Chapter 41 Jessica
JESSICA
Three Months Later – March
The home office Carlos built for me smells like fresh paint and possibility.
I'm sitting at my beautiful reclaimed wood desk that Carlos made himself, complete with hidden compartments for cables and a built-in charging station.
Delacroix Events: Bespoke Event Planning
The logo still makes my heart skip. A simple design with elegant script, and a small decorative flourish. My fresh start.
My phone buzzes. Sharon's contact photo lights up the screen.
I answer on the second ring.
"Please tell me you're calling with a crisis." I lean back in my chair. "I need a break from choosing between ivory and cream table linens. They're the same color, Sharon. The same exact color with different names."
"No crisis. Just calling during my lunch break." Sharon's voice is crisp, professional. In the background, I can hear the familiar sounds of her office—phones ringing, keyboards clicking, the low hum of productivity. "How's the business going?"
"It's going. Slowly. I have three potential clients, nothing fancy, but it's a start."
"That's amazing, Jess. I'm so proud of you."
"Says the woman who is planning ten weddings per month, while looking after twins.” I glance at the sticky note where I've been tracking her achievements. "How do you even have time to call me?"
"I'm a machine." Sharon's laugh is tired but satisfied. "Also, Savannah's been helping. She took over some of my admin work so I can focus on the big sales."
"Savannah?" I blink. “But she’s a mom too?”
"She came back part-time. Said she missed the chaos." Papers rustle on Sharon's end.
"How are Margot and Rosalie?"
"Perfect angels." Sharon's voice softens with love despite the complaint. "But they're healthy and growing and my pack is so supportive.”
"I miss you," I say quietly.
"I miss you too. When are you coming back to visit? The twins need to meet their godmother in person."
"Once the business is more established. Maybe summer?" I glance at my calendar, already filling with potential client meetings. "I want to have a few successful events under my belt first. Build some credibility."
“We’ll be booked solid by summer." Sharon pauses. "I'm calling it now."
"Done. I have a venue meeting and I can’t be late.” Sharon's voice shifts back to business mode. "Love you. Call me later this week?"
"Love you too. And Sharon?"
"Yeah?"
"You're killing it. The job, the twins, the whole working mom thing. You're amazing."
"We're both killing it." Her voice is fierce. "Look at us. Running businesses. Living our best lives. Being magnificent chaos goblins."
The call ends, and I'm still smiling when my phone buzzes again. It’s the familiar chaos of Mom in full text-storm mode. I set down my pen and smile.
Mom: JESSICA!!!! ??????
Mom: Are you awake??? Oh wait it's afternoon there isn't it
Mom: TIME ZONES ARE SO CONFUSING
Mom: Anyway I have BIG NEWS
Me: I'm awake and it's 2 PM. What's your big news?
Mom: OK so you know how you have FOUR boyfriends???
Mom: Well if my daughter can have FOUR boyfriends then SO CAN I
Mom: Wait that came out wrong
Mom: I don't have four boyfriends
Mom: I have ONE boyfriend
Mom: But he's VERY serious if you know what I mean ??????
I laugh out loud. Through the bond, I feel Sergio's curiosity spike from downstairs.
Me: Mom.
Mom: WHAT I'm allowed to have a vida romántica!!!
Mom: That's "romantic life" in Spanish!!!
Mom: Ricardo taught me!!!
Ricardo. The man who makes my mother text in all caps and use excessive emojis. The man who's given her something I never could—permission to start over completely.
Mom: Although I might have said "vida romántica con queso" yesterday which means "romantic life with cheese"
Mom: The waiter looked very confused
Mom: But brought me extra queso anyway so WIN WIN ??????
Me: I'm happy you're happy, Mom.
She deserves romantic life with cheese, or without it, or however she wants it.
Mom: I'M SO HAPPY JESSICA
Mom: Which brings me to the big serious thing I need to ask. The house. I want you to sell it. The whole thing, furniture and all. I don't need it anymore and I'd rather have the dinero to start fresh here. That's "money" btw
Mom: I'm getting SO good at Spanish
The house. The place where I grew up. Where Mom raised me. Where I hid during my engagement to Callum. Where the flood happened and my pack showed up to fix everything without being asked.
But it's just a house. Mom's home is in Mexico now. Mine is here, with four alphas and a business plan and a future I'm building from scratch.
Me: I can sell the house for you. Handle everything. You just enjoy Mexico.
Mom: YOU'RE THE BEST DAUGHTER EVER ??????
Mom: I'll send you all the paperwork. WHEN ARE YOU VISITING???
Mom: Bring all four of your novios!!!
Mom: That's "boyfriends"!!!
Me: I'll come visit as soon as the business is up and running. Maybe late spring? Early summer?
Mom: PERFECT
Mom: Tell your four boyfriends their future suegra says hello
Mom: That's "mother-in-law"!!!
My chest tightens. Future mother-in-law. Mom's already planning for forever, just like I am.
