Chapter 7 I miss my mum

Chapter 7: I miss my mum

Damien stood in the hallway, leaning just out of sight, watching her.

Naomi sat by the window, her fingers curled around a mug of tea, staring at nothing.

She looked... far away.

She'd been off ever since Rachel came. Not cold, not angry-just distant.

Did Rachel say something?

He took a breath and stepped into the room, his voice light. "You've been quiet ever since Rachel's visit. Did she say something to make you second guess marrying me? Be honest-I can take it."

He grinned.

She didn't.

Not her full smile, not the one that usually knocked the breath out of his lungs. Just a small, polite curve of her lips that didn't touch her eyes.

And just like that, the grin slid off his face.

Damien crossed the room and took the seat across from her, trying to keep the tone light. "Okay... now I'm nervous. Did she come with a list of my sins? Because I only want a lawyer present if we're going full interrogation."

Still nothing.

Just Naomi, distant, sipping her tea like she hadn't heard a word.

"Naomi?"

She blinked and looked up like she'd forgotten he was even there.

Damien forced a chuckle. "If you've been hypnotized or brain-swapped, blink twice."

That got a tiny laugh-small, barely there, but enough to slow his pounding heart by half a beat.

"I'm just tired," she murmured, lowering her eyes.

He didn't believe her for a second.

Damien leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Naomi... talk to me."

She looked at him for a beat too long, like she was weighing her words. Then she smiled again-but it was that same gentle, distant smile.

His chest tightened.

He reached for her hand, lacing their fingers. "Look, if Rachel really did say something weird, just know... I'll totally sue her for emotional damages."

That earned him a real laugh. Soft, but real.

"You can't sue Rachel."

"Watch me," he said, relaxing a little. "I'll even make a scene in court. Cry, faint dramatically. I've been practicing."

Naomi shook her head, her smile fading as quickly as it had come. "She didn't say anything. Not really."

That not really clawed at him.

Then what is it?

He squeezed her hand. "Okay. Then something else is bothering you. You can talk to me, you know? About anything."

Naomi hesitated, her fingers tightening around the mug. "I miss my mum," she said finally, her voice soft.

Damien blinked. Of all the things he'd expected her to say, that wasn't it.

"I don't know why," she continued, staring at a spot on the floor. "Maybe it's because everything's been changing so fast lately. The wedding, this place... you. It's all good. It really is. But I keep thinking about her. She would've loved all of this, you know?"

Damien shifted slightly, forcing a smile. "Yeah. She probably would've."

She turned to him, wrapping her arms around herself like she was trying to hold something in. "She used to talk about owning a little house by the water, you know? With a garden, and yellow curtains in the kitchen..."

He nodded, keeping his expression neutral, but inside, his mind was spiraling. Her mother. Her mother.

Why now? Why is she thinking about her?

Naomi let out a small laugh, the kind that was more memory than humor. "She used to say she'd wear silly hats and force her grandkids to garden with her."

Damien tried to chuckle along, but it felt tight in his throat.

He let his hands rest gently on her waist. "She raised a pretty incredible daughter," he said, and kissed the side of her head.

Naomi leaned into him.

But even as he held her, Damien's heart was pounding.

Her mother was gone. Dead. The past was supposed to be buried with her. Why was Naomi thinking about her now? Why was her name coming up again?

"I was thinking," she said slowly, "maybe we could go visit her grave. It's been three years. I usually go alone, but I... I think she would've liked to meet you. Even like this."

Damien's heart thudded once, hard. "You want me to come with you?"

"If you don't mind."

He didn't answer right away. Every instinct told him to smile and nod, to say yes and hold her hand and be the perfect husband she thought he was.

But what if someone saw him there?

What if someone recognized him?

What if the past-that version of him he had buried so deeply-clawed its way back through six feet of dirt?

Damien forced a breath through his nose and nodded. "Of course. I'd be honored."

Naomi smiled, and he tried to hold onto the warmth it brought him-tried to ignore the chill crawling up the back of his neck.

They sat in silence for a while, sipping their drinks.

There was a pause before he cleared his throat and added, "Think your mum would've liked me?"

Naomi raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Like, if she were alive, would she have approved of me? Or would she have told you to get out while you still had a chance?"

Naomi's lips twitched at the corners. "I think she would've made you work for it."

"Fair enough." Damien smiled, but inside, something was nagging at him. "You know, I don't think she'd have liked me much either. I'd probably have tried to charm her with terrible jokes, and she'd have made me feel awkward."

She laughed softly, the sound easing the tension in the room. "Oh, you'd have survived. She had a soft spot for anyone who tried."

Damien felt his chest unclench just a little. "See? I'm in. I've got the soft spot covered."

Naomi's smile was more genuine now, and this time, it touched her eyes, even if just for a second.

Damien leaned back a little, watching her. "You know," he said softly, "I think I would've liked her too. Especially if she gave me a hard time. Sounds like she had good taste."

Naomi chuckled and nudged his leg with her foot. "She did. And she was big on gut feelings. She always said people show you who they are if you're paying attention."

That line landed heavier than she probably meant it to.

Damien held her gaze, his voice light. "Well, hopefully I've passed the vibe check."

Naomi reached over and squeezed his hand. "You have."

They sat like that for a moment, just holding hands, tea forgotten and silence settling gently between them.

For now, that was enough.