Rae's POV
I took a deep breath, smoothed my dress, the same one from last night-wrinkled now, but Mom wouldn't notice, and walked across the patio toward the main house.
I slipped through the back door into the kitchen. The smell hit me first-bacon frying, coffee brewing, toast popping from the toaster.
Mom was at the stove, humming softly to herself, hair pulled into a loose bun, wearing her favorite floral robe.
She looked so... Mom. Comforting. Familiar. And completely unaware that her daughter had just spent the night wrapped in the arms of the man she thought was just family.
She turned when she heard the door, and her face lit up.
"Rae! There you are!"
I forced a smile, stepping fully into the room. "Morning, Mom."
She set down the spatula and crossed to me, pulling me int
