provide you with the kind of life I could.”
I’d believed my father because he wasn’t lying. Not about the tape. The tape existed.
“Is it true?” I ask. “Did you have his scholarship yanked?”
He wags his finger at me. “He deserved worse. Don’t feel sorry for him!”
“Did you send the money?”
“What money?” he repeats.
“The blackmail money. Did you send it?”
“Of course,” he snarls. “I won’t chance that filth leaking out to the press.”
And there it is. He didn’t do it to protect me. He did it to protect himself, his reputation, his name.
I don’t really care why he did it. What I do care about is all the pieces that don’t add up. If Sterling’s plan was to take the money why did he join the military? He didn’t give the money to Francie. She’d made that clear.
“He didn’t have any other options. So if he dies out there, his blood is on your hands.”
“And the money?”
“What about it?” he snaps.
“It’s spent, deposited…?”
He hesitates before finally saying, “No.”
Why would Sterling Ford ruin his life with my father’s uncashed check in his pocket?
“It was a game, Adair,” he tells me. “A broken boy played a game with your heart, and when a bigger player came to the board, he attacked. He sent me that tape for one reason.”
I’m tired of half answers and insinuation. “What was that?”
His eyes flicker over me before skittering to the wall again. “So, that I’d never be able to look at you the same way.”
A piece of me I didn’t know could be broken shatters. I don’t know if he’s right about Sterling. Maybe I’m a fool, and I never really knew him. Maybe there’s some day I will understand. But regardless of whether he’s right about why he did it or I’m right that he didn’t do it, I’m still responsible like Francie said. I stood back and watched while he was stripped of his pride. That’s why he didn’t track me down or say goodbye. I didn’t deserve it. Not then. Not now. I never will. “Then, I guess he’s not going to come back.”
The front door opens, and I stand, ready to run to Felix.
“Finally,” my father says. “I need a drink.”
“When don’t you?”
“The moral highroad doesn’t suit a sinner. You’re not a martyr. You’re just a stupid girl who’s read too many books to have any common sense. You want to keep your baby?” he asks. “And give her what? You don’t own the clothes on your back. You can’t feed her. You only have one way to protect her. Me. This family. You can’t do this on your own.”
“Keep the baby?” A shrill voice repeats.
I look up in time to see a vase of flowers slip from Ginny’s fingers followed by the sound of breaking glass. Malcolm glares beside her. Felix bustles past with a bottle of bourbon, looking determined to stay out of the matter.
“What are you talking about?” Malcolm demands.
“We don’t need to discuss this right now,” I say.
But my father is already talking. “Your sister has had a change of heart. It seems she’s chosen the bastard over her family name.”
“Noooo,” Ginny moans.
“We have a contract.” Malcolm storms into the room, heading straight for the baby like he’s going to tear her out of my arms. I recoil, clutching Ellie to my chest. “We’ve seen to everything. The paperwork is drawn up. The name change is ready to be filed. Ginny just finished the nursery plans. She’s been dreaming about this for weeks!”
But I’m not looking at him. I’m looking at his wife. Ginny hasn’t moved an inch, but all the blood has washed from her face. She takes one wobbly step but can’t seem to go any farther.
“I wish I could give you what you need, but you have to understand, she’s my baby.”
“That I paid for,” Malcolm grumbles.
“She’s not something you can buy and sell.” I hold her closer, wondering how they can’t see this.
“And yet you had no problem taking my money and running out of the country to have a child out of wedlock,” my father piles on.
I look to Felix. He stands in the corner, watching all of us, and I wish he would step in and calm everyone down. He’s the one who can handle my father and soothe Ginny and distract Malcolm. Why isn’t he? Help! I send the S.O.S. silently, but instead of answering he turns away. Why would he do that now when I need him the most.
Malcolm and Daddy