She looked up in surprise when her mother rode into view.
“I thought I’d find you here,” Dorothy said. Dismounting, she sat beside Kay. “This was always your favorite place to come when you were unhappy or troubled. Or pouting.” She smiled faintly. “Which is it today?”
“None of them. All of them.”
“Does it have anything to do with Mr. Marquet?”
Kay glanced away. There were times when her mother was far too perceptive.
“Kiya?”
“It has everything to do with him,” Kay admitted. Though it was more than just her feelings for Gideon. She missed her job, missed having her own place. She missed Wanda. Her friend must be wondering what had become of her.
Dorothy rested her forearms on her bent knees, her expression pensive. “It would be better for everyone if he left. You know that, don’t you? Vampires and werewolves are natural enemies. His being here puts an emotional strain on all of us.”
“If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here at all.”
“Be that as it may, you must know the two of you have no future together. Your path has already been decided.”
Kay crushed the petals of the dandelion, then tossed it away. “What if I don’t want to follow that path? What if I don’t want to marry Victor and live with his family? What if I want to live my own life, make my own decisions?”
“I’m afraid those choices aren’t yours.”
“Were they yours? I know you’re not happy here.” Kay took a deep breath, and then asked the question that had plagued her for years. “Why did you marry my father?”
“We never should have met. Maybe it was fate. Maybe it was just bad luck. What difference does it make now?”
“I’d like to know.”
Dorothy gazed into the distance, her expression pensive as she related the story of how she had met Russell.
Kay listened intently, her gaze never leaving her mother’s face.
Dorothy paused a moment, her thoughts obviously turned inward as she ran her thumb back and forth over her wedding ring. “It wasn’t until a few days after you were born that I found out your father was a werewolf. I’m amazed now that I didn’t realize it sooner. Maybe I didn’t want to admit it. I don’t know if he ever intended to tell me, but one night I went outside for something, I can’t remember what, and I saw him change from wolf to human. It terrified me and I ran into the house. I grabbed you and Mark, then ran into the nursery, and locked the door. My fear enraged your father. When he broke down the door, I told him I wanted a divorce, but he just laughed and told me that werewolves mated for life.
“I ran away a few times, but”—she shrugged—“he always came after us. He became even more possessive after Mark died. Then, when he found out you had inherited the wolf gene even though you were part human, I knew there was no chance he would ever let you go. And I couldn’t leave without you. You were all I had left.”
“So, you just, what? Gave up?”
“You have to understand. I didn’t know how being half werewolf would affect you. It just seemed like you’d be better off here, with those who would understand you, who would be able to help you handle the change when the time came.” She sighed again. “Once I resigned myself to staying here, it wasn’t so bad.” She took Kay’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “I had my little girl. I had a lovely home and every luxury imaginable.”
“Mom …” Kay shook her head. “I don’t know what to say, except that I don’t want to live your life. Ever.”
“I know,” Dorothy said sadly. “But I’m afraid you don’t have any other choice.”
It was near dusk when Kay returned to the house. As soon as she stepped inside the back door, she knew something was up. The house was ablaze with lights. Peeking into the dining room, she saw a number of buffet tables groaning under the weight of numerous large platters of meat and cheese, roast hens, hams and spareribs, and a variety of side dishes. A square table held bottles of wine and champagne, as well as a crystal punch bowl filled with sparkling cider for the kids. A quartet of smaller tables held an assortment of cookies, cakes, pies, muffins, and scones.
Her father met her in the hall. “There you are!” he exclaimed, his voice sharp with impatience. “Hurry and get dressed. We’re having a party.”
Kay’s heart skipped a beat. “What kind of party?” she asked, though she was certain she already knew the answer.
“We’re announcing your engagement tonight.”
“Don’t you think you might have mentioned it to me?”