“I mean, family is family, right?” He gave a dismissive shrug. “You’re still my child.”
Anger raced through her, driven by the deep pain she felt and also her sense of injustice.
She remembered the day Abby was born. Her child. She’d been devoured by love. Filled to the brim with it. And it had shaken her, because she hadn’t known it was possible to feel so intensely. She’d been desperate to do everything right, to be the perfect mother, and even though she knew that wasn’t possible because of course all parents made mistakes, she also knew that she would never knowingly bring harm to her daughter, that she would die for her child if necessary, and she’d wondered what her father had lacked that he hadn’t felt the same visceral protectiveness towards her.
Those feelings came back to her now.
“You’re not my family.”
“Yeah, I am. I messed a few things up back then—I’m willing to admit that.” He eyed her, expecting at least an acknowledgment of that admission. “I made a few mistakes. But it was a long time ago. What happened between us—water under the bridge. Time to move on. Put it behind us.”
Water under the bridge.
The words jarred because for her the love she felt for her child was more like a river bursting its banks. It flooded into every part of her and filled every crack. There were times when it felt deep enough to drown her. It would never flow comfortably under a bridge.
She thought of her poor mother, her gentle and loving mother, hurting both physically and mentally. She thought about the days and nights that she’d spent caring for her, trying desperately to put back together the pieces that he’d broken, scared of what lay ahead of them and the weight on her shoulders. She remembered the devastation and disbelief that her father, her hero, had done this. It had been beyond the comprehension of a girl who still believed in fairy tales and happy endings. Who believed that love was about sticking together through thick and thin. But she was older now, and life had made her wiser.
What did a blood connection excuse? How much were you supposed to forgive before you saidno more?
Giving herself permission to finally move on she broke that connection, snipping through those wires as if defusing a bomb.
“I’m still not clear why you’re here, but let me clarify what I believe you’ve already been told by my very capable lawyers—I won’t be selling this hotel. Not now. Not ever. We have nothing more to say to each other.”
“And that being the case, I think we’re done here.” Evie stepped forward decisively and for a moment he was distracted.
“And who are you?”
“I’m the general manager of the hotel. And I’d like you to leave.” Evie was poised and calm and Alexandra felt a flicker of surprise and also admiration. She’d seen gentle when she first arrived but now she saw steel. And she was grateful for it. Another layer stepping between her and the past. Another barrier. She’d gladly take them all.
“That’s not your decision. This isn’t professional, it’s personal.” He turned back to Alexandra. “I’m your dad. You at least owe me a conversation.”
“I owe you nothing.” She was dimly aware of Evie moving to her desk and making a call, her voice a quiet murmur in the background.
“Maybe you don’t want anything to do with me, but I have a right to get to know my granddaughter.”
Something sparked inside her.
“You have no rights. And why would you want to? It’s a little late for emotional reunions, don’t you think?”
“That isn’t your decision to make, is it, Lexy? She’s an adult. She can decide.” He turned to Abby. “I bet your mother hasn’t told you much about me, has she? We’ll have to remedy that. You’ve got your grandmother’s eyes.”
That was the comment that broke her. Hearing him talk so casually about her beloved mother was too much for her self-control.
She didn’t want to feel this way.
She didn’t want him to be able to affect her like this.
He was nothing, and yet she was responding as if he was something.
Was it because for the first few years she’d dreamed of this exact scenario? Dreamed of him walking through the door he’d walked out of without a backward glance and saying he was sorry. Making it up to them. Reforming the family he’d leftshattered and bent out of shape. Even when she’d long decided she would never forgive him even if he did show up, she’d kept up the pretence for her mother. Night after night her mother had sobbed,he’s going to come back. One day he’ll come back, and Alexandra had held her and soothed and saidyes of course he will, because that was what her mother had needed to hear. When she’d died, a part of Alexandra had died, too. She’d hoped he would attend the funeral because there were things she wanted to say to him, but of course he hadn’t. He’d been no more present in death than he’d been in life.
And yet here he was.
She felt something falter inside her. She had no doubts about her own feelings, but it was true that technically he was Abby’s family. Also true that Alexandra had never discussed him with her daughter apart from delivering the bare facts of his betrayal. He’d demonstrated clearly that she had no place in his life so she’d been careful not to allow him a place in hers.
But Abby was an adult now. Lately she’d been asking a great number of questions about her past. There was a chance she would welcome the opportunity to learn more now that she knew she had a grandfather living.
Horror sank its claws into her. Was that what would happen? If so, she’d be forced to support Abby’s choice because there was nothing she wouldn’t do for her daughter, even when the idea of it half killed her.
