He nodded as if that confirmed something for him. “And did you?”
She nodded. “I didn’t want to, but he threatened Jordan. Said he would make him disappear on the way home from school.”
Jordan slammed his hand on the table. “Liar.”
Only one way to show him the truth. She got out her phone and pulled up the text messages from Kurt. “This is your dad’s number.” She handed it over to Jordan.
“Why’d he send a photo of you and Arthur?” Jordan asked as he scrolled through.
Crap. It would hurt him, but she was done with hiding. She looked at Arthur as she responded. “Because he asked me to get close to Arthur in order to find out what was happening with the Stokes.”
Arthur flinched, hurt showing in the slight widening of his eyes before he leaned back and crossed his arms.
She reached out to him. “I refused. I’ve enjoyed spending time with you.”
His expression shuttered, closing her out. “You asked about Matt.”
“I did.” Damn Kurt. “Kurt told me about the situation, and said I needed to find out more. I hadn’t decided if I would tell him what I learnt, but I needed to protect Jordan.”
Jordan threw the phone on the table. “It’s lies. That isn’t his phone number.”
Arthur picked up the mobile.
“It is,” Gretchen said, but directed her next words to Arthur. “He rang after you lost your leg in the marina, and he’s called a few times to tell me what I’m doing, to show he’s watching me.”
Arthur pressed some buttons, checking the call history.
“He knew Jordan was upset today.”
“Sherlock, tell her to stop lying,” Jordan demanded.
“The calls and messages line up with what she’s saying,” Arthur said.
“But Dad wouldn’t want to hurt me.”
Arthur sighed. “Not all fathers are loving,” he said. “I spent my whole life trying to please mine, but when I had my accident and lost my leg, he only visited me once. He told me I wasn’t welcome in the army any longer and I was a disappointment.”
Gretchen gaped at him.
“No way,” Jordan breathed.
Arthur nodded, his gaze on her son. “It took me a while to realise he never loved me. Not like my mum and Amy loved me. I was stubborn and refused to believe it, and I hurt others.”
Jordan bit his lip. “How do I know who’s telling the truth?”
“I guess you need to look at how they’ve both behaved in the past.”
“Dad worked a lot. I didn’t see him much.”
“How was he today? Was he kind? Did he hug you? Did he speak to Cody?”
Jordan shrugged. “No.”
Gretchen stayed silent. Defending herself and denigrating Kurt wouldn’t win her any points.
Her phone rang and the caller ID said it was Kurt. What was he playing at now? Arthur handed it to her.
“Put it on speaker,” Jordan said.
