Her shoulders tensed, matching the set of her small jaw.“We can take care of ourselves.”
“You’re twelve.”
“Thirteen in February.”
He almost smiled but didn’t.“Even twelve-year-olds need to let someone know where they are.You worried Cat half to death.”
“We weren’t trying to,” Olivia said in a small voice.
Rhys’s gaze softened.“I know, sweetheart.”Then, looking at Jillian again.“But it wasn’t fair to her.Or to me.This isn’t just about you; it’s about all of us.We’re a family and when you disrespect someone—”
“But she’s not our mum,” Jillian muttered.“And she’s not Charlotte.”
“No,” Rhys agreed.“Cat is not.But she’s here to help.”
“She’s only here because Mum isn’t,” Jillian snapped.“If everyone stopped pretending everything’s fine, maybe Mum would come home.”
The words hit hard, and he sat on the twin bed facing his daughters.“You think this is about pretending?”
“It’s about you,” she said.“You and your work and—” She broke off and looked away, pale except for those bright pink spots high in her cheeks.
He waited.“Go on.”
She wouldn’t look at him, her gaze pinned to the wall.“You’re always working, even now.You don’tseeus.You just hire someone else to do it for you.”
The quiet that followed was sharp, cutting, and for long moments no one moved or spoke.
When Rhys finally found his voice, it was hard to speak, the words felt strange in his mouth.“That’s not true, Jilly.But if it feels that way, then I haven’t done my job as your father.”
Olivia’s fingers twisted in her jumper.“We’re sorry,” she whispered, though it wasn’t clear who she was speaking for.
Rhys drew in a breath, held it, trying to focus.“I’m not looking for quick apologies.I’m looking for understanding.You frightened Catriona today.She was genuinely worried, and to her credit, she took all the blame for what happened today.Said it was her fault that she hadn’t watched you better.”
Jillian glanced at him, a flicker of guilt crossing her face before she masked it.
“So, here’s what’s going to happen,” Rhys continued calmly but firmly.“You’ll stay in your room for the next two hours—”
“We’ve already been in here an hour,” Jillian protested.
“I can make it three, Jilly.Would that be better?”He rose, tired of conflict, tired of the unending back and forth.
Jillian had always been spirited and independent, but this was unacceptable.
Olivia reached out and pushed her sister’s arm.
Jillian sighed.“No.Two hours is good.”
“For the first hour, no reading, no whispering about how unfair I am.Just think about what happened, and how you might make it right.During the second hour you can play quietly in here, but first I want your phones and tablets.We’re not on electronics for the rest of the day.”He saw Jillian’s eyebrows rise.“Not even tonight.”
Olivia nodded immediately.Jillian stared back, unblinking.
“And then,” he said, “when we have dinner, I expect you both to apologize properly.Miss Hayes deserves that.”
“She’ll tell you it’s fine,” Jillian muttered.
“Maybe she will,” he said evenly.“But I won’t.”
That silenced her.
