The Broken Vows: Zane and Celeste’s Story (The Windsors)

I smile nervously as Grandma Anne’s housekeeper leads me into her kitchen. If anyone were to see her right now, with a frilly white apron tied around her and a baking tray with fresh cookies in front of her, they’d think she’s an innocent little grandma.

“Celeste,” she says. “Thank you for dropping by.” She gestures at the breakfast bar in the kitchen, and I sit down, not quite sure what I’m doing here. She called me this morning and told me to drop by after work, but I had no idea what I’d be walking in on. I hadn’t expected this.

“I called you over to give you something,” she says, gesturing toward a jewelry box with the logo of a famous jeweler on it — Laurier. It isn’t a brand that’s accessible to most people, and even the Windsors only use them for heirloom pieces. “Each of my granddaughters-in-law receives one of these, and one day, if you have a daughter or daughter-in-law of your own, you’ll pass it on. Open it.”

My hands tremble as I carefully unlock the box, revealing a stunning diamond and ruby choker. My first instinct is to snap the box closed and push it back toward her, but I resist, knowing she wouldn’t allow it, so I just stare at the jewelry that’ll never be mine. Zane wouldn’t want me to wear this. I have no doubt he’d want to give this to the woman he’ll eventually take as his wife once he can legally end things between us. Just like the rose garden, this isn’t meant for me. “It’s beautiful,” I murmur, my heart aching.

I can just imagine the pride on Zane’s face when he sees it on a woman he loves, one that doesn’t make him look as conflicted as I do. When Zane looks into my eyes, there’s always a hint of dismay, like he hates that he has any feelings for me at all. There’s too much baggage, too much pain.

“This is for you, too,” she says as she hands me a box of her freshly made cookies. I stare at it in surprise, countless memories replaying through my mind. I don’t like cookies, but I grew to like these purely because they meant so much to Sierra. I pull the box to my chest and hold on to it tightly, remorse washing over me. More than anything, I wish we were still friends, and I hadn’t lost her too.

“You don’t see it,” Grandma Anne says, “but Zane is much happier now than he has been in years. That’s all his siblings want for him, you know? They just want him to be happy. If you can make that happen, they’ll forgive you for anything.”

I look at her, unsure whether I should believe her. Even if it’s true, I remember how happy Zane and I used to be, and we’re far from it now. I don’t think we can ever regain that kind of happiness, not with everything that’s standing in the way. I’ll never forgive him for what he’s done, and he won’t ever forgive me for the way I retaliated either.

“One more thing,” Grandma Anne says as she takes off her apron, revealing her black pantsuit. “No more missing family dinner. I’ve made more exceptions for you than you could possibly realize, but I won’t make any more. You’ll be there every week from now on.”

I part my lips to object, but she throws me a look that tells me it’ll be futile. Ever since the first family dinner I attended, I’ve avoided her house entirely, unwilling to hurt anyone more than I already have.

Grandma Anne glances at her watch and steps back, not even giving me a chance to make my case as she leads me out of the house. “I’ll see you on Sunday,” she says as her driver pulls up in front of us.

I nod and watch her drive away, my mood somber as I walk to my own car. My gaze keeps dropping to the box of cookies, and I end up placing them in my passenger seat, guilt eating at me as I get behind the wheel.

Before I even realize what I’m doing, I’m driving up the windy road that leads to Sierra’s house, my heart pounding wildly. I park in front of her door and just stare at the box for a few minutes, undecided. When we were younger, I’d once promised her I’d give her the first box of cookies I ever received from Grandma Anne, but it seems silly to be here now. She likely wouldn’t even take them, purely because I’ve touched the box.

I get out of the car with the cookies in hand, my nerves sky-high as I walk up to her porch. I stare at her red front door, unsure what to do, only to take the coward’s way out. I bend down and place the cookies right in front of her door before stepping back, my heart heavy.

I draw a shaky breath and turn around, only for the door to open before I’ve taken three steps. I glance back and find Sierra standing in her doorway, a long, silk black robe wrapped around her. Her gaze moves from me to the box of cookies, and she sighs as she crosses her arms.

“What is this?”

I turn to face her, unease running down my spine. “Your grandmother just gave me a box of freshly baked cookies,” I say carefully. “I haven’t touched them. They should still be warm.” She raises a brow, and I bite down on my lip, but that doesn’t stifle the words I tried to swallow down. “You once told me I could have your cookies right until I started receiving my own, and at that point, you’d start fighting me for them. You might not remember it, but I do. We were in Zane’s kitchen, and I’d felt so alone in that moment because we weren’t getting anywhere with either of our grandparents, but there you were, taking away my discouragement with a sweet smile.” The words tumble out in a way that betrays my nerves. I take a steadying breath and look up at her earnestly. “I’m here to tell you that you won’t ever have to fight me for them. For the next two and a half years, I’ll give you all of them.”

Sierra bends down to pick up the box, her gaze conflicted. “Two and a half years,” she repeats.

I tense and nod at her. “Don’t worry,” I murmur. “I won’t intrude in your life any longer than necessary. I’ll just… I’ll drop these off for you like I did today. You won’t even have to see me.”

“You’ll leave Zane when the contractual term is up?”

I hesitate, and then I nod.

“So you’ll abandon all of us again, like you did back then?”

I take a hesitant step forward and shake my head. “No,” I tell her. “Zane… he wants a clean break once our time is up. He doesn’t… he doesn’t want me as his wife, Sierra, and with everything that’s standing between us, I’m not sure it could work even if he did. I’m not abandoning anyone. I’m just setting him free.”

It hurts to say it, but it hurts even more to know it’s true.