Chitthip stepped out of the door at the end of the hall. A white robe was belted around her waist. Fuzzy slippers sat perched on her feet. A knowing smile curled her mouth. "Oh, good morning, honey. You look...refreshed."
Heat flushed Roseanne's cheeks. Crap. So much for hiding. She swallowed the lump in her throat. "Um, I was just—"
Chitthip motioned toward the stairs. "Come on. Let's get some coffee before everyone wakes up. We haven't spent time together yet."
Shit. Shit. Shit. Like Roseanne wanted that.
With no other option, Roseanne followed Lisa's mother down the stairs, the whole time trying to think up a pithy excuse to get out of the morning's chitchat. Her brain was complete mush after a night of sex. For the life of her, she couldn't come up with anything clever.
She paused when she passed a mirror in the hall. Her mouth fell open at her reflection and she scrambled to fix her hair. Blonde strands stuck out all over her head. Her lips swollen from Lisa's kisses, her cheeks entirely too rosy first thing in the morning.
"Don't worry," Chitthip said without turning. "You just look like a very well-loved woman. I wonder if Lisa has any bagels in that kitchen of hers." She disappeared around the corner.
Roseanne closed her eyes. This was going from bad to worse faster than she could pray for an earthquake to hit and put her out of her misery.
Swallowing the rising bile, she eased into the kitchen. Chitthip was already making coffee.
"Look in the refrigerator for some cream cheese, would you, honey?"
Roseanne was going to kill Lisa; that's all there was to it. Biting back the curses she wanted to mutter, she made her way to the gigantic stainless steel refrigerator and fished out cream cheese. When the coffee was done, Chitthip poured two mugs, then brought them and a plate of bagels to the table.
Roseanne sank into the chair beside her. The caffeine was the only thing that settled her nerves.
"Lisa tells me you've been having some trouble with Aurora," Chitthip said, sipping her drink.
Roseanne planned to have a chat with Lisa about the things she liked to tell. She shifted in her seat. "Some. This isn't easy on her."
"No, I don't imagine it is. She was very young when you left. It was hard on both of them."
Curiosity got the best of Roseanne, and she bit her lip, wrapping her foot around the leg of the chair. "Did Aurora and I get along?"
"Oh, of course you did." Chitthip smiled. "You were very close. Aurora isn't upset with you, honey. You have to understand that. She's just afraid of going through all that again."
"I would think most kids would be thrilled to have a parent back. But she's fighting me every step of the way."
Chitthip patted her hand. "Things were very hard for her. Lisa didn't handle your leaving well."
When Roseanne's brow wrinkled, Chitthip eased back in her chair. "Lisa loved you very much, more than she probably should have. Losing you broke her. She walked around in a daze for at least two years. I don't honestly think she would have made it through without Aurora."
Roseanne's eyes slid shut. If she weren't already falling for Lisa Manoban, that one statement would have pushed her right over the edge. Her chest tightened until she was sure she wouldn't be able to breathe.
"I think Aurora's afraid of what will happen to Lisa if you decide not to stay," Chitthip said softly.
Roseanne looked down at her coffee. Wisps of steam poured off the hot liquid. "I don't know what's going to happen there. I can't make any promises either way. Lisa and I..." She lifted a shoulder and dropped it in defeat. "We haven't made any decisions. But I'll always be around for Aurora. That will never change."
