“No,” Mike whispers but I keep going.
“And he told me that if I insisted on pursuing you and staying here in Empire, he would make sure that Sierra’s experience was just like Luke’s. I couldn’t let him do that, Mike.” I shake my head and hear my voice quiver. “And every time I wanted to tell you, I chickened out. I know he frustrated you, but he’s still your father and I know you respect him. I couldn’t be the one to make you choose.”
He’s still not saying anything, just watching me closely. Waiting.
“But I can’t marry you with this left unsaid. I want to marry you, but I couldn’t even say it so long as I hadn’t told you this.”
He takes a breath.
“Mike, I can’t be the reason he makes Sierra go through anything like Luke did.”
Mike studies me and I know he’s shaken, but he doesn’t saya thing. He looks away and his throat works, then I feel the fury rise within him. It’s a tangible force and I realize I’ve never seen Mike so angry before. I take a step back and he spins away from me, marching to his truck. He slams the door and revs the engine, hitting the gas so hard that the truck fishtails as he pulls away.
Just as I feared, I’ve insulted his family and he can’t wait to leave me behind.
I haven’t even gone back inside when my phone rings. I see at a glance that it’s Mike, but I turn off the phone, letting whatever he needs to say go to my voicemail.
I did the right thing and it wasn’t enough.
I survived it before and I’ll survive it again.
Somehow.
41
MIKE
Idon’t want to believe it.
I have to believe it.
And I do.
I know that Sylvia is telling me the truth, but it’s not a welcome revelation, not by a long shot.
I’ve always thought of Dad as a tough, uncompromising man who was sure his way was the only way. I know he was unfair to Luke, but I thought that was the exception.
Until now. Until he refused to listen to reason about the firm. Until he brought Ethan in over me, breaking every promise and implication of my life. He lied about all of that. Why not about Sylvia? His disdain for her is undisguised and undeserved.
That he could keep my daughter from me, that he could send away the love of my life, is grounds to despise him forever.
But that he could threaten my daughter makes me more livid than I’ve ever been in my life.
I’m out of town before I calm down enough to think clearly.I call Sylvia but she doesn’t answer. I call Sierra instead who picks up right away.
“Hi Dad. Did you see the dill? It’s growing so tall already.”
I interrupt her, guessing that she’s in the greenhouse, which makes sense since Sylvia is in her studio. “I need you to do something for me, Sierra,” I say, keeping my voice level. I pull into the driveway of Dad’s house and park behind the line of luxury cars. Candace must be having a dinner party. The only thing of importance is that Dad’s Cadillac is parked in front of the garage. “Are you in the greenhouse?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Then go downstairs and find your mom, please. Now. I need you both to listen to this.”
“Okay.” The sound changes and I hear the door to the roof clang shut. Her steps are quick on the stairs. “Listen to what?”
“To what’s going to happen next. Do not hang up the phone until I ask you to. Okay?”
“Okay.” She sounds puzzled. “Is something wrong? You sound kind of uptight.”
