Tracey lowered her eyes. “I gave up hope that you’d want me in your life. I’m so glad Diesel didn’t let it stay that way. I’m sorry, Mom.” Tears slipped down her cheeks again, and her mother embraced her.

“It’s okay, honey. Let’s not dwell on that. We’re together now, and that’s what matters most.”

Tracey sat back, wiping her tears. “Do the girls and Tony hate me for leaving you?”

“No, honey. But the girls were pretty mad at me for thinking tough love would do anything but chase you away. I should have known better. I was just like you at that age, which is probably why I fought so hard to try to keep you by my side. We can’t change the past, but thanks to Diesel, we’re blessed to have a chance at a future.” Her phone chimed with a text, and she pulled it out of her purse. “It’s Tony. I called him on the way here to let him know I’d be late. We don’t have to stop talking. But do you and Diesel have plans tonight? Tony’s picking up steaks to grill for dinner, and I would love to get to know Diesel better and for you to meet my—our—family.”

Just the words our family brought more tears. “We’d love that.”

“Do you need to check with Diesel?”

“No, Mom. He just wants me to be happy.” As she said it, the truth of her words hit her.

“Oh, honey.” Tears brimmed in her mother’s eyes, bringing more tears to Tracey’s. They laughed and hugged. “We’re a mess.”

“No, Mom. We were a mess. Now we’re just happy.”

Chapter Fourteen

“I WAS SO nervous, but you were right. She loves me unconditionally…”

Tracey had been gushing about her mother for the last ten minutes, jumping from one part of their conversation to another as they followed her mother to her house. Diesel was thrilled for both of them. He’d wanted to find a way to open that door so she could heal that rift since she’d first told him about it, and seeing them together was everything. Even if it dredged up a longing for his own mother. Before Tracey, he would have fought those feelings with everything he had, but now he welcomed them.

“I feel like I’ve been given a new lease on life, and that’s because of you,” she said, drawing him from his thoughts. She was beyond adorable, wearing his baseball cap and an elated smile that outshone the sun. “How can I ever thank you?”

He gave her a coy grin.