If I Only Knew(26)

When no one answers, I decide to dig deeper to see what the real reason she wants to be there is.

“What do you think you’re going to hear that’s going to help you?” I ask.

She moves towards me. “I don’t know, but at least I can see the man who took him from us. Parker will never know Daddy. I want the man responsible to see my face.”

I realize how much she’s like her father right now. Peter had the same fire inside of him. He wanted answers, the truth, and to fight the injustices in the world. I wanted to be happy. Ignorance was bliss for me.

“Do you think he really cares?” I toss back. “Because I can promise you, he doesn’t. Seeing your face isn’t going to suddenly make him ashamed of what he did to us. It won’t make things right. It won’t bring Daddy back. It will do nothing to him and everything to you.”

She sits on the couch beside me. “I’m not a little girl anymore, Mom.”

Oh, how wrong she is. At sixteen, she’s nowhere close to knowing the hard realities that adulthood offers. I would give anything to be young and dumb again. It was so much easier.

I also understand the want she has on some level. She lost her father and this is something that might help bring her closure.

“I know you’re not,” I say. “I can’t let you go to the trial, but if you agree to not fight me on this, then you can come to the reading of the verdict. I want you to skip the gruesome parts, but I think you should be there for the closing arguments.”

Ava leaps toward me, wrapping her arms around my shoulder. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. I won’t fight you.”

I return her hug, trying to remember the last time she embraced me. We’ve been on opposing sides of everything for so long.

She releases too soon, and I go to say something, but the doorbell rings.

“I got it!” she yells and rushes over, pulling the door open before I can get to my feet. “Well, if it isn’t double-oh-sexy,” she twirls her hair.

“Jailbait,” the British accent I spent a good part of my day sparing with replies. “You need a proper spanking.”

“Want to give it to me?” she asks.

Oh, dear God. Milo’s jaw goes slack even though he walked right into that one.

“Go to your room, Ava,” I order and she frowns.

“But he’s so pretty.”

“Go.” I point.

“At least your daughter has eyes that work,” he replies.

“Yes, my sixteen-year-old thinks you’re pretty, you should relish in that.”

Milo ignores me and pulls a folder out. “The city is being run by a bunch of pricks who sent this back. You’re getting a lot of pushback from the existing neighborhood.”

It blows my mind how much people will resist change. This project is to clean up a deteriorating apartment building and revitalize the area. We plan to put a park in for the kids, new basketball hoops because the old ones are broken, and little stores to help with jobs. All of these things are good, but you’d think we’re chopping down a forest to put in a parking lot.

It’s crazy.

It’s also making me look like a fool to Callum. I pushed him on this land. I practically sold him on the idea of how wonderful it would be. Now, he’s fielding all kinds of letters, complaints, and issues with the permits.

“I’m going to have to come up with an idea.”

“I should say so,” Milo agrees with condescending smugness.

Then I remember he works for me. “Well, assistant, since you’re my bitch and all, I think you could really shine in this area.”

“Your bitch?”

“That’s what Callum called you.” I grin. “I think it’s time we put that woman magnet personality and good looks to the test.”

This is going to be so much fun.





Chapter Thirteen





Danielle





“I’ll get it!” Parker yells as the doorbell rings.

“Shit!” I grumble as Ava stands in front of me with a makeup brush.

“Mouth, Mother.”

“Yeah, like you don’t say shit when I’m not around?”

“Oh, I say a lot that you wouldn’t be happy with,” Ava informs me.

“Why did I even ask,” I mutter.

“Mom!” Parker yells. “Milo is here!”

I look at Ava who is smiling at me. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Nothing.”

“Are we done yet? I don’t trust Milo out there with Parker.”

Ava rolls her eyes. “Parker can handle him. He’ll talk him to sleep. No one can be mean to that kid, he’s the best.”

I laugh because she’s not wrong. Ava may be a raging bitch to me, but when it comes to her brother, she’s completely different. She’s always been protective towards him. Now that her father’s not here, she sometimes seems to think she’s another parent instead of a sister, but he loves her and doesn’t mind. Parker is the one thing Ava cares about more than anything.

I’m grateful for that much at least.

“You’re right.” I fidget in my seat, hating this dress. I feel like no matter which way I move, something is falling out that shouldn’t.