Lynn said nothing. She only hugged Mike tighter, still studying Nina with mistrust.
Nina didn’t know what to do. She didn’t know how long she could keep herself together in front of this girl. In front of her child. In front of the person she was supposed to protect—but had abandoned.
She had to leave. Right now. Before she complicated everything even more.
Had she wanted to know whether Lynn was okay? Well, she was. More than okay. All that remained for Nina now was to turn away and keep living.
CHAPTER 11
Nina was turning to leave, already on the verge of fleeing, when Lynn stopped her with a question.
“Do you live nearby?”There was not only wariness in her voice now, but curiosity as well.
Nina froze.
“I haven’t seen you around before. Are you our new neighbor?”
She nodded faintly.
“Yes.” Her voice sounded quiet and calm, but everything inside her was shaking.“I just moved in.”
She was lying. But what choice did she have? Tell her who she really was? Confess that she was the woman who had abandoned her the moment she was born? Everything inside her clenched painfully. She couldn’t tell her the truth.
“I should go,” she forced out, turning away.
Lynn didn’t answer.
Nina didn’t know if she was watching her as she walked off—but she felt like she was.
She almost ran to the car, yanked the door open, and slid behind the wheel. Only when she reversed sharply and sped off that cursed street did she realize how badly her hands were shaking.
She never should’ve done this. Never.
How was she supposed to live with it now? With the knowledge that she had thrown her daughter away like that kitten?
And Jasper…
He had found her. He had taken her. He had raised her. He had protected her. Given her a home. Given her a father. A family.
Nina had abandoned her. And he had taken her in.
So which of them was really heartless?
She had no idea where she was driving. The road swam before her. She missed turns, followed no route. She was running from the meeting, from Lynn’s eyes, from her own betrayal that now crushed her with triple force.
She hadn’t been ready for this.
When she finally braked, killed the engine, and realized where she was, everything inside her collapsed.
She was home.
Shock constricted her throat. She didn’t remember how she’d gotten there. Didn’t remember choosing this route. But she was here.
Nina climbed the steps, opened the door, and stepped inside—only to meet Frank’ssurprised stare.
He stood in the hallway, unfastening his watch, but when he saw her, he froze.
“Nina?” Confusion edged his voice.“I thought you were at Daphne’s.”
