The Bad Daughter(86)
There was a moment of absolute silence. Robin waited for Melanie to offer a customary barb, but she didn’t, and Robin breathed a small sigh of relief.
“Thank you,” Cassidy said.
“Your mother loved you more than anything on earth,” Robin told her. “I hope that no matter what happens, you’ll always remember that.”
“I will.”
They fell into each other’s arms.
“Oh, shit,” said Melanie. She grabbed Robin’s arm and spun her around.
“Shit,” Robin repeated, shaking her head in dismay as Dylan Campbell separated himself from the small gathering of spectators still hovering. He was wearing a white T-shirt, black jeans, and a blue baseball cap with a Yankees logo.
“I’ll get rid of him,” the sheriff offered before Robin could ask.
“Who is it?” Cassidy asked, eyes widening with each step Dylan took toward them.
“It’s your father,” Melanie said.
“My father’s in the hospital,” Cassidy corrected Melanie, her voice a rebuke. “I don’t know this person.”
Robin strained to hear the words exchanged between Dylan and the sheriff, but was able to make out only a few snatches.
“What do you think you’re…?”
“I have as much right as…”
“I’ll tell you the same thing I told that reporter…”
“…just want to see my kid.”
“Blake,” Robin said, “can you take Cassidy back to the car? I’ll handle this.”
“No,” said Cassidy firmly. “I want to talk to him.”
“Sweetheart, I don’t think…”
“It’s all right, Robin.” Cassidy’s eyes were on Dylan as he maneuvered around the sheriff and took half a dozen steps toward her. “I’m okay.”
“That’s my girl.” Dylan removed his baseball cap and extended his arms, as if preparing to embrace her.
“I’m not your girl,” Cassidy said, stopping him in his tracks.
He smiled, deep dimples creasing his cheeks. “You’re my flesh and blood.”
“Don’t take another step,” Robin warned as he was about to.
“What do you want?” Cassidy asked.
“I want to see you.”
“You saw me twelve years ago. Seemed like more than enough for you at the time.”
“Times change.”
“People don’t.”
Dylan cocked his thumb toward Robin. “She tell you that?”
“She didn’t have to. One look at you tells me everything I need to know.”
He laughed. “You sound so grown up.”
“What is it you want, Dylan?” Robin asked.
“Look,” he said, ignoring her. “I can only imagine the things your mother said about me, but…”
“She said you were no good.”
“Uh…”
“She said you used to beat her.”
“Yeah, well, truth is she could throw a pretty mean punch herself.”
“She said you were scum,” Cassidy continued, clearly warming to her subject.
“?‘Scum’s’ a little strong…”
“She said you were a lowlife and a liar and a thief.”
Dylan grinned. “Your mother always did have a way with words.”
“She said that you never sent her the support money the court ordered you to pay.”
“Because she wouldn’t let me see you.”
“Did you ever try?”
“I knew there’d be no point.”
“There’s no point now.”
“Ah, come on, Cassie. I’m your daddy. The only real family you got left.”
Cassidy grabbed Robin’s hand. “That’s not true. I have Daddy, and Robin, and Melanie, and Blake.”
“And I have rights.” Dylan shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Come on, Cassie. Don’t be like this.” He looked toward Sheriff Prescott. “Can’t you talk some sense into the girl, Sheriff?”
“She’s making a lot of sense to me,” Prescott replied.
“Look, I tell you what,” Dylan said, returning his attention to Cassidy and his baseball cap to his head. “It looks like I made a mistake coming here today. I wanted to pay my respects—to you, to your mother, to these kind people here who’ve been looking after you. But I can see now that this wasn’t the best time or place to get reacquainted or make amends. You’re grieving and not thinking straight. So I’m gonna back off, give you a few days to mull things over, then try again. How’s that?”
“How much do you want, Dylan?” Cassidy asked.
“What do you mean?”
“How much money will it take to make you go away for good?”
“Ah, honey. You got me all wrong. This isn’t about money.”
“It isn’t? Well, then, I guess there’s nothing left to talk about.”
“Well, I mean, sure,” Dylan said quickly. “It’s not the reason I came, but if my daughter would like to help me out a bit financially, well, I wouldn’t turn it down.”