Two days before Christmas

"Are you sure that you're ready for this?"

Zara gripped Roman's hand so tight. She felt like a bundle of dizzying nerves, but this had to be done. This was the last bridge to her former self that needed burning. She looked at the tiny house that used to be her home, having a vortex shift on the inside. Zara didn't have a happy memory beyond that front door. Even now she could see the lock on the refrigerator door. She could see herself crumpled in the corner of her bedroom crying. Even now she could hear fighting between her parents. "Yes," she breathed.

With one push the doorbell rung. A few minutes later a woman with salt and pepper hair peered out the window. She opened the door with a scowl on her face. The woman placed her hands on her hips, giving a harsh stare. She actually snorted as if she were looking at something repugnant.

"Zara," she said, with an abrasive tone. Mrs. Peters raked her eyes over Roman. She never did like him because he made Zara happy. She never wanted Zara happy. Mrs. Peters lived a miserable life and she wanted her daughter to be miserable too. "Ain't you married? I can't believe that you're still pining after my daughter."

She stepped back so that they could enter. But refused to leave enough space for them to fully enter the room. It was just enough for her to be able to close the door. Roman felt Zara falter as she stepped into the room. He pulled her against him, holding her up. It broke his heart for her to have to face such tough memories. But he was glad that she wanted to. He held on tight and kissed the top of her hair. "My wife is dead. I married your daughter."

"Figures," Mrs. Peters smirked.

Those words stung Roman as if she'd slapped him. But for Zara's sake, he kept cool. He had to remind himself that this woman had always been bitter, sarcastic, and hurtful. She was the same old snake only aging caused her to shed her skin. She looked nothing like Zara – thank God. He wouldn't want to see a reflection of that woman in his home every day. Roman took in a deep breath and dealt with the inflicted sting.

"Where's dad?"

"I don't know where that low-life dog is. He left me two years ago. Yeah, but you wouldn't know that you never call."

"Why should she?" Roman snapped. He wedged between Zara and her mother. He got in her mother's face and was inches from her nose. He clutched his fist to keep himself from knocking her out. "Why would anyone want to have anything to do with someone as vile and sick as you?"

Zara tugged on Roman's coat and he backed down. He eased away but still stood between them. He reached out placing a hand on Zara's shoulder. The sweet touch that gave her so much comfort while her nerves rattled beneath her skin.

"Well, if you only came here to see your dad, then you can leave."

"I'm here to see you, mother."

Mrs. Peters rolled her eyes at Zara, folding her arms across her chest. It was amazing that because of her mother's attitude it felt like time had never moved forward. The older woman stood there, face crinkled with frown lines reflecting the negativity in her soul. Even her lips seemed to have permanently turned down from frown lines. She drew in an agitated breath. "Say on then, woman."

"It's good to know that you haven't changed. That makes what I have to say easier. I have chosen to forgive you for every ill and damaging word that you spoke over my life."

"Ill and damaging – for telling you the truth, Zara? You're fat, always have been fat and you're worthless as your father. All you've ever done is cry and run." She tossed back her head and laughed. The sound came out raw and caustic. This woman's soul was acid. There was nothing redeeming about her. "You never listened to a word that I said."

"I listened to everything. That's why I was so f**** up mother!" That was the first time that Zara snapped. Her voice raised a loud octave. She took stomped towards her mother but yielded to Roman pulling her back. She leaned back against him and instead used her finger to make a point. Her arm stretched out pointing the finger directly in her mother's face. "You abused me, badgered my tiny soul. What you said left me without a shred of self-worth."

"I was trying to help your ass to be normal. Fat people get judged and don't have the same opportunities in life."

Zara heard Roman's teeth grinding. She was proud that he was remaining calm out of respect for her. She squeezed his hand to calm him.

Zara took a deep breath. "As I said, I forgive you for every ill and damaging word that you spoke over my life. I forgive you for making me feel like a piece of dog shit. I forgive you for damaging the way that I looked at life."

She locked eyes with her mother. "You are entitled to your warped opinions about 'fat' people. But I will have you to know that I am very normal. I am very successful and have not been denied any opportunities in life. My only regret is having an abusive mother that poisoned my thinking so that I couldn't love myself."

Her body began to tremble. Roman locked his arms around her and held on tight. He kissed the top of her hair, again. "Finish this, treasure. You can do it," he whispered.

"Your poisoned tongue has cost me dearly. It kept me away from the only man that I ever loved. It caused me to make decisions that could have cost my life." She pointed her finger at her mother again and yelled. The volume caused Mrs. Peters to shudder. She stepped back and glared at Zara. "Here is the truth mother. You're an unapologetic abuser. That's why you have no husband and no daughter. Here's another truth – no one is ever going to want you like that."

Zara jabbed Mrs. Peters just where her mother had hurt her the most. How many times her mother had planted that over and over in her head? No one is going to want you like that – she would say. For one shining moment Zara saw that the problem that her mother had pinned on her life, was really her mother's own problem.

"Get the hell out of my house! Get out!"

"Gladly. Mother, do not ever attempt to cross my path – ever. I will have nothing else to do with you."

"Get out!"

Zara bundled under Roman's arms and left. Mrs. Peters ranted and raved as they walked to the car, but they never looked back. Roman kissed Zara on the cheek before he pulled out of the driveway. "That was masterful. Now our marriage can truly begin."