Me: Love you too, Mom. Have fun.
Mom: BESOS!!! ??????
The texts stop, followed by approximately twelve photos of baby turtles in various poses, Mom and Ricardo looking ridiculously happy, and one extremely blurry shot that might be the inside of her purse.
I'm still smiling at the screen when footsteps sound on the stairs.
Stacey appears in the doorway, wearing pajama pants and one of Carlos's old band t-shirts. "Was that your mom? I could hear you laughing from the guest room."
"She wants me to sell the house so she can stay in Mexico with her boyfriend Ricardo."
Stacey drops into the armchair Carlos dragged up here specifically for visitors. "I love your mom."
"She's living her best life. Setting fires with Aunt Linda. Learning Spanish incorrectly. Dating a younger man."
"How much younger?"
"She's sixty-seven. He's thirty-two."
Stacey chokes on her coffee. "Your mom is dating a thirty-two-year-old?"
"And learning to surf. And witnessing baby turtle hatches."
Stacey sets down her mug and stretches, her back cracking audibly. "So I've been thinking."
"Dangerous."
"Shut up." She grins. "I've been thinking about what I'm doing. I showed up here with a suitcase and a lot of feelings and I just... never left. You guys have been amazing, don't get me wrong. But I can't live in Carlos room forever."
"Why not?"
She blinks. "What?"
"Why not?" I gesture around the office, out toward the rest of the house. "The extension is done. We have three extra bedrooms now."
“And you have fantastic ideas for the business?”
"You're serious. It’s just that there isn’t enough work for one person, let alone two,” Stacey says.
“Exactly! I need help expanding, and it’s hard work,” I say, trying to reassure her. I must admit, I love having Stacey around, she makes everything feel fun and alive.
"All four of them are okay with me living here indefinitely?"
"Carlos said, and I quote, 'Stacey's cool. She laughs at my jokes.' Sergio said you're respectful and helpful. Pedro said you've been eating better since you got here, so clearly the arrangement is working. And Nacho just shrugged and said 'whatever makes Jessica happy.'"
"Nacho's a man of few words."
"Very few words. But he means them."
I stand and cross to her, pulling her into a hug. "Stay as long as you need. Help me with the business if you want or don't. Just... be happy."
"When did you become so wise?" Stacey's voice is muffled against my shoulder.
“Running from my wedding day.”
She laughs, pulling back. "Okay. I'll stay. At least for now."
"Perfect." I grin. "Now you can come with me to visit Mom in Mexico."
"Visit your mom? In Mexico? With the thirty-two-year-old boyfriend?"
"Exactly. She's already planning to feed us tamales."
"When?"
"Late spring. Early summer. Once I have a few events under my belt and feel like I can step away for a week."
"A week in Mexico with baby turtles, and your chaotic mother?" Stacey's grin is huge. "I'm extremely in. This is the best life decision I've made in years."
Footsteps on the stairs. Through the bond, I feel Sergio's presence, followed by the others. My pack, all together, all home. They file into the office, filling the small space. Carlos looks around. "Is this about the pancake incident?"
"How?" Nacho's voice is flat.
"You distracted me with your face."
"I was just standing there."
"Exactly. Distractingly." Carlos says laughing and pointing at Sergio.
No one else thinks it’s funny. Especially not Sergio as he rolls his eyes.
I cut through the banter. "Stacey’s staying. I wanted to make sure everyone's still okay with that."
Four sets of eyes turn to Stacey, who waves awkwardly.
"You're family." Sergio's voice is matter-of-fact. "Family doesn't need permission to stay."
"Also you helped me reorganize the workshop last week." Carlos grins. "Anyone who can decipher my chaos gets permanent resident status."
"You've been taking care of yourself better." Pedro's clinical gaze sweeps over her. "Your stress levels are down. Your color is better"
Nacho just nods. "You're staying."
Stacey's laugh is watery. "You guys are the best weird pack family I've ever crashed with."
"We're probably the only pack family you've ever crashed with." Carlos points out.
"Still the best."
"Good. It's settled." I clap my hands together.
"We should celebrate." Nacho's voice rumbles behind me. "Dinner out. All of us."
"I'm in." Stacey raises her hand.
We end up at a steakhouse in the next town over, crammed around a large circular table. Carlos orders for everyone without asking, somehow getting it exactly right. The food is good, the company better, and by the time our plates are half-empty, Stacey leans over, voice low.
"You know you're glowing, right?"
"I'm not glowing. I'm eating steak,” I reply.
She squeezes my hand. "I'm really proud of you, Jess."
"I'm proud of you too."
"We're both pretty amazing when you think about it."
"We really are."
Jessica Delacroix. Event planner. Omega. Godmother. Friend. Daughter of a woman who's dating a thirty-two-year-old and learning Spanish incorrectly.
And for the first time in my entire life, I can't wait to see what happens next.