“You can’t put the world on your shoulders.” She patted his hand. “I’m not your responsibility, though I love you for looking out for me. And I appreciate you showing me this article in case it pops up in other places. I told you to let the past go.”
He managed to smile. “I have. Honestly.”
“Has Cassandra? How is she dealing with this?” his mother asked.
“Not well. For her this was a personal attack too. Her brother knew she was planning to write a series about me. He undermined her intentionally. Not to mention, she feels guilty that the past is being dredged up again. She wants us to take a break so I can think about whether she’s worth the aggravation.” He shook his head, still unable to believe she thought so little of them, of him, that she believed he’d walk away from her so easily.
His mother’s mouth dropped open. “You aren’t seriously doing that, are you?”
“Of course not. But I do need to somehow convince her she isn’t responsible for this. That neither you nor I hold it against her.”
“You young people. You make life so difficult. Overthink everything.” His mother waved a hand through the air. “Go get your girl.”
Derek smiled. It wasn’t as simple as his mother would like to believe. On the other hand, he didn’t intend to let her break them apart over her brother’s behavior either.
* * *
Derek tried to reach Cassie, but she’d turned off her phone. He spent the day hanging with Oscar, meeting his friends for dinner because they were worried and wanted to make sure he and his mother were okay.
The next day, he showed up at the office and texted her again before diving into work. He couldn’t concentrate, not since he hadn’t heard from Cassie, but he did his best to keep busy.
But no matter what, he was definitely heading to her place after work. Her time for ignoring him was over. And he damn well didn’t need any thinking time.
By the time Becky told him he had a visitor who preferred not to give his name, Derek was grateful for the distraction. And curious.
He glanced up as the door opened, and Christopher Storms walked in. Nothing could have surprised Derek more.
He rose from his seat. He didn’t know what the other man wanted, but he knew to meet him on equal footing.
“I see from your expression you recognize me,” Christopher said.
“I lived on your property for a long time.” And he hadn’t changed much.
His hair was thinner, his face more lined, and he could now see he and Cassie shared the same coffee-brown eyes.
“True.” Christopher inclined his head. “Can we sit?”
Derek nodded and lowered himself back into his chair. The back of his neck prickled uncomfortably. “What can I do for you?” he asked stiffly.
“When was the last time you spoke to my daughter?” Christopher asked.
Derek gripped his chair arms tightly. “Why is that your business?”
“Hang on.” Christopher held up his hands in a sign of entreaty. “Believe it or not, I’m on your side.”
“Explain.”
He ran a hand over his beginning-to-bald head. “Cassie came to see her mother. She was beside herself because her brother wrote an article about you. One that went after your mother, revealing our whole sordid past.”
Derek swallowed hard. And waited.
“She also told her something Spencer revealed. That he was the one who stole the necklace I accused your mother of taking.”
Derek reared back in his seat. “Excuse me?”
“My son stole the necklace I accused your mother of taking.”
“Stealing,” Derek spat.