Once and Again - By Lauren Dane Page 0,17
it was where she finally saw him for the soulless, selfish asshole he was. “You aren’t owed respect, you earn it. Take your whore and get out. The house is in a trust. It’s not community property. She’s not selling it, even if she could. You’ll just have to send teenage Barbie here out to get a job and learn to live on your retirement. You don’t even respect yourself, why should I respect you? You crap all over your family and pretend to be moral? Get out.”
“You can’t tell me to get out.”
“As it happens, I can. You want to beat up on defenseless women, you’ve got a young one right there. You want his kids? Good luck with that. I hope you can keep him interested long enough to make it happen. You need money, ask her parents. You went to high school with them anyway. Oh, wait, that was her grandparents.”
Her mother snorted a laugh through the tears. “She’s right. You need to leave, Rodger. Don’t come in again without knocking.”
“This is my house!”
“It isn’t. You know it’s not even in your name. There’s a trust the house is held in. It’s not Mom’s. It’s not yours either. Go back to Atlanta and get your own house in order. You’re not selling this house and that’s final.”
“We’ll just see what my lawyer thinks about that.” He grabbed Barbie’s hand and stormed out. Nancy sent a dirty look over her shoulder.
“You drive him away!”
“You’re too old to have daddy issues. Hit the road, Nancy. You might miss the gravy train if you don’t rush. Though, he’s got a lot less than you calculated. You and the girlfriend. Ha.”
She put an arm around her mother and steered her into the living room.
“Sit. Let me get you some tea.”
Nancy scampered to catch up, screeching to their father to wait for her.
“I’m so embarrassed.” Her mother took the tea.
“Why? He’s the one who’s done wrong here.”
“I took a lot. Chris probably saw things he shouldn’t have. I tell myself I should forgive your dad. That if I really loved him I would. He’s the father of my children after all. I loved him a long time. Maybe I still do. What if I’m making a mistake?”
“It is entirely possible to forgive something, to truly let go and wish that person well while at the same time making sure they can never get close enough to harm you again. Forgiveness is a gift, but it doesn’t need to make you stupid. I can’t tell you how to live your life, but if a man makes you cry on a regular basis, I can’t think you’re meant to love that man anymore.”
“I don’t know that I’m strong enough for this.”
Lily took her mother’s hands. “Let me help you a little. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.”
Her mother nodded and mopped her tears up. Lily wished she believed the nod meant her mother would try harder, but feared it would only get worse.
“Fancy seeing you here.”
Nathan barely held his smile back as he sauntered into the Honey Bear where Lily sat at a booth with a camera at her right hand and coffee at her left.
She looked up, smiled thinly and her attention shifted away just as quickly.
Gave him the time to send his brother William—a baker at the Honey Bear and the man who’d texted Nathan to say he should come on by the café to say hello to an old friend—a thankful tip of the chin.
His family had his back and they all loved Lily from when they were kids, so they were thrilled to help, and he was relieved to have it.
“This seat taken?” he asked as he took it anyway. She frowned at him momentarily and looked back down at the photos. “What’s that?”
“Work.”
He grinned and sipped. “What brings you out so early on a Saturday?”
“Work.” Less nonchalant and more annoyed. This pleased him for some sick reason.
“I had a run. Thanks for asking. After this I’m heading over to Tate and Matt’s for a barbecue later today. I’ve promised to be quizmaster. Beth said she invited you.”
She sighed and looked up, tapping her pen quickly. “Don’t let me keep you.”
“I like the glasses.” Ignoring her weak attempt to shoo him away, he raised his coffee in her direction. “Sexy.”
She tried not to smile, he saw her struggle and then she lost it, shaking her head. “She did invite me. I can’t because I’m taking Chris with me