But then she met Harry.
It was at Xavier University that their paths had crossed. He was an ambitious investment broker with a quick wit and a dazzling smile. He didn’t quite take her breath away, but he was solid, and he grounded her. They married in secret at the justice of the peace barely a month later, much to the dismay of her grandmother, who had begged her to finish school first. And if she had to marry, she should have a proper Latin wedding, not some rushed courthouse affair. Still, herabuelitacame around. Eventually, she grew to love Harry and began to see that he was good for her granddaughter.
Bianca had loved him. A part of her still did. If Harry showed up on her doorstep tomorrow and asked for a second chance, she’d say yes without blinking. She had held on to hope for so long that one day he’d forgive her—that they’d rebuild their family.
The news that he had a girlfriend totally blindsided her. But hearing that he planned to propose? That had shattered her.
Chapter Four
Remi
Remi wheeled the pewter-colored SUV through downtown San Francisco, past the skyscrapers and through the busy traffic and neighborhoods of hotels and happy-hour hot spots. She made her way to the Bay, with its turquoise waters and to the entrance of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was this picturesque route across the Pacific Ocean that she loved so much; reveled in it. She usually took pictures when she’d driven across it with Gerard. She glanced over at Bianca, who sat straight up in the passenger’s seat, her eyes bulged with amazement, her smartphone in video mode. She was grateful that her friend was able to join her on this trip.
“This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” Bianca looked over at Remi.
“I was floored the first time Gerard and I drove this route.” Remi bit her bottom lip, her thoughts a chaotic jumble of emotions. She gazed out the window to rid her mind of it; a pair of Ray-Bans on her face, she fought back tears as she breathed in deeply and then exhaled.
“You okay?”
“Fine.” Remi gave her friend a light smile. “Nostalgia.”
Bianca grabbed Remi’s hand and squeezed it. “I know.”
The two of them had been close for as far back as Remi could remember—best friends, but more like sisters. Though Remi had a sister, Sophia, and they were as close as any two sisters could be, she was much closer to Bianca. The pair grew up in the same diverse Louisiana community, with a rich history, in a neighborhood that blended many ethnicities. Remi and her sister were from a stable, two-parent family of African Creole descent, while Bianca was raised by her Cuban grandmother. They were as different as night and day: Remi, the more levelheaded one who’d chosen a journalistic path in college, while Bianca changed majors as often as she swapped out boyfriends, at least until she’d found Harry. Harry brought stability to her life.
Bianca had always been her protector. From the time they were children, she’d stood between Remi and whatever tried to hurt her—words, fists, heartbreak. If anyone so much as looked at Remi the wrong way, Bianca was there, fists clenched and ready for a fight. And she wasn’t just her human shield; she was her biggest cheerleader. The loudest voice in the room when Remi doubted herself. The first to celebrate her wins and the last to let her wallow in loss. Bianca believed in her even when Remi didn’t believe in herself. It had always been that way between them.
Even now, as Remi looked at her, eyes weary from a night of too little sleep; Remi had kept her up most of the night, venting and reminiscing about Gerard. She couldn’t sleep, and so Bianca hadn’t either. Her head bounced against the back of the passenger seat, as she stopped the video recording and called Mila.
“Still not answering,” she said.
“Maybe she’s charging it,” Remi reasoned.
“Yeah maybe.” Bianca sighed. “Do you know Harry’s taking her to Maine?”
Remi frowned. “What’s in Maine?”
“He wants her to meet that woman’s family.”
“The girlfriend?”
“The girlfriend who he intends to propose marriage to this weekend.”
“Nooo.” Remi glanced over at Bianca; shock rushed through her. Her heart ached for her friend, who was noticeably bothered. She knew Bianca better than anyone did. She loved Harry. And though she would never admit it or say it aloud, Remi knew Bianca always had hopes of reconciling with him. “You know she could never take your place, right? You’ll always be Mila’s mom.”
“I just feel like we’re always at odds with each other, Mila and me. She still blames me for the divorce, you know.” Bianca sighed. “Harry divorced me. Not the other way around.”
“She’ll get past it. Just wait until she goes through her own shit—a breakup, a divorce, real life, grown-up stuff. She doesn’t understand it now, but she will one day.”
“I’m going to try my best to connect with her when she gets here. I’ll try to bond; rebuild our mother-daughter relationship. We were becoming closer before the divorce.”
“You are a great mother, B. Never doubt that. I saw the sacrifices that you made for her.”
“I was so busy building my business. She spent more time with Harry. I feel like I missed those formative years with her, you know?” Bianca was on the verge of tears but fought them. Remi knew she’d never allow herself to feel, to be vulnerable. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen Bianca cry—always determined to show strength. “We aren’t like you and Zoe. You two are the perfect mother-daughter duo.”
“We’re far from perfect.” Remi laughed, thinking of some of the challenges they’d faced.
Zoe had her moments, for sure. There were times when she defied Remi, especially after she turned sixteen and—asRemi’s mother used to say, started “smelling herself,” that old phrase meaning she was getting a little too full of herself. Those were trying times, and Remi was grateful they had moved past that phase. Things were easier now between them.