Chapter 5
Chapter Five
S he paused to pour some water into the mugs. “I’m sorry it’s taking me a while to make the tea. I still don’t know where things are, and I know Ashley said to make myself comfortable…”
Lily drifted closer and leaned against the other side of the counter. “I wish you’d let me help you.”
Amy finished pouring the water and set the kettle back on the counter. “You’ve already done a lot for me. I have to do some things on my own.”
Especially if this was going to be her life now.
With a smile, she placed the kettle back on the counter next to a sleek black air fryer and a toaster. Then, she retrieved a yellow rag from in front of the sink and wiped down the marble counter. Ashley left the kitchen spick-and-span, but Amy still didn’t want to disturb anything. After shutting several of the open kitchen cabinets, Amy rummaged through the remaining open drawers for some cutlery. Once she was done, she carried a tray out with some mini sandwiches, a pitcher of peach iced tea, and three mugs of steaming hot tea.
Liam, Lily’s son, stood with his face pressed to the double glass doors, overlooking the small backyard. As soon as Amy set the tray down, Lily placed a hand on his shoulder and said something into his ear. Slowly, Liam spun around, his shaggy and unkempt hair glistening underneath fluorescent lighting. His dark eyes regarded Amy intently, and she tried to avoid looking at him directly.
He was the spitting image of Lance, Lily’s ex, but he had a little bit of his grandfather in him too, especially around his jawline and the broad shoulders that filled out his green button-down shirt. After pausing to tuck his shirt into his jeans, Liam sank into the brown leather armchair. In silence, he leaned forward to pick up his tea, fingers curling tightly around the mug.
Amy and Lily sat down next to each other.
“You didn’t have to come and check on me,” Amy began, pausing to rearrange the sandwiches on the plate. She handed it to Lily and picked up another plate to do the same, peering at the mini croissants they’d picked up from Emily’s bakery. “I’m doing fine.”
Lily patted her on the shoulders. “I know you are, but can’t I check in anyway?”
Amy leaned back against the brown leather couch, and it made a low creaking sound. “As long as that’s all you’re doing.”
Amy appreciated her stepdaughter checking in, but she didn’t need saving.
Nor did she want it.
It was time for her to step out of the shadows and stand on her own two feet, no matter how daunting and herculean the task seemed.
“I promise I’m trying not to meddle,” Lily said between bites of food. She paused to swat away wisps of wavy auburn hair. Then, she twisted so she was facing Amy directly, brown eyes soft and earnest. “Are you sure you’re okay though?”
Amy took a long sip of her tea, and it burned as it slid a path down her throat. “Yes, I’m sure.”
Lily sighed and glanced back at Liam. “We’re worried about you.”
“You don’t have anything to worry about.” Amy waved their comment away and tried to hide the tremor in her hand. “How is Laura’s leg, by the way? Is it healing nicely?”
Liam sighed. “Yes. She hates we had to postpone the wedding, but she doesn’t want to be in a cast during the ceremony and everything else.”
Amy took another sip of her tea. “That’s understandable. I’m sure she’ll be on her feet again in no time.”
Liam cleared his throat. “I hope so too.”
“Mom.” Lily inched closer to her and frowned. “There’s something we need to tell you.”
“I know you don’t like bad news, Grandma,” Liam began, pausing to take a few sips of his own tea and grimacing, “but I don’t want to see you get hurt, and I want you to be prepared.”
Amy’s heart missed a beat. “What did Eric do?”
Liam let his free hand fall to his side as he set down his drink and his untouched plate. He wouldn’t meet her gaze, no matter how much Amy wanted him to. “It’s not what he’s done. It’s what he’s planning to do.”
A hard knot formed in the center of Amy’s stomach. “I didn’t take anything that belonged to him.”
Liam pressed two fingers to his temples. “He’s planning to argue that you shouldn’t have taken anything at all. Since he paid for everything.”
Amy tried to swallow, but her throat was dry.
She’d known Eric was going to play dirty, but she had no idea why she thought he’d try to maintain a shred of decency or compassion for her.
“He’s already started trying to undo all of the good work you’ve done,” Liam continued in a quieter voice. “He’s trying to take credit for your charity work, your volunteer work, and everything in between.”
Amy’s eyes widened, an angry flush climbing up her neck and cheeks. “He didn’t do anything! I’m the one who put in those long hours and all of the hard work. All Eric wanted to do was cut a check and get pictures of himself kissing babies leaked to the press…”
Liam grimaced and finally met her gaze. “I know. I know what Grandpa is like, but since you’re not there to defend yourself, he can say whatever he wants.”
Amy rose to her feet and ran her fingers through her hair. “And no one is trying to stop him, are they? Not a single person is coming to my defense…”
It shouldn’t surprise her, but the betrayal stung all the same.
All of these years being a good and upstanding member of the community, who tried to give back and do as much good as possible, were about to come undone.
All because of one selfish and narrow-sighted man who couldn’t handle rejection.
Lily stood and draped an arm over Amy’s shoulders. “Forget about him. Everyone who knows you knows the truth. He’s just running his mouth because he doesn’t like being humiliated.”
Amy swallowed. “What can I do to stop him?”
