Chapter 68 A Wise Woman Once Said
Celene’s POV
We arrived at the mall, and immediately I realized just how much I’d forgotten what normal felt like. In just a few weeks, i had forgotten the joys of going window shopping window shopping with Maria, running through the stalls, and giggling like wild beasts... imissed her so fucking much. I missed it all.
Soft music drifted through the air, mannequins posed perfectly, and the smell of perfume made my head spin.
Cole’s mother practically skipped ahead like a child at a candy store, running her hands over fabrics, picking up shoes, holding them against herself dramatically. “Oh, darling,” she said, turning to me with a grin, “you have to try these!”
I laughed nervously, adjusting the strap of my bag. “I… I think I can survive without...”
She winked. “Nonsense. This is fun! We’ll have to take our time and enjoy these... we're girls after all.”
Jeffrey and the guards stayed close behind, scanning the store casually, making sure everything was secure. Their presence made me oddly comfortable. I wasn’t alone, but it also felt… normal-ish.
We moved from boutique to boutique, and I couldn’t help but notice how alive Cole’s mother seemed. She hummed along with the music, chatted with the salespeople, tried on a ridiculous hat and posed for me, laughing like a teenager.
I smiled at her energy. “You really love this, don’t you?” I asked, trying to make light conversation.
“Love it?” she said, holding a pair of heels against her chest. “I live for it. You’ll see, Celene...there’s nothing like a bit of shopping therapy after weeks stuck inside.”
I found myself relaxing. Maybe it was the presence of someone confident, someone warm, or just the fact that I could breathe outside the walls of my worries.
As I tried on a dress she picked for me... bright, bold, nothing I would have chosen myself... I caught a glimpse of my reflection. For a moment, I almost forgot everything: school, the attacks, Cole’s overprotective intensity.
“See?” she said, hands on her hips. “You look amazing. Now, shoes! Let's go... shoes shoes shoes...”
I laughed, letting her pull me along to the next boutique, feeling oddly light-headed.
Even though Cole wasn’t here, I couldn’t help but think of him. How he’d groan if he saw me trying on a hat like hers, or how he’d probably remind me to stay cautious. A tiny smile tugged at my lips. He was never far from my thoughts, no matter the distance.
And maybe that was okay for now...for one day, I could enjoy this little escape.
As we moved from boutique to boutique in the giant mall, I found myself watching her more closely. There was a rhythm to the way she moved, a confidence in her gestures, the way she teased and laughed with the salespeople... it reminded me of my own mother.
They were not exactly the same, of course. But the mix of playfulness and quiet authority… she reminded me of that balance my mother had, the way she could make you laugh and then straighten up with just a look… it was there as I looked at Cole’s mother too.
I smiled softly at the thought. It was comforting, noticing a familiar spark in someone I had just met. Her laughter was light and effortless, but when she directed her attention somewhere, people listened without question. My mother had been like that, and seeing it in someone else felt grounding, somehow... fuck... she reminded me of too many women in my life.
"Oh Celene, look!!! You'll look lovely in this dress,” she said suddenly, snapping me out of my thoughts. I had been holding up a dress, staring at it in the mirror, lost in my own memories.
“Thank you,” I murmured, glancing at her. There was no expectation in her voice, just warmth.
She winked and picked up another item. “You know, life is easier when you pretend youve got no real problems and just enjoy the sweet little treats it offers you. A handsome, strong will, scary son, a generous wallet to spend from, new friends... it's easier when you can enjoy it and command it at the same time. You’ll see, Kitten.”
I almost scolded her for using the nickname... Cole would definitely let her have it if he heard her... and from the look sge gave me, sge knew it too. We both burst out laughing, almost like we were now accomplices of the sane crime.
As I let her lead me through to the next stall, I let the thought linger. For the first time since I’d arrived, I felt a little lighter, a little more at ease, even in the bustling mall.