Chasing Charli - Kat Mizera Page 0,67

to say to your daughter,” Denita said after a moment. “She’s leaving today.”

“You’re leaving?” Norman asked, his gaze shifting back to Charli.

“We haven’t spoken to each other in years,” she said slowly. “I came because I wanted to see you, in case you or Mom needed anything, but you’re going to be fine and I know I’m not welcome in your life.”

His eyes swung to Denita. “What did you say to her?” he asked.

Denita pursed her lips. “Nothing has changed, Norm. She’s still the same, living in sin with a man, not following the teachings of the scripture.”

Norman and Charli sighed almost at the same time. “She’s our daughter, Den.”

“She left us a long time ago!” Denita whispered, her eyes filling with tears.

“You sent me away,” Charli interjected quietly. “I needed you and you kicked me out of the house, so don’t put this on me.”

Mother and daughter glared at each other but Charli backed down first because she didn’t want to upset her father. “I’m sorry, Dad. I don’t want to upset you.”

“I’m not upset,” he said, reaching for her hand again. “I’m just…sorry. We didn’t handle your situation well, and to be honest, when I was having the heart attack and I was lying there on the floor, I realized I didn’t want to leave this life without seeing my daughter again. Seeing if I could make things right.”

“You hurt me,” Charli said quietly, looking away, though she didn’t release his hand. “I was so scared and you tossed me out like…trash.”

“If I have any regrets in this life, it’s that,” he said. “We were hurt and embarrassed, but putting you out wasn’t the right thing to do. I’d like very much to see if we can fix what we broke.”

“Norman—” Denita began.

“Denita.” He looked at her. “Don’t you see? This is God’s way of telling us we made a mistake.”

Denita sighed, dropping her head. She didn’t respond and Charli nearly held her breath as she waited. For what, she wasn’t sure. Some sort of acceptance of responsibility for her mother’s part in what had happened?

When it didn’t come, Charli got up. “I’m going for a walk and I’ll be back in a little while.”

“You’re coming back?” her father asked, his eyes meeting hers.

“I won’t leave without saying goodbye.” She leaned over and kissed his forehead and then walked out of the room.

“Hey, Charli.”

The voice was eerily familiar.

She slowly turned around and froze.

27

Roy?

Her heart was beating so hard it was almost painful. He was older and harder looking, but it was still Roy. Still the devilishly handsome boy who’d stolen her heart and then stomped it into a million pieces. He was different now, though. There was an underlying roughness she’d never noticed as a teenager. Maybe it was because they were both older, or maybe it was because she was now used to the consistent light and sweetness she always saw in Miikka, but grown-up Roy was a harsh, miserable reminder of a time she wanted to forget.

When she didn’t respond, he gave her an obvious once-over as he approached her. “Looking good, Charles.” The old nickname somehow wasn’t cute anymore and she scowled at him.

“What are you doing here?”

“I live here. More than I can say for you.”

She frowned. “What does that mean?”

“You took my kid and ran.”

“I…” Her mouth fell open. “What are you talking about? I got kicked out of the house and sent away. And if you were so worried about your kid, where the hell were you?” Nearly eight years of pent-up frustration came out, and she was mortified when tears sprang to her eyes, but she lifted her chin, meeting his gaze defiantly.

“I ran into a little trouble.” He shrugged. “But you were supposed to love me—you were supposed to wait.”

“How, exactly, was I supposed to survive while I waited?” she asked, her jaw working in irritation. “I was seventeen and pregnant. My parents kicked me out. I had no job, no car, nowhere to go. I had no choice but to go to Alaska with my grandfather.”

“And then what? You just forgot about me? Made a new life for yourself?” He looked angry and Charli was taken aback by his attitude.

“I don’t know why you’re here, or how you knew I would be here, but you have no right to talk to me this way. You left me, not the other way around.”

“I was in prison,” he snapped. “It’s not like I had a choice.”

“Do they not allow letters in