Carefully, Liam rose to his feet and undid the first few buttons of his shirt. “Right now, he can’t do anything. Not without a court date, and there’s no court that’s going to listen to him ramble about how you took your clothes. They’re your clothes, even if he’s the one who paid for them.”
Amy’s ears began to ring, and a strange lightheadedness began to wash over her. “Court date?”
Liam nodded, his expression solemn. “You’re going to need a lawyer, Grandma Amy. I’m happy to offer you legal advice in the meantime, but you need to prepare yourself. Grandpa is coming for you, and he’s not going to stop.”
Amy made a low, choked noise and collapsed against the couch. “But I…how am I going to stop him? I don’t have anything.”
Lily sat down next to her and tucked Amy into her side. “That’s not true. You have us.”
Liam crouched in front of her and took both of her hands in his.
She hadn’t realized how cold her hands were until Liam’s own warm and calloused hands enveloped hers.
“Grandma, I know you don’t want to think about any of this right now, and the timing is horrible, especially because you’re trying to move on with your life, but you need to start coming up with a response.”
Amy felt fear, low and cold, unfurl in the center of her stomach. “A response?”
Liam glanced at his mother and then back at her, his expression growing more and more solemn. “There are rumors Grandpa is…that he’s—”
“There are rumors Dad is a dirty lawyer,” Lily interrupted in an even voice. “I’ve heard a few things here and there over the years, but obviously, I didn’t want to believe any of it. But in light of everything I’ve learned since coming here…”
Amy sniffed and withdrew her hands from Liam’s. “You think I was a part of this?”
Lily’s expression fell. “What? No, of course not. I knew you wouldn’t do something like that. To be honest, I’m still having a hard time wrapping my head around it myself, but I can’t deny that it might be true.”
Amy opened and closed her mouth several times.
Over the years, there had been times when she herself had wondered about the exact same thing. All those late-night international phone calls and all of the side looks she got whenever she interrupted. At the time, Amy had tried to dismiss it all as paranoia, the men in Eric’s life being dismissive and cruel like Eric himself.
In her wildest nightmares, she’d never imagined this.
But as she considered Liam and Lily’s words, a few things began to click into place.
All of the connections Eric had, all of those times he’d skirt too close to trouble, and how nervous it made everyone.
And all of the money.
Amy wasn’t a lawyer, but she was sure lawyers weren’t meant to be making the kind of money her husband was.
Like an idiot, she hadn’t thought to question any of it, not wanting to invite any more trouble into her home.
Amy swallowed a few more times, and her voice was hoarse when she spoke. “I’m sorry, but I…I don’t know. If there was anything happening, I wouldn’t have noticed. I was too busy trying to avoid making him angry. I know that’s not an excuse…”
Lily drew Amy in for a hug and lingered. “It’s not your responsibility or your fault. You did what you had to do in order to survive. No one can blame you for that.”
When Liam’s phone rang, slicing through the air, it brought them all back to the present with a jolt. He offered them both an apologetic look and rose to his feet. Then, he pressed the phone to his ear and spoke in low, measured tones as he stepped out into the garden and slid the door shut behind him. As soon as he did, Amy turned to Lily, her heart thudding painfully against her chest.
“It is my fault,” Amy replied, studiously avoiding her stepdaughter’s gaze. “I knew Eric was a cruel and manipulative man, and I should’ve seen the bigger picture.”
“Amy, please—”
Amy swung her gaze back to Lily’s and released a deep breath. “Thank you for trying to make me feel better about all of this and for opening up your home to me. You and the rest of your family have been so kind and generous, but I don’t deserve it. I don’t deserve any of this.”
A furrow appeared between Lily’s brows. “What are you talking about?”
“I should’ve stood up for you more,” Amy said, the words tumbling out of her in a rush. “I did try, but over the years, it got harder and harder to dissuade your father. You know how difficult he can be. That’s not an excuse; I know. You deserved better because you were counting on me to protect you like a mother would—”
“You did protect me like a mother would,” Lily interrupted hotly. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “There were times when it felt like I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole, but you were the one who kept me from falling in. If it weren’t for you, I never would’ve survived.”
Amy shook her head. “It wasn’t enough.”
And she was going to spend the rest of her life trying to make it up to Lily—to prove she was worthy of the second chance her stepdaughter had given her.
Because while she was too busy trying to put one foot in front of the other and keep her head down, Lily had been forced to endure so much.
Far more than any little girl should’ve had to.
“Amy, I don’t blame you for any of it,” Lily whispered, her voice catching toward the end. “I know you did the best you could. The fact that you were there… It meant the whole world to me. You have nothing to make up for.”
Amy searched her stepdaughter’s face, some of the tightness in her chest abating. “Even so, I know I have a lot to make up for, and I’m going to do whatever I can to show you how sorry I am.”
Lily’s eyes still shone with emotion. “I don’t need you to make anything up to me. All I want you to do is be happy. Take some online classes, do yoga, go for walks. Do whatever you want to do to find yourself again. That’s all I want.”
Amy threw her arms around Lily and burst into tears. “Thank you for not giving up on me, Lily. Even when I gave up on myself.”
“It’s what family does. Whatever comes next, we’ll face it together; I promise.”