“I didn’t go down without a fight. I hired all the best lawyers I could afford. They got me a lot, too. I got one of the properties. I got a ton of alimony. I received more than what was my fair share of investments, but I didn’t get what I wanted most. I never got my daughter. Russell got full custody, and I couldn’t even visit Danica any longer. His lawyers argued that I was abusive… and that useless judge was either stupid enough to believe it, or he was paid off. I don’t like either option.”
“So, how about the…”
“I know what you want to know.” Nevertheless, Julia became reserved, retreating into the toxic memories spilling from her mind. “One month after the divorce was finalized, I made one last move to see my daughter. I wanted her to know that I still loved her and that she would always have a place in my life. I went to her school and got as far as her classroom. Campussecurity had to drag me out kicking and screaming. I never saw Danica. They had completely cut me off from her, and I was still naïve enough to think that would be Russell’s final assault against me.”
Alicia steeled herself.
“Two weeks later, I was walking home when someone… I recognized from that awful house… casually approached and threw gasoline on me.”
Nobody asked for further explanation.
“Russell wanted me dead. He couldn’t kill me with his own hands, but he would kill me, nonetheless. The only thing that saved my life was a Good Samaritan who put me out the moment he saw me. I was in the hospital for months. They thought I would die. I wanted to die, but for some reason, I held on, even though my face no longer worked and I couldn’t move my whole arm. I think the only thing keeping me alive was knowing that man was raising my daughter. I didn’t know what kind of monster Russell would create in his image, but I knew I couldn’t take the easy way out of seeing it happen.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Alicia whispered. “This is all so… insane.”
“That’s why I have been trying to warn you. There is no good in that family. No matter how sweet such a life may seem from the outside, there is evil within. Even now, I hear terrible stories about my ex-husband. More than one woman has felt his abuse behind the scenes. I hear even one woman who works closely with him was bestowed a surprise miscarriage to get rid of unwanted heirs.”
“For what it’s worth, Ms. Johnson…” Alicia tentatively began, “I don’t believe that Danica is like her father at all in that regard. She’s treated me beyond what I could even comprehend.”I'd better not mention the BDSM shit.
“There is still the matter of my ex-husband. You say that he has threatened you? Heed his threats. He will follow through if he tires of your intrusion. I already feel bad for whoever my husband chooses to marry our daughter, but at least they will have Russell’s approval and perhaps… I want to believe he will leave them alone. You say my daughter is a good woman?”
“From what I can tell.” To be fair, Alicia didn’t know much about what she did for a living. For all she knew, Danica funded drug cartels and bolstered shady politicians who would give the Moreaus kickbacks. Just because she wasn’t threatening Alicia didn’t mean she wasn’t terrible in other ways. “I have to be honest with you. I think I’m in love with her. She’s a terrible romantic, even if she won’t call it that. She’s been waiting to fall in love for a long time. She says that she yearns for stability and a happy, calm home. I believe her, Ms. Johnson.” Alicia sucked in more breath. “I won’t lie. Your daughter has some personal predilections that are possibly connected to the way she was raised, but she’s not like her father. Not like that. At all.”
“I am relieved to hear that, truly.” Julia sank into her seat. “Perhaps I will sleep a bit easier tonight than I have over these past many years.” She sighed. “That does not mean I do not fear for you. My heart weeps to hear that my daughter is in love with a nice girl like you. It’s what every mother wants to hear.” Her sadness, however, was breaking that very heart she spoke of. “My heart also fears that it makes you a greater target of my ex-husband’s. If he thought you were nothing more than a temporary plaything, he would be more lenient. You would only have to worry if you began to embarrass the family’s image or if he had a marriage to arrange.” Julia stood, the weariness of her visage transferring to Alicia in turn. “I’m sorry, Ms. Colbert. I’m a tired old woman. I’m thankful that you came to speak with me. And…” She held out the small box that held her old weddingring. “Give this to my daughter, please. Do not tell her that it’s from me. She’ll know if it’s meant for us to meet again.”
Alicia took the box. It was heavier than a mere ring would weigh. Something else must have been inside it.
“You seem like a good woman, Alicia.” That was the first time Julia ever called her that name. It sounded almost maternal. “If it were not for these circumstances, I would be happy for you and my daughter. Except I feel that it is my duty to prevent another woman’s suffering, even if it means my own daughter’s heart breaking.”
“I understand.” It certainly gave Alicia a lot to think about.
Julia opened her arms wide enough to embrace the woman before her. The woman who could one day be her daughter-in-law. Is this it? Is this a woman I’ll see at Christmas dinners one day?Alicia wanted to believe that. Perhaps it wasn’t so crazy to believe… that one day there could be a happy family in one of those homes.
As she left with Dee, Alicia fought back nausea. Wave after wave of nausea filled her with more than the urge to throw up. She wanted to sit down and cry.
So that’s what she did as soon as they were in the backseat of the car. Alicia couldn’t tell where these emotions were coming from. Her brain told her that it was the horrible story she had heard. Even if Julia embellished or outright told lies, her conviction was true.
Yet her heart and gut told her something different. They told Alicia this wasn’t only a fear for herself, and sadness for Danica. This was a greater fear beyond herself. This was her tapping into those fears that she never thought she would feel.
“What if that’s me one day?” she asked Dee. “What if that’s my daughter I fear for?”
The bodyguard didn’t say anything. Whatever Dee thought of this situation, she’d keep close to her heart.
Chapter 9
Danica returned to the hotel room at nine-thirty. Aside from a cordial greeting, she said nothing to Alicia as she immediately stole into the bathroom to take a long shower. Alicia did not peek in on her.Would that be weird?She waited in the bedroom, staring at the box Julia had given her two hours ago. How would she broach this sensitive subject?“By the way, I met your mom. Is she batshit, or is your dad really an abusive shitheel? Also, he’s threatening me. I think he might be an abusive shitheel.”
She sat up with a start when someone put a hand on her shoulder. It was Danica, following up with a kiss to her cheek.
“Apologies,” she said a second later. “Didn’t know you were so lost in thought.”
“No, no… I’m sorry.” Why was Alicia apologizing? Danica snuck up onher!
“Did you amuse yourself today?” Her girlfriend wandered by the table, dressed in nothing but a big white hotel towel.Oh. Hello.For a moment, Alicia forgot. Forgot everything… excepthow much she wanted to be with this woman. This ridiculously beautiful, devilishly sweet woman she was already in way too deep with.
Alicia traced the length of a prominent line on Danica’s arm. Hair as soft as dewy petals tickled her fingertip. “It was an interesting day, to say the least.”
“Hopefully not too interesting.” Danica sat next to her, pouring herself a cup of hot tea from a pot. Alicia gave her a small amount of cream and stirred it in for her. Danica’s smile was a good enough reward. “Don’t want you forgetting about me already.”
