But I need her.
Today at the hospital was so raw, so painful. Now she's about to confront her parents, and I dread it. I want to fix it, but this is hers to handle. So I just have to sit here and watch her hurt.
It's the hardest thing I've ever fucking done.
I don't think her parents deserve a call after all this.
They lied to her for her entire life. Rob was cruel and deliberate. They locked her up, not just to protect her, but to control her. Yesterday, I was seeking their blessing.
Now?
They can go straight to hell for all I care.
I've wondered all day, if I'd kept my temper at the game, would her father have had the heart attack? Would she have gone to Louisville? Would Carlin have gotten her alone? Would she have learned the truth?
The guilt of it eats at me, but it doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is her.
Maybe I do want her to call them. We can put a nail in it, have it done with, for now at least. Once this is through, we can move on. I can bring the sunshine back into her. I want to hear her laugh so bad, my chest aches.
I slip my hand under her hair to cup her neck, thumbing her skin.
She sighs. Says, "Okay," to her phone.
"You sure?"
"I just want it done. Best I call while I'm mad, anyway."
"Okay."
She smiles sadly at me. "Thank you. For…this."
"Baby, I'm here forthis,always."
She nods, and I'm afraid she's going to cry. So I catch her chin in my thumb and forefinger and kiss her briefly, just until she softens.
"It's gonna be okay," I promise her.
"I believe you," she says and turns to her phone.
My stomach lurches when she sends the video call. As it rings, she straightens, her jaw setting, tears in her eyes. One of her hands is trembling in mine, the other framing the shot so I'm not in it but for a sliver of my shoulder and arm.
"Hey, chicken!"
The second I hear Rob's voice white hot fury rushes through me.
"What's wrong?" he asks darkly.
"BabyWhere have you been, b? Are you okay?" Cate asks, crowding into the frame.
"No. No I'm not."
She doesn't ease into it. She starts with Carlin--what happened, what he did, what she endured. Cate gasps and cries. Rob's face goes dark. They keep interrupting, asking questions, all the way up until she says, "Danny Miller saved me."
Silence. Cate blanches. Rob's jaw clenches.
"He was stabbed, actually. I went to see him today at the hospital. He told me everything." Her voice hardens. Sharpens. "The secret you've been keeping. The one Mom's been trying to tell me about. The one you shut her down for. Remember?Are you sure you're ready for the consequences?"She lets that land. "Well, now I know. About the affair. About the arrangement. About how you cut him off."
"Molly--" Rob's voice is firm. Dismissive. The same tone he's used her whole life.
