She held her breath waiting for his verdict, her chest really tight.
“I think we have different ideas of what it means to try hard, Sarah.” He set the letter down in the console between them. “For you, it means forgetting. For me, it means making sure nothing like that can ever touch us again.”
His expression seemed so distant, his words a reminder they were moving apart in every way possible. She’d already lost her mom. Soon she’d lose the only man she’d ever really thought of as a father, and not just because she’d need to take more responsibility for herself after high school ended. Also because the man she used to know was fading a little more every day, his happy spirit smudged by grief and worry.
Without another word, he backed out of the parking spot onto the street and headed in the direction of the cop shop.
She’d have to tell her story all over again to strangers. She would read the letter that Brandon had sent and maybe find out why he’d contacted her. Already the knot in her stomach tightened and grew cold. She needed Lucas here with her.
It didn’t matter to her what he’d done in the past. Didn’t matter that people like Ally thought he’d done something wrong. Sarah had plenty of experience putting the past behind her. She just wished she could do this together with Lucas instead of sitting beside her quiet, brooding father who always seemed a moment away from being mad.
She was happy they were staying in Heartache. She’d have time to seek out Lucas and find out why everyone thought he was trouble. As for her father? Maybe he could spend more time with Erin Finley. He might not realize he needed a woman around, and compared to the droolingteacher or the random flirty women he worked with, Erin seemed really cool. She did compassionate things like organize clothing drives, plus she was kind of artsy.
Sarah liked that. And deep down, she knew her dad must like that, too. He’d been an artist once, before he’d set that aside to be some kind of super-provider for her and her mom.
Besides, Sarah was tired of dishing out all the wise life advice to her dad and having it fall on deaf ears. She needed help with him. She also needed a distraction for when she wanted to hang out with Lucas. Maybe if her father was busy dating, he wouldn’t have time to chase her down at every party.
After this police station visit was over, she was going to commence Operation Return to Dating.
The hits justkept coming.
Tipping his chair back on two legs, Remy rested his head on the waiting room wall at the police station while he sat outside a conference room where a female investigator had taken Sarah for a private discussion.
The lady investigator had spoken to him first, assuring Remy that she needed to ask Sarah questions privately about whether or not she felt safe at home. They were a fairly standard list and Theresa had warned him that the local cops might speak to her without him being present since she was eighteen. But it was making him nuts to think about her having to undergo some kind of police quiz alone.
Hadn’t the poor kid been through enough in the past two years without her idiot of a biological father bringing this down on her head?
Uninspiring gray walls surrounded him as did a few other people in uncomfortable wooden chairs. A man and his son had arrived to fill out a report about a stolen bike. A young woman waited for information about becoming a police officer. Another woman waited for her husband—the cop at the front desk—to finish his shift so she could take him out to dinner for his birthday.
The birthday couple exchanged looks every other minute. And the “I want to get you naked” vibe seemed inappropriate at best. Then again, maybe Remy just envied that certainty of going home with someone. Of celebrating a birthday with someone. He missed the normal ebb and flow of an everyday, average life.
Damn but he wished his daughter would be done soon.
His phone chimed and he almost ignored it in case it was work related. But what if it was Sarah’s counselor?
Are you ok? How is Sarah?
The text from Erin eased some of the tension in his chest. In spite of everything, hearing from her felt good. Maybe even like a slice of normal in an otherwise upside-down day. He lowered his chair back to the floor to key in a reply.
Letter from her dad nonthreatening. Taking all day to document every facet of his stupidity.
Remy hit Send.
The return chime sounded in about two seconds,making him wonder how she could read that fast, let alone type.
Did he break a law in contacting her?
The answer was so convoluted he didn’t know quite where to begin. The local police believed there was a responsibility on Sarah’s part to file a new form with the Bureau of Prisons once she turned eighteen to stay on Brandon’s “Do Not Contact” list. Remy would be sure the paperwork was filed immediately. He had already contacted his lawyer.
Gray area. I can explain over dinner if you don’t mind surly company.
After he sent the message, he realized it didn’t sound like much of an invitation. He was about to send something more politely worded when she responded.
Will there be cupcakes?
He grinned. That in itself was a miracle considering the day he’d had. Being back in a police station—just that alone—was tough. But thinking about Sarah and how scared she’d been with that letter in her possession for two weeks…that made him mad.
Definitely. I can take you out or bring food to you. Your choice.
