All Summer Long (Fool's Gold #9)(69)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHARLIE STOOD UNEASILY in her mother’s hotel suite. Her attempts to avoid Dominique had come to an end when her mother had left a message, saying she would be buying a sleeping bag and camping out in the fire station until Charlie agreed to speak to her. Or her daughter could show up at the hotel the next day and they could talk it out.

Charlie had chosen the conversation.

Now, looking at the woman who had given birth to her, she had to admit to a small amount of grudging respect for Dominique’s tactics. She would have assumed that in a test of wills, she would have been the winner. But her mother was also determined. Maybe a trait they shared.

Dominique perched on the edge of her suite’s living-room sofa and laced her fingers together.

“I want to apologize,” her mother began.

Charlie waited. With Dominique one could never take an opening statement at face value. The follow-up phrase could be anything from “for visiting in the first place” or “for thinking you deserved my attention.” She wasn’t going to assume.

Her mother swallowed, then looked at her. “I should have been more supportive when you were attacked back in college.” Her chin came up. “No. You weren’t attacked. That’s me avoiding ugliness. You were raped and I didn’t believe you.”

Tears filled her eyes and her mouth trembled. “I never thought...” She drew in a shaky breath. “I assumed...” She cleared her throat. “He seemed like such a nice boy. So handsome and charming. I met him in the campus police station. He introduced himself to me and said he was sorry you’d had second thoughts. But he wanted me to know he hadn’t hurt you or done anything you hadn’t wanted.”

Charlie felt her body tense. Anger grew into rage and she wanted to hunt down the shithead who’d attacked her so callously, then lied about it to everyone. She’d done everything right, she thought grimly. Reported the crime, subjected herself to the humiliation of the rape kit. But it hadn’t mattered. In the end, he’d been the one believed. Because rape was a “he said, she said” crime. And he was popular and handsome. A good student who’d never been in trouble. She was the awkward nobody.

“I was wrong,” Dominique told her quietly. “So very wrong. You’re my daughter and I should have been on your side, no matter what. I should have trusted you. I’m sorry.”

Charlie let the words wash over her. They were too little, too late, and she wasn’t completely sure she believed them, but even hearing them helped.

“Thank you.”

“No,” her mother said forcefully. “It’s not enough to be sorry. I see that now. Except I want us to be friends. Is that too much to ask? Is it too late? Have I lost you like Mayor Marsha lost her daughter? Are you going to move away and die so we never have a chance?”

Charlie had heard bits and pieces about the mayor’s past so she sort of had an idea about the tragedy in her family. “It’s a big leap from what we’re dealing with to my early demise.”

“I know, but if you’re dead, I’ll be all alone.”

Charlie wasn’t sure if she should laugh or scream. “Because it’s all about you?”

“I’d miss you very much.”

“And you’d be alone.”

Tears filled Dominique’s eyes. “Yes. That, too.”

Her mother was who she had always been. She might make small changes and try to act differently, but in her heart she would be the prima ballerina she’d been in her youth. Known throughout the world, a woman to be envied. A star who had danced for queens and presidents and prime ministers.

Charlie knew she could dredge up a thousand horrible memories. Times when her mother had dismissed her or ignored her. She could remember Dominique telling Dan that sending their only child to boarding school wouldn’t be such a bad thing. But she also recalled men coming to the door and begging for a crumb of attention. Dominique always told them that her heart belonged to one man. And it always had.

“I love you,” Dominique whispered.

The words caught Charlie off guard. She tried to steel herself against them, to say they didn’t matter, but the simple phrase seemed to slip through her defenses and settle into her bruised and hungry heart.

Unexpected longing made her shift in her seat. Despite everything, she couldn’t dismiss her mother or what she’d said. She couldn’t say she was finished and that Dominique should go back to wherever she’d come from.

“I can do better,” Dominique continued, her gaze pleading. “I can change.”

“I’m not sure I believe that,” Charlie admitted. “But I’ll accept that you...care.” Love, she thought. She wasn’t ready to go there. But caring was a little easier.

“I do. I want this to work. We can be there for each other.”

“Oh, joy.”

Dominique either didn’t get or easily ignored the sarcasm. “Did you know there’s a dance school here in Fool’s Gold?”

“Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?” Horror swept through her. “No,” she said quickly, holding up both hands. “No way. You can’t.”

Her mother beamed at her. “I already did. I bought it.”

“When?”

“I made the offer this morning. It’s very generous, so I’m sure she’ll agree. The owner will stay on as the director, but we’re changing the name to the Dominique Guérin Academy of Dance. I’ll offer creative direction.”