Chapter 26

“Not good, son. I’m not good.”

“Don’t say that.”

“It’s true. I haven’t been…” She paused to cough again, red specks of blood flying from her mouth to splatter across her hand. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“You should have sent for me. I would have come home. In an instant.”

Celeste shook her head. “You were where…you needed to be.”

“Mama…”

“I just…want one…one thing.”

“Name it.” He pressed his lips to her brow. It was hot to the touch, unlike her hand. “Name it. Anything.”

“Let me see you smile. Just once…”

Leo sniffed, trying to drag back the tears that were pooling from the corners of his eyes. “Mama…how can I smile at a time like this?”

“Just once.”

He leaned forward and spoke softly, wishing that he had walked into the court beaming from ear to ear. “I have smiled. Many times.”

She pulled back, looking at him with wide, if slightly cloudy, eyes. “When?”

“While I was away. I smiled every day. Because I met the person I want to marry.”