“I sound more like myself now than I ever have.” Except when she’d met and married Theo. That time in her life had been perfect.
“You need to take care of your health. Remember what happened to your mother. You don’t want to end up like her.”
No, she didn’t, but she felt like if she’d stayed at the estate, continuing on the way she had, she might have ended up that way. But why would she ever want to end her life now that she’d found her daughter?Your mother had you and still committed suicide. Will you end up that way, too? Leaving your daughter alone and distressed?
“I won’t, Frank.” Her voice was stronger now. This was something she could do. “I’ve got my daughter now and I feel so much better with her.”
“Who’s this husband? Your father never mentioned anything about you being married. I think he would have told me.”
Had she told her father? That part of her life was so disjointed and blurry.
“He knew about Theo. Theodore Lapierre. He’s a park ranger here in Acadia National Park. Maybe he didn’t know I got married. That time was stressful, and I may not have told him.”
“And what does this husband think of you showing up all of a sudden?”
“He has his own life now, but he’s willing to let me be a part of Jordan’s. That’s my daughter.” God, just saying her name out loud was so freeing. Her heart pounded louder and stronger. “Don’t worry about me, Frank. I trust you to make any decisions about the company. If you need me to sign anything and give you the right to make all decisions, I’ll gladly do it.”
“I still don’t like this, Chelsea. I’m not sure you’re making intelligent decisions at the moment. You’re still mourning your father’s death and now you find out you have a daughter.”
She wasn’t in mourning, not over her father. Especially now she’d found out what he’d done to her. The thing she was mourning were her lost years with her child.
“I don’t even know what to say about this husband. Maybe I need to run a check on him.”
“Please don’t. I know everything I need to know about Theo. Send me anything you want signed by messenger. I’ll be fine.”
“Chelsea.”
Before he could say anything further, she disconnected the call. Frank had been a rock for her, but he was wrong about this.
Reaching across the table, she fingered the bottle of pills. No, her daughter was the best medicine anyone could give her. She didn’t need these.
Your own mother took her life.
Doubt niggled its way inside as she clutched the medication. But, no, she didn’t need them. Right?
Chapter six
“Whatareyoudoinghere, Chelsea?” Theo asked, coming up behind her at the boat ramp on Jordan Pond.
“I’m helping with the trail.” Her eyebrows slid together.
“I thought you were going to work on getting your house cleaned up and more habitable.”
She shrugged. “I can do that anytime. The tourists will be here soon, and the pond won’t be so quiet and peaceful.”
“The pond’s always quiet and peaceful, regardless of the tourists. I remember you telling me that when we first met.”
Her little smile and mischievous eyes warmed his heart. God, it felt good to see her like this. Had one day with their daughter caused this change in her? If so, they’d need to spend lots of time together. Wasn’t that a weird thing to say about a mother and child? It was so strange to think of sharing Jordan.
“Well, don’t overdo it today. I don’t want to be picking you up off the floor tonight at dinner.”
Her eyes twinkled again. “I’ll be good. Whose group am I in today?”
“Mine.” Like he’d ever let her be in any group but his. After all, she was his wife and the mother of his child. No one else could say that.
“Lead the way.”
Picking up his backpack, he slung it over his shoulders and grabbed the chainsaw. As they hiked, he explained that they’d gotten to the point where the trail was almost complete. This meant they would be working on pretty much the same area, so he and Rico had decided not to split the volunteers today. He also kept an eye on her to make sure she was all right.
