Secrets of the Siren [Sirens and Sailors 5] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Bella Settarra Page B

what she said. Ligia, I’m particularly sorry that you heard her. Our mom is the sweetest old lady you could meet, but she’s also very silly at times. She believes everything she hears and reads because she trusts everyone too much. I don’t know if Aitan will have told you but she and our daddy split up several years ago after he cheated on her. She was real cut up over it and I think it left her a little bitter about marriage in general. You should have seen her reaction when I told her I was planning to marry Nuri. She was livid, called me all kinds of stupid!
    “I explained to her that I planned to go ahead with or without her blessing because we loved each other and that’s what we wanted. I told her we had to live our own lives, and not be afraid of the mistakes she and our daddy had made. Lord knows we can make enough mistakes of our own! Ha ha.” She chuckled. “Anyway, I reminded her of that very conversation yesterday and she got real upset. She agreed with me that it was our own choice how we led our lives and who with, and just ’cos it didn’t work for her and our daddy didn’t mean it wouldn’t work for us. I’m afraid I made momma cry, but I don’t regret it ’cos I know she made you cry too, Ligia, and I’m real sorry for that. She’s promised me she’s gonna apologise to you for what she said, and I’ve told her if she don’t do it soon she’ll have me to deal with— again!
    “I sure hope you guys can forgive her, and I’m already picking out a new outfit for your weddin’ so you better not forget to invite me.” Suzette was wagging her finger toward the camera playfully, her face in a broad smile, just like the one which was now on Aitan’s face. Ligia giggled.
    “I’m signing off now, Aitan’ll tell you how much I hate these dang things,” she continued, with a grin. “You let me know how it’s all goin’ and I wish you lots of love. Ligia, I can’t wait to welcome you to our family. We’re all a bit weird, but then you must know that as you’ve already met my little brother.” She waved to the camera as she laughed, and then the screen went blank.
    “Your sisters are so lovely!” Ligia cried happily.
    “Yeah, they must take after me.” Aitan slung his arm around her shoulder and gave her a deep kiss. Ligia felt the heat of that kiss right down to her girly parts and she flushed.
    “You wanna hear Momma grovel?” Aitan’s voice vibrated over her bottom lip as he spoke.
    She gushed again. That really wasn’t what she had in mind right now.

Chapter 7
     
    Ligia saw the fire in his eyes but somehow she knew better than to let temptation grip her right now. To his apparent surprise she sat upright. “Yeah, I think we should,” she said with a grimace. She really didn’t want to do this right now but she knew it could bring a sense of closure to the whole situation, and that would be good. After that they could relax.
    She gaped as the visual message started up. Aitan’s mother didn’t look anything like she had seen her before. Her hair was all messed up and she wore no makeup. Her eyes were puffy where she had obviously been crying. Ligia’s heart lurched at the sight of the woman who was always so immaculately turned out.
    “Aitan, Ligia, I hope you’ll open this message when you see it’s from me,” she began, her voice quiet and croaky. “I know I’ve no right to ask you for anything, but I’m asking you, no, begging you, to forgive me for what I said about Ligia.” She sniffed before recommencing. “I know I’m getting old, but that’s no excuse for ignorance, and it was very wrong of me to believe what they wrote in those papers. I should have had more faith in you, Aitan, and I would have known that you would only pick out a lovely girl to make you a good wife. Ligia, I hope you’ll forgive me for being so stupid and cruel.”
    Tears streamed down her face as she spoke and Ligia leaned forward, wishing she could reach into the computer and