40. Second Chances

{Uriel}

Uriel escorted Naya's mother around the Naim estate in a daze. Earlier, he had foolishly introduced himself as Naya's boyfriend and then offered to give Nadine a tour until Naya and Zayn returned from the antique shop.

Although Nadine was pleasant company, Uriel was already panicking about Naya's return. Should he lift the spell or find a way to fade into the background once he reunited Nadine with her daughter?

"It's kind of strange that she didn't tell you I was flying in for a visit," Nadine said as they strolled through Zayn's botanical grounds.

Uriel chewed the inside of his cheek in mounting anger at Naya until he realized that it was his own fault that she couldn't carry out a normal conversation with him. He could blame Zayn for not telling him about Nadine, but he suspected his benefactor intended for him to feel the consequences of his actions.

Uriel changed the subject. "Tell me more about yourself. I've met Naya's father, but I don't know that much about you."

Nadine's dark brown eyes went large. "You met Xavier? I bet that didn't go well."

Shaking his head and chuckling a bit, he said, "No. No it did not."

Nadine sighed. "That man . . . you know, he was so caught off guard when I brought him the divorce papers. He claimed that I wanted to make a fool out of him. Out of spite he did everything he could to sever my parental rights to my baby. Naomi was only eight then. It was the worst custody battle you could imagine. Xavier shamelessly abused his position as a mega church minister and pulled all the strings he could. He shut me out of Naomi's life completely."

Uriel touched her arm. "I'm sorry."

"Thank you." Nadine shrugged her shawl snug around her form. "It's in the past now. My baby's grown and I'm here for her."

". . . I should have been there for her too," Uriel whispered, aware that Nadine had no idea what he was referring to. He let the spell that repelled Naya dissolve.

"I want to tell her I'm sorry."

Uriel felt as two hands cradled his jaw and tilted his head up. The metal in Nadine's rings was cool against his skin. She looked into his eyes. "Then don't hesitate to tell her. Be there for her. Because you never know if a time will come when you physically can't. And trust me, it's not something you'll be able to live with."

Uriel blinked hard. He wanted to look away out of guilt, but he couldn't. Finally, he gave a rigid nod.

Nadine let her hands fall and winked at him. "But Mama comes first."

***

For the rest of the tour, Nadine told stories of Naya's childhood. Everything from the moments Nadine spent teaching her how to play guitar and driving her to the music festivals that always wandered through Nashville. She told him of Naya's dream to be a country music star and how she memorized each and every one of Carrie Underwood's songs.

Nadine's face fell when Uriel revealed that Naya had gone without playing for several years. He made sure to add that she had recently started to play again.

Nadine sighed in understanding. "That happens to us artists sometimes. After the divorce was finalized and I couldn't see Naya, I spiraled into depression. I couldn't paint. Couldn't sculpt. I couldn't even continue with my homemade jewelry business to make ends meet. I tried to leave the country, hoping that traveling the world would spark some inspiration. It helped, but I was never the same."

Sensing that the conversation was headed into dark territory again, Uriel said, "I'd love to see some of your art someday."

For a moment, Nadine glowed. "Would you?"

"I would." He meant it.

They were standing before the golden elephant fountain in the courtyard, admiring how the sunlight fractured against the metal when three individuals stepped out onto the plaza.

"Mom?"

Their heads turned to see Naya, Zayn, and Sinbad. Naya was already running towards them at full speed with a monkey dangling from the crook of her elbow.

+++

{Naya}

I couldn't believe it.

It was my mom. My mom was standing next to Uri in a coral dyed shawl, black leggings and about a dozen turquoise and metallic trinkets adorning her frame.

She was everything that I remembered.

She was nothing that I had expected.

She was all that I had hoped for.

She was someone from a dream.

She was me in thirty years.

"Oh baby, baby. Stop the crying. Ma's here now."

I couldn't stop. I missed her too much. Everything else had faded to the fringes of my senses. I didn't care that Uri and the others were there, and I didn't bother to introduce Mom to them. Either way, I think Zayn had corralled the others out of the courtyard so I could speak privately with her.

By the time I got my bearings, there were two bistro chairs set up for us and servers were arriving with trays of ornate appetizers and mimosas. Ritsu was the only one who stayed. I tolerated him sitting on my lap. I did eventually want the others to meet my mom, but that could wait.

I was bursting to tell her about how I stood up to the reverend. Although Uri had helped me get through it, I hesitated to include him in the victory. Mom didn't miss a beat and said, "I think you should give the boy another chance. I like him."

I tried to explain. "He doesn't want another chance. In fact, he wants me to hate him."

Mom took a sip of her third mimosa. "You sure about that?"

I sighed. Of course I'm sure.

But then I began to question what Uri had been doing with my mom in the first place. As I remembered seeing them together, I also recalled those sensations of shame or guilt had not been present, not even while I was right next to him hugging my mom.

"Hey, Mom?"

"Hm?"

I stood up. "Come on. I want you to meet someone."

I led her inside the estate and to Zayn's study. The magus was at his desk, looking over some files. He snatched off his reading glasses and stood up a little too fast when we arrived.

"Zayn, I would like you to meet my mom, Nadine."

Zayn eagerly joined us, wearing a nervous smile and stumbling over his feet. When he reached for my mom's hand, I couldn't tell whether he intended to shake or kiss it. It ended up being a strange combination of both. Regardless, Mom seemed delighted.

I left her in his care so he could show her to the guest rooms. Ritsu rode on my shoulder on our way to Uri's bedroom. This time the monkey didn't try to stop me. Although I was glad for the silence, it didn't help improve my anxiety. By the time I reached the doors to Uri's chambers, I was sure I could hear my own heart thumping against my chest.

Ritsu looped his long tail around my shoulder in what I assumed was a gesture of comfort. I inhaled deeply and pushed in one of the doors.

Uri stood in the center of the room with his back facing me, hands in his pockets, and his head bowed.

I took advantage of the spell's absence, speaking as quickly as I could.

"I know you messed up and accidentally led that collector to us. But that doesn't give you permission to treat me the way you did." I closed most of the distance between us. Ritsu leaped down from my shoulder and waited near the door.

Uri hadn't spoken yet.

"Uriel?"

Is this another trick? Have I been talking to a mannikin this whole time?

Uri turned around. I took a step back.

Heat blasted through me when he wrapped an arm around my neck, the other around my waist, and crushed me against him.

My inner fire morphed into lava, forming waves under the surface of my skin.

"Naomi, I love you. That's why I cast the spell. Because I love you."

Both of our fires fought to break free. They wanted to touch and reinforce our bond.

I held onto Uri as tightly as I could. Had I let go, my fire would escape. Had I tried to speak, it would have burned my mouth like last time.

So I held fast and hoped Uri would be able to somehow read my mind.

Because I needed him to know how much I loved him too.