The View from Alameda Island - Robyn Carr Page 0,66

called for her. Cassie couldn’t remember the woman’s name but she was very sweet and asked her how she was liking Harvard. It was so like her father to brag about her accomplishments as if he had anything to do with them, yet refuse to help her with tuition to punish her mother.

“Classes haven’t actually started yet,” she said. “I came home for a family emergency.”

“Oh no!” she said. “The doctor didn’t mention anything. Is everyone all right?”

“I think she will be,” Cassie said. She walked straight to her father’s office.

Of course it was furnished with the best of everything, as was the rest of the office. The examining rooms held the latest equipment and were smart and efficient. Brad Delaney sat behind a large mahogany desk, surrounded by bookshelves and a couple of TV screens even though most of the medical files were now accessible via computer.

He rose. “Cassie?” he said, as if shocked.

“Stop it,” she said. “You know I’ve been in town. Lacey is reporting every tidbit to you. I came running the second I heard Mom had been so badly hurt. You never contacted me.”

He took on the expression of a slapped toddler. “I was under the impression you didn’t want to see me.”

“But I do want to see you,” she said. “I’m leaving today. I came here to tell you something. I think you know, you’re in trouble. You have a problem.”

“I certainly do,” he said. “My wife of twenty-four years is leaving me for a younger man.”

“I don’t know about that,” Cassie said. “She has filed for divorce because of your abuse. You could get help, you know. It won’t save your marriage. It’s really too late for that, but it could save your life. And if you got help and changed, you might be a part of your grandchildren’s lives. As it stands, you won’t. You’re not safe. You’re a dangerous megalomaniac who hurts people.”

“She’s lying,” he said. “She did that to herself and blamed me! She wants a big divorce settlement!” he spat out.

“There is proof, you know. You, the great saver of lives, have inflicted so much pain. On the people who loved you most.”

“Do you think it’s smart to accuse me this way when you’re hoping to have your tuition to law school paid?”

“First of all, you already threatened to pull your support, just like you do every other month. Lacey seems willing to be held hostage but I’m not. I’ll find a way. For that matter, it would feel dirty now, knowing how cruel you can be. Since I assume you won’t try to change, won’t get help, I suppose this is goodbye.”

He glowered, not speaking, his eyes narrow slits. If this office was like all others on the face of the earth, someone would have an ear to the door and the word would travel. She decided to make the most of it.

“My mother’s face has healed enough for her to go back to work. I’d like you to know one thing. If you ever lay a hand on her again, you will be sorry. I would ride into hell to make sure you’re sorry. Leave her alone.”

“Get out, Cassidy,” he said, keeping his voice carefully quiet.

She turned and left but she was acutely aware that one of his staff looked at her hard. She wasn’t sure if the expression was one of disdain or pity. Perhaps he had already briefed his staff that he was being railroaded by a greedy soon-to-be ex-wife.

She had an Uber pick her up to go to the airport. She’d lived in the Bay Area her entire life and she loved it, earthquake rumbles and all. This was her part of the world. Leaving her mother here during what could be one of the most stressful, frightening times of her life didn’t feel good at all, but she would be back. Leaving her mother terrified her, but she was right—they had lives to live right now. There were important transitions. They were headed for new lives and it wouldn’t be too long until they’d be together again.

Lauren would be safe, she reminded herself. She had a baseball bat, she had Beth and Chip. Too bad they no longer had Honey. Honey had been looking for an excuse to pound the crap out of some man for almost fifty years.

But then there was the guy. Beau.

She was pleased to hear her mother was being overly cautious. After her father? Beau would not be around one