“Laying it on pretty thick there, huh?” Reagan shook her head at her mother’s antics. “She’s great, honestly. Every time we get together, I see more of her.”

“I’m sure you do.” Her mom grinned.

Reagan tossed her head back with a groan. “You’re the worst. I meant seeing who she is as a person.”

“Sorry, I’ll stop.” She raised her hands. “So does that surprise you?”

“Yes and no. Getting her to talk about her feelings is tough. She can shut down if you don’t approach it in the right way. But I never imagined she’d center me as much as she has since dad died. She can brighten even my shittiest day with a touch or a word. Relationships are kinda new to her and that might cause its own set of issues. But she’s what I want.”

Her mom stared at her for a moment. “Sounds like you’ve got something good there. Something promising.”

“I think so. She’s been hurt by the people closest to her far too often in the past, and that has definitely made her hesitant to start relationships. I got a small taste of how her mother treats her, and it was awful. Her mother is awful.”

“What happened?”

Reagan gave her mom an edited version of the confrontation because no mother wanted to hear that someone had called her daughter a slut. “It all just left me a little shell-shocked. She had absolutely no regard for anyone but herself. I can’t imagine what it was like to grow up with a mother like that. And her stepfather. I’m not going to get into that, but I’ll just say he’s a dick.”

“I’d like to wring her neck if I ever see her. Both of them.” Her mom took a breath. “Unfortunately, not everyone is lucky enough to grow up in a loving household.”

“I’m aware of that. But because of them, I don’t think she knows how to express her emotions, especially any type of love. I don’t know if it’ll ever get to that point, but I’m hopeful,” Reagan whispered. “I’m trying to show her she’s safe with me. I just hope she knows that.”

“I’m sure she does, sweetheart. I can’t wait to meet her.”

“You’ll get to next week. She’ll be at the benefit, so please don’t embarrass me.”

“So, I shouldn’t sneak a naked baby picture into the ones I’ve set aside for the photo wall? Oh! Or maybe that one when you tried to climb over our fence and your shirt got caught on it? You looked so cute dangling there.”

“God, no!”

“Party pooper,” her mom replied with a sigh. “Are you sure you don’t need me to help with anything else for the benefit?”