Page 130 of Discretion at Its Finest

My cheeks warmed with a smile I couldn’t hold back. “They sound wonderful.”

“They are,”she said proudly.

I asked more questions, wanting to hear all about them. I curled up tighter on the couch, knees tucked to my chest. My eyes burned as I listened to her ramble about her children—my grandchildren.

Her life. Her world.

For the first time in decades… I saw her. Not the baby I left but the woman she became.

“And your husband?” I asked gently.

She hummed, sounding so happy.“Killian. He’s… good. He’s my other half. My rock, he’s so patient. So steady. I never thought I’d have that after… after what I’d gone through.”She paused for another moment.“It feels weird telling a stranger all this.”

“You don’t have to,” I whispered.

“No, I—I want to. I don’t know why… but talking to you feels… easy.”

My throat tightened. “That’s kind of you to say.”

“It’s true,”she said.“You sound oddly… familiar. Comforting, maybe? I don’t know. Sorry—that probably sounds strange.”

“It doesn’t,” I whispered, feeling the same.

She inhaled again, her tone softer now.“Genevieve… How… how exactly are we related?”

“I… was close to your father a long time ago. Your grandparents took to me when my own family had issues.”

“Oh,”she breathed softly.“They didn’t mention you to me… We only recently reconnected with them a couple of years back as well.”

“I haven’t seen them in so long,” I said gently, the thought of Jamie pulling my heartstrings.

“They don’t stick around too much. Grandma Jamie with her cancer, Grandpa Raymond the same. I don’t think they want to set any expectations of them being around for much longer. But I understand…”

A faint silence drifted through the phone, but Brielle continued the conversation.“So… you must’ve known me when I was really little.We didn’t have much family around. I don’t… remember anyone else except Gregory, my sister and—”She hesitated for a moment.“…and the woman he married.”

“Oh…”

“Sorry if that sounds blunt. She wasn’t really a mother to me. Or to Eugene. She… didn’t like us very much. Sometimes I think she hated us… It would’ve hurt more had she been our real mother.”

“You knew… you knew she wasn’t your mother?”

“Eugene did.”

Tears filled my eyes instantly. “Your… your brother knew?”

“He did… for the longest time. He was always so… so standoffish but so protective of me. He took care of me like no one else. Held the secret so long until it ate him alive. I think it was his way of shielding it from me, but I don’t know… I never know with him. But in all honesty, I’m just glad to have him back.”

“I’m glad you two have each other.”

We chatted for what seemed like hours. It was too easy and comforting to hear her voice. Our personalities felt like a mirror, hers softer, mine more reserved, broken but mended all the same.

The longer it went the more I felt the dread of having to end the phone call, never hearing her voice again. I wondered for a moment if I should’ve called Eugene instead. But it felt easier with Brielle. I didn’t have to pretend she didn’t know who I was… she truly didn’t. Speaking to Eugene, I don’t think I had it in me to face him.

After she’d rambled on more about her children that she loved so dearly, I wiped away a tear, clearing my throat. “I—I think it’s best I get going, Brielle. I’ve taken up so much of your time.”

Brielle paused for a moment.“Oh, of course. No problem. I just… thank you. This was… this was nice,”she said softly, and I let out another tear as I forced a smile.

“We’ll talk soon, yeah?” My words cracked, tears making their way into my voice.