Broken Wings (A Romantic Suspense)(46)

Jack looks up. I see the color drain from his face.

“If he hurts you I’ll…”

She shakes her head. “I don’t know about that, Jack. I am worried, I admit it. He doesn’t know how to let things go, you know? He’s left me alone for all these years. I kept my mouth shut and declined interviews. No tell-all books, no television specials. I just want to be out of his life completely.”

Jack tenses next to me. I grab his hand, reaching across my lap to touch it with my good hand.

“I’m glad you’re here,” his mother says finally. “I wish I could go to your wedding, but we both know why I can’t.”

She sighs. “Are you full? Want more to eat?”

I shake my head. Jack rubs my back with his hand and shakes his.

“I’d appreciate it if you’d spend some time with the girls while you’re here. I don’t know when I can expect you to see them again.”

Jack looks at me.

“You can lie down in the guest bedroom if—”

I stand and gather up the dirty plates as best I can, balancing them on my left arm. Jack joins in and we end up carrying them together.

“I’ll get the dishes,” his mom volunteers.

I walk out into the living room, and Jack follows. I see the girls looking up at me. I can feel the curiosity in their eyes, hear the unasked questions. What happened to your face? Why are you like that?

Jack takes a seat next to me on the couch and I fall against him. They’re watching some kind of show about a…sponge?

Weird.

I haven’t watched cartoons in years. I stopped really watching television at all years ago. I don’t know why, I just did. The books just sucked me in, and I could stay in my bedroom with them.

Leaning on Jack, I pull my legs up and fold them, tucking myself up into a ball. After a while the younger of the two girls gets up and sits next to me on the couch, mimicking my position.

“You’re boyfriend and girlfriend?” she says.

“Yep,” Jack says.

“Are you going to get married?”

Jack hesitates for a moment. “Yep.”

“Are you going to have babies?”

“Not for lacking of trying—” Jack starts to say, but I cut him off.

“We don’t know yet,” I say.

After an hour, maybe two, I feel myself start to relax. I keep expecting to spot them staring at me, but it never happens. When I do catch them looking, they don’t turn away. They look at me and ask me another silly kid question.

After a few hours of being gradually interrogated about my favorite color, book, food, and other things, Jack’s mother walks out into the living room.

“My husband is on his way home. His name is Neil, Ellie. He and Jack have never met. Girls, I want you to head upstairs.”

They start to protest, but she shuts them down and shoos them up the stairs with ruthless efficiency and sits down in a side chair.

“How long?” Jack says.

“Half an hour. He’s wrapping things up at his office.”

“He’s an accountant.”

“Yes.”

The room is heavy with silence until the door opens and I hear footsteps. I tense up as a new person draws near and instinctively turn to press my scars against Jack and hide my face. He tightens his arm around me.

His mother’s new husband—his stepfather?—is a little heavyset, around six feet tall, balding, and wears little spectacles perched on his nose. He loosens his tie and sits down in the other side chair, facing his wife. He finally looks at Jack after about five minutes. It’s like I don’t even exist.

“Are you bringing trouble on my house?”

Jack sighs. “I don’t think so. Once I’m gone, no one will bother with you.”

“I’ll handle it,” Jack’s mother says. “He’ll call, I’ll answer his questions, and that will be the end of it.”

“That will be the end of it?”

“Neil—”

“Don’t ‘Neil’ me. I’ve heard all the stories you told me about your ex-husband. I would have liked to have been informed that his son was going to show up at my house.”

“My son,” Jack’s mom corrects. “My house, too. He’s welcome here. I haven’t seen him since he was a little boy, Neil.”

“I’ll be gone tomorrow,” Jack says.

Neil looks at me. I sit up.

“I’m Ellie. I’m Jack’s girlfriend.”

“I know who you are. Helen has mentioned you to me. I’m sorry about your accident.”

“Thanks,” I say flatly.

He sighs and scrubs his fingers through his thinning hair.

“I must sound like a real bastard. I’m sorry, but, Jesus Christ. I’m thinking about my family here. I’d rather not have one of the richest men in the world out for my blood.”

“No one is going to be out for your blood,” Helen says calmly. “I said I’ll handle it.”

Neil looks at us and sighs.

“Let’s have dinner,” Helen says, rising. “I’ll get it started. Help me out, Neil. Let’s leave these two alone for a bit.”

After they step out, Jack slips his arm around me and squeezes me, hard. I bury my face in his neck and breathe deep his scent.