The Bad Daughter(29)

“Were your parents expecting anyone that night?” the sheriff asked.

“No, I don’t think so.”

“Can you think of any problems that either of them might have been having with anyone?”

Cassidy shook her head. “Everyone loved them.”

Robin caught Melanie’s smirk. Now was hardly the time to argue with Cassidy’s perceptions, however misguided they might be.

“No arguments with any business associates or employees?”

“They never talked about that sort of thing around me.”

“What about the workers? I understand men were in and out of the house pretty much on a daily basis.”

“They all seemed really nice. Daddy said they were doing a great job.” She looked from the sheriff to Robin. “I’m not much help, am I? I’m sorry…”

“Don’t be,” Robin said. “This isn’t your responsibility.”

“I want to help. I feel so stupid.”

“You are helping and you’re not stupid,” Robin assured her. “You just might be the bravest person I know.”

Cassidy’s fingers tightened their grip on Robin’s hand. “My mommy’s dead.”

“I know, sweetheart. I’m so sorry.”

“What am I gonna do?”

“Let’s not worry about that right now. For the moment, you have to concentrate on getting well.”

“Where am I gonna go?”

“You’ll come home with us,” Melanie said.

This time it was Cassidy who winced.

“Are you in pain?” Robin asked her. “I’ll get the doctor.”

“It’s okay,” Cassidy said, refusing to let go of Robin’s hand. “Don’t leave me.”

“I’ll go,” Melanie said. She paused, as if waiting for Cassidy to beg her to stay, then marched from the room when she didn’t.

“Promise you won’t leave me,” Cassidy said, her eyes pleading with Robin.

“I’ll stay as long as you need me,” Robin heard herself say, anxiety stabbing her chest like a knife. Had she really just promised to hang around Red Bluff indefinitely? She leaned in to kiss Cassidy’s forehead.

Cassidy quickly lifted her chin to whisper in Robin’s ear. “My mother said you’re the only one I can trust.”





CHAPTER ELEVEN


“Can I ask you something?” Robin said to her sister at dinner that night.

Melanie glanced up from her leftover chili. “Knock yourself out.”

“Why did you stay here? Why didn’t you move out after Dad married Tara?”

“Where would I have gone?” Melanie asked. “With no prospects, no fancy degrees, and an autistic son?” She looked at Landon, who was sitting across from her, spooning chili into his mouth without pause, his eyes resolutely on his plate. “To San Francisco to find Alec? To L.A. to be with you? Bet you would have loved that.” She leaned back in her chair, setting her fork down on the table. “I couldn’t afford my own place on what I make at Tillie’s, and Dad made it abundantly clear he wasn’t about to pay rent on an apartment when there was more than enough room for me and Landon here. Tara wasn’t thrilled, of course. It wasn’t exactly the arrangement she’d been picturing, which I have to admit made it somewhat more palatable as far as I was concerned. I did love watching her squirm. She tried to change Dad’s mind, but she learned pretty quickly who was in charge around here. Anyway, it’s water under the bridge, as they say. She finally managed to talk Dad into building that monstrosity next door.”

Robin’s cell phone rang. She reached into her pocket, checked the phone’s caller ID. “It’s Blake,” she said. “My fiancé,” she explained to Landon, who hadn’t said a word since joining them at the table ten minutes earlier.

“No phone calls at dinner,” he said before Robin could answer the call.

Robin stared at her nephew, so shocked to hear him speak that she didn’t immediately register the anger in his voice. “It’ll just take half a second. I’ll tell him I’ll call him back.”

“No phone calls at dinner,” Landon repeated, louder this time.

Robin quickly tucked her phone back into her pocket, listening as it rang another four times before voice mail picked up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“He’ll be fine,” Melanie said.

Robin swallowed another forkful of chili. “So, Landon,” she began, deciding to take advantage of Landon’s sudden interest in communicating, “did your mother tell you that we saw your friend, Kenny, at the hospital today?”

Landon said nothing. The only indication he gave of having heard her question was the increasingly frantic shaking of his leg underneath the table.

“He told us that you asked him to look in on Cassidy.”

Landon began making clicking noises with his tongue.

“The sheriff wouldn’t let him see her,” Robin continued, “but he did tell Cassidy, and I’m sure she appreciated your concern.” Robin was lying; in fact, Cassidy had said nothing when they told her of Kenny’s visit. “It was very thoughtful of you.”