Eden lost her battle against the tears. "I was throwing a fit about stopping for ice cream after my dance class. She kept insisting it was too close to dinnertime, but I wouldn't let it go." She swiped at her cheeks as guilt and regret filled her.
"She was in bad shape, but she was conscious for a bit and insisted on talking to me before they took her away in the ambulance. She must have known she wouldn't make it, because she made me..." Eden ran a shaky hand through her hair again. "She made me promise I'd be a good girl for Daddy."
Rudy reached over and wrapped a large hand around hers. "And you thought that meant you had to do everything he asked?" His voice was as gentle as his touch.
Eden nodded. "When we left the cemetery a few days later, Dad wrapped his arm around me and said, 'It's just you and me now. I promise I'll take care of you, but I need you to be a good girl for me, okay?'" She stared at their hands as she continued to talk. "So, I tried to be the perfect daughter. I received love and acceptance from him when I did what he asked. But when I went against his wishes, I got lectures about how I'd disappointed him and needed to act more responsibly."
"I think all kids, especially teenagers, get those kinds of lectures, but I imagine you took it more personally than most kids."
"I did, and I let it dictate my life, my schooling, my job. I did everything he wanted. I didn't realize until a few years ago how unhappy I was, and I asked myself how I'd gotten here. I'm not sure if he even realizes he does it. I know he loves me. I'm just not sure he knows how to show it."
"I'll say." Rudy snorted as he withdrew his hand.
"Anyway, thanks for saving me out there and not throwing me to the wolves." She gave him a tight smile.
"So, was that a one-time thing? Or will we need to continue this charade for his benefit?" Rudy rubbed his hands against his thighs, and Eden couldn't help remembering how firm that muscle was beneath her hand.
"I don't know. I'd love to hear him say he's dropping the whole Tristan thing, but I'm not sure he really believed us. And if Laurent continues to pressure him..." She left her sentence hanging and shrugged.
"Well, at any rate, it might be best to keep this between us." He motioned back and forth between them. "The last thing my mother needs is more ammunition to work with."
Eden chuckled. "She seems pretty intent on pushing us together, doesn't she?"
"Yes, but you and I both know that's not a good idea."
Eden's smile faded. She kept telling herself falling for Rudy was a bad idea, so why did hearing him agree with her feel like a rejection? Was he really that averse to a relationship with her?
She scrambled to hide her hurt. "Right, because I'll be leaving soon."
"Will you?" His gaze narrowed on her.
Was that disappointment on his face?
"I don't know. I love what I'm doing for— I meanwithHattie, but you said it yourself; it won't replace my corporate income. Eventually, I'm going to have to find a serious job. We both know that won't happen in Providence."
When had she started to think that maybe she could stay in Providence if only there was a real job for her here?
CHAPTER10
Eden climbed from Alice's car and studied Debbie and Austin's house. It was a little larger than the house she grew up in. But she knew from having attended Sunday dinners here it was much warmer and more inviting than her childhood home.
Not only was it filled with love and laughter, but it was also filled with acceptance. Debbie didn't get angry when one of the kids made a mess, instead she took them by the hand and helped him clean it up, all the while discussing what they could have done to be more careful.
Austin and Debbie's blended family was far from perfect. They certainly had their share of challenges, but there was no doubt in Eden's mind that Debbie loved Austin's kids, and he doted on her adopted daughters. And the little boy they adopted right after they got married was the chunkiest and cutest baby Eden had ever seen.
"Eden, dear, would you carry this basket?" Alice lifted a laundry basket full of food and supplies from the trunk of her car.
Who knew laundry baskets could be so versatile?
Alice handed it to Eden, then grabbed a second one. "Oh, shoot! I forgot to grab the bacon from the fridge." She set her basket back into the trunk and pulled out her phone. "I'm going to call Rudy. Maybe I can catch him before he heads over to work on Scott's house."
"Okay, I'll take this stuff inside."
Kennedy opened the door for Eden. "You've come to join in the craziness, huh?"
"Well, you know Alice. She's a hard person to say no to."
"She is, but believe me, you're going to have a blast. These ladies are a hoot. I look forward to this every month. Each of us brings all the ingredients to make one meal for everybody. We get to visit while we work together to assemble the freezer meals, and then I get to take five meals home. They're great for really busy days."
