Page 82 of Unleashed

She’s real fucking skittish when it comes to letting people help her or relying on anyone else in any way. The woman is as independent as it gets. Hell, she was pissed when I hauled her ass out of a burning room, because she ‘would have figured something out’.

And that’s not really going to mesh well with my mother’s brand of affection. Which is likely why she’s focusing all of it on Zara.

Giving people who need her love the space to adjust isn’t easy for my mother. Waiting for Ruth to be ready to accept all she wanted to give her nearly drove my mom out of her mind. So it doesn’t surprise me she’s found a loophole in the system this time.

And Zara is one hell of a willing loophole.

I keep my steps slow as we make our way out of my room and down the hall. “What did Nana DeeDee bring you to eat?”

“She brought eggs with cheese, and bacon, and a hash brown.” Zara’s dark eyes slide my way as she pauses. “And maybe a cinnamon roll.”

I’m laughing again as we reach her room. “Sounds like she hooked you up with a pretty good breakfast.”

“It was yummy.” She grips the edge of the bed she slept in last night, using it for balance as she brings her eyes to mine. “Does she make you breakfast in the mornings?”

“No.” I use the remote switch on the television. “But she probably would if I asked her to.”

Zara squirms her way up onto the mattress. “She would?”

I can only imagine what my mother would bring if I told her I’d really love to have a good breakfast in the mornings before work. Possibly an entire buffet.

Honestly, I think she struggled a little when we all moved out. Even though we’re all still living on the same property, it’s not the same. Her entire life—both personal and professional—centered around her family. How she took care of us. The home she provided. The meals she made. Looking back, it probably felt like she lost her whole identity in the blink of an eye.

And that could explain why she’s taken to being a grandmother like a fish to water, soaking up any kids who accidentally end up in her pond.

“Why would she do that?” Zara’s little brow furrows as she looks me up and down. “You’re grown up.”

I’m so distracted by trying to find the cartoons Zara is partial to, that I don’t think before I speak. “Because that’s what moms do. They like to take care of their kids, even when they’re grown-ups.”

I’m facing away from Zara so the first clue I get that I’ve said something wrong is her sad little voice when she says, “Not my mom.”

Fuck me.

I spin away from the television, abandoning that task in favor of one that’s much more important.

Zara’s expression is downcast as I lower to sit on the foot of her bed. She gives me a little shrug. “My mom didn’t really want to take care of her kids like Nana DeeDee takes care of you.”

I’m in over my head on this, so all I can do is nod, hoping I find the right words. “I know. Your sister told me.”

“It makes me sad.” Zara fiddles with the blankets, the pink sparkles on her fingernails catching in the overhead light.

“I can imagine. I would feel pretty sad about not knowing my mom too.”

Zara’s brows pinch together. “I’m not sad for me. I’m sad for Maren.” Her little mouth presses into a flat line. “Maren takes good care of me, but nobody ever took care of her.”

“I know about that too.” And I fucking hate it. I fucking hate knowing that the person who should have protected her and loved her and kept her safe failed her on such an epic level.

Zara’s wide eyes hold mine, her expression guileless as she asks, “Are you going to take care of her?”

“Yes.” I don’t hesitate. I don’t have to. It’s the easiest answer I’ve ever given. I’ve taken care of Maren—whether she liked it or not—from the second she walked into McKinley Security Systems. First, it was simply because she was an employee, but that quickly shifted, and so did my motivations. I started taking care of Maren because I wanted to. Because it seemed like she needed it.

Because I know even the most competent people sometimes need a little support.

Zara’s cute little face splits in a wide smile. “Good. Because I won’t be big enough to take care of her for a while.”

“Why are you two awake?”

Zara and I both turn to find Maren standing in the doorway.