"What?" Calista asks. "I have never once asked your son to move to Florida, and that is not our plan. That has never been our plan. I love your son. He's my whole world. Don't we have that in common?"

I look over at Calista. She winks at me. "He's a wonderful man, and a credit to you for raising him. I love him, and I want you to be part of our life."

"No, you don't," my mom sniffs. But I can tell that some of the steam is leaving her argument.

"Yes, we do," I insist. "I don't want you to interfere in my personal life. But I do want you to be part of it. I love you, Mom, and loving Calista doesn't make me love you less."

She sniffs again and looks between the two of us. The silence feels heavy, and I shift, a little uncomfortable. Finally, my mom speaks. "Fated mates?"

"Yes. You can sense it, can't you?"

She nods. "I can. I just never thought it was a real thing."

"Well. It is." I smile.

"You're not taking my son to Florida?" my mom asks Calista. "You're staying?"

For the first time, I understand why my mom was wary of our relationship in the past… and now.

Calista nods. "Forever," she murmurs.

My mom looks down, then back up at me. "I'll… give you a little more space," she relents.

I breathe. "That's a good start."

Calista gives me a little nod, and I move closer to my mom.

"Mom?"

"Yes?"

"We have something else to tell you."

My mother looks up, curious. "What is it?"

This is going to be fun. I take Calista's hand, then turn to look at my mom.

"How do you feel about being a grandmother?"