Winston Brothers Box Set - Stacey Lewis Page 0,211
has a very distinct scent and feel when you’re around so many people who have it. There’s a heaviness in the air that presses on your chest, and the cloying scent of the many bouquets of flowers makes it that much harder. The only way I can describe it is antiseptic decay.
Melody comes to a stop at a door that’s not quite shut, and I can hear the muted sound of voices from what’s probably a television. We walk inside and I almost knock her over. She stops so fast that I have to fight not to crash into her.
“What are you doing here?” Rage makes her voice tremble and I want to pull her behind me so I can face the threat first.
There’s an older man who must be Mel and Maddie’s dad, based on his coloring. He’s sitting beside a much younger woman, their hands entwined. Based on the adoring way she’s looking up at him, I’m guessing this is the secretary he blew up his life for. She’s pretty, but just like with my father, why would you do that to your family? Why leave for a few minutes of pleasure? They both made vows to love, honor, and be faithful, but neither one could manage it.
That’s one mistake I’m damn sure my brother’s and I won’t ever make.
“Melly,” the soft voice from the bed captures her attention. Melody rushes over to take her outstretched hand, but before she can say anything to her sister, Maddie says, “It’s not worth it. Just leave him be.”
Fire flashes in Melody’s eyes. “Leave him be? You must be joking.” Those angry eyes focus on her dad and the woman beside him who shrinks back like she’s trying not to be seen. “So, you, the bastard who cheated on my mother and left us when Maddie was at her lowest, you want me to take it easy on you? What’s the matter, you can’t handle the consequences of what your actions wrought?”
“Mel—” the woman with him starts to speak, but my girl doesn’t stand for it. She takes a step closer and I worry she’s going to do actual damage to the woman.
Wrapping an arm around her waist, I pull her into my chest and keep her still. “Don’t,” I whisper, for only her ears to hear. Once she stills, I turn to her sister and hold out my free hand for her to shake. “Hey, I’m Remy. You must be Maddie.” She nods, grinning widely. “Melody’s told me so much about you. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
I’m careful to avoid looking at her father. Manners dictate I should introduce myself to him too, but that might make Mel’s head explode. That doesn’t stop him from studying me though. I ignore him, maneuvering Mel so she’s on the opposite side of Maddie’s bed than he is and keeping her turned away from him so she can ignore him too.
He tries to start a conversation with her more than once, but Mel takes the hint from me and ignores his presence, pretending he’s just not in the room with me. The grateful look Maddie gives me has me smiling down at her, and finally their father, and I use that term loosely, takes the hint. He and the woman with him leave, the only farewell he gives is to wave at Maddie from the bottom of her bed.
Since Melody and Maddie are engrossed in their own conversation, I follow them out of the room. They both stop when they hear the door shut behind me and the look her father gives me is full of trepidation and probably a little bit of fear. He knows I’m not out here to help him with his daughters. In fact, that’s the last thing I would do. Melody needs to know I’m on her side, always, and by the time I’m done with her asshole father, there won’t be any question.
“Why are you choosing now to show up?” I don’t pull any punches, figuratively at least. I’m pretty sure if I punched him for real, I’d end up spending tonight in a jail cell. That’s not how I want today to end.
He looks around, like he’s looking for someplace we can go that’s private. I know why. He wants to keep people from hearing what a shitty human being he is. Well, I’m not about to let him hide. The decisions he made are his to own, no one else’s.