Alessia never expected Jade’s first words to be this–her tears fell instantly, slipping down her cheeks before she could stop them.
She bit her lip, forcing her voice to sound as steady as possible.
“Yes, they’re very good to me. You don’t have to worry.”
She gave a wavering smile and brushed at her tears<b>, </b>but they kepting, <b>no </b>matter how hard she tried to hold them back.
“Our Lessie deserves the world.” Jade’s eyes shone with pride at Alessia’s words.
“Ms. June, you mean so much to me. I love you, truly–you know that, right?” Alessia, who rarely expressed her feelings, suddenly needed Jade to know what was in her heart.
“I do know. I’ve always known. And I love you, and I love Cole–so, so much. But I’m sorry, sweetheart. I need to go be with your Mr. Whitley now. He’s been waiting for me for two years. He’s waiting, and I have to go to him…”
“But what about Cole?” Alessia’s voice was small and trembling.
“Cole still has you.”
“It’s not the same, Aunt June.” Alessia’sposure cracked, her voice tinged with panic.
Jade didn’t have the strength to argue. She simply looked at Alessia, her gaze gentle and full of love–there was no fear of death in her eyes, only the pain of leaving her two children behind, mixed with a kind of peaceful release.
Staring at <b>Jade</b>, Alessia found herself unable to beg her to stay. Wasn’t that just another form of holding her captive?
“You’re strong, resilient. You may not say much, but you have a gentle soul. With you by Cole’s side, I can rest easy.”
Jade spoke slowly, willing herself to get the words out despite her exhaustion.
“If it weren’t for you, I’d probably have lost my way long ago.” Alessia blinked back. more tears, trying for a smile, though it was tinged with deep sorrow.
“No, you wouldn’t have.” Jade shook her head weakly. She didn’t have the strength to exin, but the certainty in her eyes said it all.
“Lessie…”
“I’m here, Alessia leaned in, listening closely.
“Call me ‘Mom Just this once<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Her tears started again, even harder to stop than before. Alessia’s <b>mouth </b>moved soundlessly for a moment before she finally found her voice.
“Mom…”
In a childhood starved of motherly and fatherly love, it was Parrish and <b>Jade </b>who had patiently taught her how to be a better person. No matter how <b>you </b>looked at it, this one word felt entirely right.
“The next time you visit us, call your Mr. Whitley ‘Dad, too. He’d love that.”
Alessia gripped her hand tightly and nodded, sniffling, her eyes and nose flushed red–a rare moment of unguarded vulnerability.
“Smile more, darling. You’re so beautiful when you do…<b>” </b>
“I will,” Alessia promised, not blinking, as if she could imprint every detail of Jade’s face in her memory.
Jade’s voice was growing weaker. She didn’t want to let go, but she knew her time was almost up.
“I’ll go get Cole.”
This time, Jade didn’t protest.
In the next room, Cole felt a jumble of emotions. He fought back tears, opening his mouth, but with so much he wanted to say, he didn’t know where to start.
He wanted to say, “I’m
sorry. I was too selfish.” Hemed to ask why Jade couldn’t hold on just a little longer for him. But in the end, all that came out was an apology. “I’m sorry…”
He sounded like a little boy who’d done something wrong, afraid Jade would me. him for keeping her here these past two years, afraid his own weakness had let her
down.
“It’s your mother who wasn’t strong enough, sweetheart,” Jade whispered, a single tear tracing her pale cheek. She raised her hand, reaching out to touch Cole’s face one more time.
She’d always been beautiful, her fair skin so pale now that her veins. beneath it.
wed clearly
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Cole <b>had </b>Inherited her beauty. Their soft, almond–shaped eyes were s
ap match–when theirshes drooped, It was <b>impossible </b><b>not </b><b>to </b>feel moved