***

New York

Zara glanced out the plane window and saw the world white again. It wasn't another blizzard but snow covered the big city like a giant blanket. It was amazing how it looked from the high altitude. Roman slept the entire flight back. She nudged him and he smiled up at her.

"Home."

"Yes, home. And I'm so glad to be here. I feel that we just hit the reset button on our lives."

"We did, treasure."

They landed and it wasn't long before his driver, Drake, arrived. He made his way out of the car, giving Zara and Roman a friendly embrace. "Good to see you back." He proceeded to put their luggage in the trunk.

"Thank you," said Roman. "Anything new that I need to know about."

"Nope, everyone is just settling down for the holidays. I'm looking forward to a few days off myself with the misses. Oh, and thanks for the Christmas gifts and bonus check."

"Always welcome," Roman said. "I need to make one stop before we go to the house." He pulled out his cell phone and sent a quick text. He hoped that Ella was in the suites. He wanted to get her situation over with and get some much-needed rest for himself and the woman that he loved. This was the last matter that needed to be dealt with before they could build the peaceful life that he so looked forward to.

Zara tilted her head, giving an odd look. She felt tired and couldn't wait to take a shower and climb in the bed. After what they'd gone through she felt that she'd sleep ten days.

"Where to?"

"Gray Enterprises."

Roman clicked a button and raised the privacy screen. His stomach churned at the thought of telling Zara that Ella was in town. She just didn't need any more drama in her life. But he needed to get this handled so that Ella would leave. He explained to Zara that he'd allowed Ella to stay at his suites and that she had something important to tell him but he didn't have a clue as to what that was. Watching her face fall ripped at his heart. He knew from her expression that she knew this must be about Calista. It was a clear sign that she couldn't take another roller coaster ride. Within 20 minutes they were at the building. Roman leaned over giving Zara a heartfelt kiss. It took a good moment before he pulled away.

"I have no idea what she wants to tell me. I only ask that you give me discretion in repeating it back to you. We have a marriage to start. If she says something that won't contribute for good in the marriage I ask that you allow me to withhold it." He squeezed her hand and looked deep into her eyes begging. "Can you trust me with that?"

After what they'd gone through together their entire lives, but especially within the last 24 hours, how could she not? Zara nodded and saw relief flood Roman's face.

"Would you like to come up and meet Ella?"

"No. I don't want her to feel that she has to hold back anything because I'm there. Tell her that I'm glad that she had a safe trip."

He smiled and gave Zara a quick kiss on the lips and exited the car. The ride up the elevator to the corporate suites was nerve-racking. Why now, Ella? The fact that she didn't give him a clue was under his skin like an annoying splinter. The ding of the elevator made his stomach drop. Within a few feet to the left of the elevator, he was at her suite.

He knocked on the door and a few seconds later she opened it looking quite well. Whitewashed jeans and burgundy sweater adorned her body. Ella was a beautiful woman that looked very much like Calista. His heart dropped for a second thinking about the woman that he'd lost. Ella must have felt his despair because she reached out and hugged him, jarring him from his state of mind.

"It's so good to see you, Roman."

"Hi, Ella."

"Thanks for these beautiful accommodations," she said, trailing her perfume scent across the room. She walked over to the bar. "Would you like a drink? Vera told me that you recently married, congratulations. I hoped that you had brought her too."

"Yes, pour me a scotch," Roman said. I think I'm going to need it. He felt slightly light-headed processing everything that was going on with an almost exact duplicate of his deceased wife standing in front of him. He hadn't seen her family since the funeral. Not because they were at odds against each other. They just drifted apart as each had to find their own path to healing from the sudden loss. He chucked his coat on the nearest chair and sat down.

"My wife is in the car. She told me to tell you that she is glad that you had a safe trip but wanted to give us privacy to deal with the matter at hand."

"Aw, I can see that she is a very thoughtful woman. I'm happy that you have a new start, Roman."

"Thank you." He swirled the scotch in his hand, causing the cubes of ice to clink together. The nervous energy in the room made him want to explode. He sat quietly hoping that Ella would spill whatever she had to say. He glanced her direction; giving a shrug of his shoulders hoping that she'd get the hint.

"Oh," she said, taking a seat across from him. "I guess that I should start since she's waiting. Wow, I don't know where to start because what I'm about to share was as much of a shock to me as it will be to you."

Ella stunned Roman. He sat with his mouth gaped open bracing himself for something that he knew was about to plunge him off a deep cliff. "Give me a moment. I'm going to send Zara home, this might take a while."

"Beautiful name."

"Thank you," he said while texting a message. He got up and went to the window, running his hands through his hair. He was twenty stories up and could see the limo billowing puffs from the exhaust pipes spiraled in the air as the limo drove off. He pressed his hands to the window ledge and eased himself upon it. The cool glass sent a shiver down his spine.

For the last time in his weary mind, he tried to come up with a reason that he'd been summoned and failed. He looked at Ella's face and the surreal feeling with overwhelming. It was like the beautiful look that Calista had on her face the last morning that he saw her alive. Ella had traveled from California to New York; this was going to be earth-shattering. He just knew it. Roman couldn't take it anymore. "Why am I here, Ella?"