Homeplace by JoAnn Ross

Author:JoAnn Ross [Ross, Joann]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Washington (State), Women Lawyers, Contemporary, Legal, Fiction, Romance, Single Fathers, Sheriffs, General, Love Stories
ISBN: 9780671027063
Google: mLpMNtgQSGYC
Amazon: 1416521607
Publisher: Gallery Books
Published: 1999-02-28T16:00:00+00:00

By the following morning, Raine felt horrendously guilty for her uncharacteristic outburst. The fact that she’d believed most of what she’d said was no excuse for having lashed out and hurt Lilith. Especially since the behavior that had caused so much pain was in the past.

Lilith opened her bedroom door at Raine’s first knock. Her quick response, and the shadows beneath her eyes revealed that Raine hadn’t been the only one who’d found sleep difficult after their argument.

Not that the fatigue diminished her beauty. Actually, Raine considered, it made her mother appear even more delicate, like spun glass. She’d obviously gotten Lilith out of bed, yet somehow her mother had avoided the crease marks that usually marred Raine’s cheeks upon awakening, and every silver hair was in place. She was wearing a blue silk nightgown and matching robe that matched her eyes and made Raine, in her dancing-sheep pajamas, feel like a street urchin.

A long-ago memory flooded back. That of a little girl, no more than seven years old, sneaking into her mother’s lingerie drawers, drawn by the brightly hued silk and satin and lace confections. Raine had loved the colors that reminded her of the shimmer of rainbows, loved the slick, but oh, so soft feel of them against her fingertips and cheeks as she’d lifted them to her face, breathing in the exotic scent of Shalimar that she’d always identified with her mother.

One time, when she sensed Lilith was about ready to take her daughters back to Coldwater Cove again, Raine had stolen a scarlet, lace-trimmed slip from the drawer and hidden it away in her suitcase. For months, as she’d lain alone in her bed in the room she shared with her sister at their grandmother’s house, she slept with that silk slip, feeling as if in some way, she was sleeping with her mother.

“Would you like to come in?” Lilith asked.

“No. I haven’t checked in with my office yet.” Raine felt a distant pain and realized that she was digging her fingernails into her palms. “I just wanted to apologize for what I said last night.”

“Oh, that’s not necessary.” Lilith gracefully waved the words of contrition away.

“Yes, it is.” Raine took a deep breath that was meant to calm. It didn’t. “You were right, Lilith. No matter how I feel about certain past aspects of our relationship, you’re still my mother. I had no right to speak so disrespectfully to you.”

“Well.” Lilith was silent for a moment, seeming to take that in as she studied her elder daughter’s grimly set face. “Thank you, darling. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.”

They stood there, a few inches apart on opposite sides of the door jamb. There was an aura of expectancy in the air, as if both knew that such a circumstance demanded a hug, but each was unable to make the first move. Then Lilith lifted a hand to brush some tousled hair off Raine’s face.

“As it happens, I promised your grandmother I’d take Shawna shopping for a graduation dress this morning.

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