tortured her every time that memory popped up. There’s still so much trauma that she won’t let it surface.”
His eyes widened in shock. “Now that’s a complete falsehood. My mother wouldn’t do—”
“She did it,” Eve said coldly. “It’s clear she’d do anything to protect herself. She probably considered it a fair exchange. You’d made her commit murder by your self-indulgence with that Asian girl. So she took away your daughter, whom she considered a major inconvenience anyway.”
“That’s not true. My mother wouldn’t do anything like that.”
Eve gave him a skeptical glance. “You couldn’t have gone through all these years with her without seeing that side of her. I’m sure she tried her best to hide it from you, but you’re not stupid. Though I can see you accepting whatever she told you because it was more comfortable for you.”
“You think it was comfortable for me to know that Beth was in a mental hospital?” His arm tightened around Beth’s shoulders. “I love my daughter. You don’t believe any of this, do you, Beth?”
“No, of course not.” Beth was shaking her head dazedly. “Didn’t you hear me? I told Eve that it was all wrong.” She lifted her hand to her temple. “But I don’t remember—I don’t understand. She said terrible things about you, Rick. About you and that young girl—and you’re saying that she was there, too. But you wouldn’t do that, Rick. You wouldn’t hurt a twelve-year-old girl.”
“No, of course I wouldn’t.”
“But she was there. You said she was there.”
“Because she wanted to be. I’ve never forced a girl in my life.” His hands closed on Beth’s shoulders, and he turned her to face him. “Listen, Beth.” His voice was soft, urgent. “If she hadn’t wanted me, I’d have sent her away. I spent time with her, making sure. She liked me. She even said she loved me.”
Beth was looking at him with an expression of growing horror. “She was twelve years old.”
“She had a hard life, I gave her enough money so that she’d have a choice whether she wanted to go with any other man again. I wanted to make sure that our time together was only good for her.” His hand stroked her cheek. “So stop looking at me like that, Beth. It hurts me.”
“I don’t want to hurt you,” she said dully. “But twelve years old, Rick. Why?”
He didn’t speak.
“Why?”
“It’s hard to explain.” He shrugged. “It’s just … preference. Why not? I told you that I didn’t hurt anyone. I made them feel good, not bad.”
“And … how did you feel, Rick?”
“I loved them,” he said simply. “They were fresh and sweet and like the first breath of spring. Nothing complicated, just bright and happy and wanting to make me happy.”
Beth looked as if he’d struck her. “I feel sick.” She closed her eyes. “So wrong, Rick. You’re so wrong.” Her eyes opened, and she whispered, “And if you’re that wrong about those girls, how can I be sure you’re not wrong about your mother’s putting me in that … place?” She stepped back away from him, and her voice broke. “And that Eve’s not right about your turning your back on me because it was more comfortable for you.”
“Because I love you,” he said harshly. “You’re my little girl, my daughter, and I love you more than anyone in the world.” He shot a tormented glance at Eve. “You see what you’ve done? She believes those lies you’ve been telling her.”
Eve ignored him. “I think you’re done here, Beth. It will be at least fifteen minutes before Joe or Newell get here, and I don’t think it’s safe to stick around. Shall we go?”
Beth nodded jerkily and turned toward the steps.
“Wait.” Rick was suddenly standing before Beth, and he smiled the beautiful smile that he’d given Beth when she’d first arrived. “You’re upset right now,” he said coaxingly. “But you’ll think about everything I’ve said, and you’ll realize that I’m still the father you’ve always known. Perhaps there have been mistakes made, but we can make everything right.”
“How?” Her voice was shaking. “By putting me back in that hospital?”
He flinched. “No, you’re well now. My mother must not have realized that you’d made such progress. We’ll start out fresh.”
“You still believe her,” Beth said wonderingly. “And that scares me more than anything that’s happened.” She turned to Eve. “We’d better go. You were right. Coming here may have been a terrible mistake. They could have used him to bait the trap.”