Susannah's Garden (Blossom Street #3)(94)

The woman had a point, although Susannah would never concede it. “I’m sorry you have to lash out at others, Sharon,” she said. “Jake must’ve hurt you very badly.” Then she turned and walked out the door. By the time Susannah got to the car, her hands shook so badly it was difficult to push the remote that would unlock the vehicle.

Troy, of all people, had taught her one of the most valuable lessons of her life. She was her father’s daughter.

As she inserted the key in the car’s ignition, Susannah recognized that she’d risked her own relationship with her daughter in doing this. Her marriage, too. Having gone behind Joe’s back again, she wondered how he’d react once he learned what she’d done and why. All she could do was hope he’d understand.

This summer she’d begun to view their relationship with fresh eyes. Through the years, Joe had proven himself. They’d shared hopes, made plans and borne each other’s sorrows. He’d seen her at her best and her worst. Joe was the one who’d always been at her side. Not Jake. He was a fantasy, a long-lost love, a dream that had turned out to be false.

Considering all these revelations, Susannah drove home. The house was dark—did that mean Troy had already made good on his word? Was Chrissie with him? It struck her then that she’d paid this dreadful man twenty-five hundred dollars to break her daughter’s heart. Just like he said he would…

Somehow, Susannah made it up the steps and into the house. Her eyes swam with tears and she could barely see. All those years she’d carried her anger toward her father, like a shield that could never be pierced. She’d held him off, refusing to let him close. Even recently, at the cemetery, she’d ranted at him, charging him with not loving her. But he did love her, more than she’d ever known, as much as Susannah loved her own daughter.

She’d been wrong about so many things.

Her father had loved her and she loved him. Joe had been right all along. As hard as she’d tried not to have any feelings for him, she did. Because of her anger toward him, she’d been unable to grieve normally. Instead, she’d revisited that time in her youth, reliving her outrage, her sense of injustice. Was that so she wouldn’t have to deal with the emotions surrounding his death?

She missed her father, she loved him, and she was sorry. So sorry. Now she’d give anything, anything, to tell him how deeply she regretted her refusal to see his side. She buried her face in her hands and cried until there were no tears left.

When she felt she could speak again, she walked into the kitchen and reached for the phone. Thankfully, Joe answered.

“Susannah, what is it?”

“I—I need you. Please come…I can’t do this without you anymore.”

Her husband didn’t hesitate. “I’ll leave within the hour.”

His simple acceptance of her need, not asking a single question, tore at her. “Joe, oh, Joe, I love you so much.”

“I know, Suze. I love you, too.”

“Joe, I’ve done something so foolish. Please hurry.”

“I’m on my way. Don’t worry. We’ll discuss everything when I get there.”

The road back to herself, to the person she used to be, wanted to be, led directly to her husband, Joe Nelson.

CHAPTER 42

Susannah had composed herself by the time Chrissie returned. As she expected, her daughter was devastated. Sobbing, Chrissie ran into the house and without a word flew into Susannah’s waiting arms. With all her heart, Susannah prayed her daughter would never learn of her part in this.

“What is it?” she asked, cradling Chrissie’s head against her shoulder.

“It’s over,” Chrissie managed between gasping breaths.

“With Troy?”

Her daughter nodded, hugging Susannah close.

“Can you tell me what happened?”

Chrissie shook her head. “I want to die.”

“Oh, sweetheart.”

“I loved him. First Jason, and now Troy. There must be something wrong with me.”

“You can’t honestly think that,” she murmured soothingly. She stroked the back of her daughter’s head and made soft reassuring sounds as she told Chrissie that she was a lovely young woman and would meet the right someone soon.

“Troy kept putting me off about helping if I moved to Colville and now I know why. Mom, oh Mom,” she cried. She leaned away from Susannah and covered her face with both hands. “He’s got a woman living with him. It’s that Jenny—the one he said was an old friend. She’s been there all along.”

This didn’t come as any surprise to Susannah; foolishly the other woman was willing to ignore Troy’s indiscretions.

“What am I going to do?” Chrissie sobbed.

“Everything will be better once you’re home.” Home sounded good to Susannah, too. A month earlier she’d been eager to escape. Her marriage had felt stale, her life in a rut. Now it would take several large volumes to list all her blessings.

“How will I get there?” Chrissie sobbed more loudly now.

“Dad’s driving over tonight.”

Chrissie wiped the tears from her cheeks. Her eyes were bright and moisture clung to her long lashes. “Dad’s coming?” This was apparently the best news she’d heard in some time, because she gave Susannah a wobbly smile.