Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
“Of course she did.”
“The addiction to painkillers started after a car accident last year. He had no idea how bad it was. But he is sticking with her. Who knows—maybe this will be the guy who sets her straight.”
“I don’t really care. I just want her gone permanently.”
“As much as I’d like to take her down in court, this is the best way. Mia and Amy aren’t involved. You get what you want, at least for the most part. And you can leave and go home to your girls. I know you’re anxious to do so.”
I rubbed the back of my head. Halton was right. “Fine,” I conceded. “Make it happen. Get her out of here and do the deal.”
“Consider it handled. Today is the last day you’ll ever hear from Kelsey.”
“Thanks, Halton.”
“You got it.” He hung up, and after speaking with the officer in charge, I signed some papers and headed home.
I wasn’t sure what I would find when I got there, but Mia and Amy were curled up on the sofa, a bowl of popcorn between them and Finding Nemo playing. I watched them from the doorway for a moment. Mia was tucked into Amy’s side, a grin on her face as she watched the movie. Amy was stroking Mia’s head absently, her face pale but clear, the makeup she’d applied covering the mark Kelsey had left.
I strode forward. “There’re my girls.”
Mia looked up. “Daddy! We’re watching Dory.”
I bent and kissed her. “What a surprise.”
She smiled, not looking upset or worried. I breathed a small sigh of relief. Amy looked calm, accepting my kiss to her uninjured cheek. Her eyes were worried, but she smiled. “All okay?”
“Yep. I’ll tell you all about it later.”
Mia turned her attention back to the screen, and I lifted my eyebrows in a silent question to Amy, who shrugged and nodded. I settled on Mia’s other side, and she wiggled to get the perfect position between us, her focus on the movie. I looked over at Amy, seeing the edges of the mark under the makeup, and my anger built again. She slid her fingers between mine, squeezing my hand and shaking her head.
“Hungry?” she inquired. “I made you a sandwich. It’s in the fridge.”
“Yeah, I could eat.”
“Daddy, can we have pizza tonight?” Mia asked.
“Sure, Sweet Pea. If that’s what you want.”
She nodded, still focused on the screen. “With extra cheese and pepperonis.”
“Okay.”
The movie finished as I ate the sandwich Amy made me and drank a cup of coffee. Amy stood, smoothing down her shirt. “I have a few things to do. I’ll be in my office.”
She left, and I noticed the way Mia’s eyes followed her and the frown on her face. I turned to her on the sofa and tucked a long wave of hair behind her ear. “You wanna talk, Sweet Pea?”
“What about?”
“What happened today. I know you must have questions. I know it was scary, and I want to make sure you’re okay,” I said gently.
“I was scared. But I saw Amy, and I knew it would be okay. Uncle E explained some stuff to me, so I get it, Daddy.”
“What stuff?”
“He said that lady was my biologe mother.”
“Biological,” I corrected.
“Yeah. He said she was in a bad mood and wanted to cause trouble. He told me she just wanted to take me for breakfast. But if she hadn’t been so rushed, I could have told her I’d had breakfast. She isn’t good at listening.” She shook her head. “It’s not nice to grab people and try to take them for breakfast if they aren’t hungry. It’s just rude.” She sounded indignant.
“No, it’s not nice. Did she hurt you, Sweet Pea? Hold your arm too tight?”
She pulled up her sleeve. “No. Uncle E checked and kissed it better in case, but it’s fine.”
“Good thing for Uncle E.”
“He told me he’d like to give her a taste of her own medicine, but she didn’t have any medicine so I didn’t know what he meant.”
“Um, he was saying she wasn’t nice.”
“He said she was like that their whole life. That she didn’t like him. How can you not like Uncle E?”
“I know.”
Mia shook her head. “My sister won’t be like that. She’ll be like Amy, ’cause Amy’ll be her biologe. And I’ll look after her.”
I didn’t correct her this time—or comment on the sister part.
“Sometimes people aren’t good like you are,” I explained.
“That’s what Uncle E said. He’s nice, but his sister wasn’t. He had a brother too who was mean. Isn’t it great we got Uncle E and he is so awesome?”
“It is.”
“I’m glad Amy was there. But it made me mad that the lady yelled and tried to hit Amy. Amy said she missed and hit her shoulder. That is very bad. You don’t hit people.”
I was grateful Mia hadn’t seen the slap. That Evan had talked to her and made the whole thing seem like an encounter with a grumpy person. I hoped there would be no lasting effects on my daughter because of Kelsey.