Betrayal - Chapter 18
Tuesday
I bit the inside of my lips until the tears that were threatening to spill went away. “You mentioned that the new security system is in place?”
“I was hoping to give you the good news that you could come home,” said my dad. “But with Isabella…I don’t…I’m not sure it’s for the best.”
“You mean you’re scared she’ll hurt me if I come back?”
“I honestly don’t know.”
I swallowed hard. He was always so certain. How was he not confident in his ability to control Isabella?
“And then there’s the issue of your health.
If Isabella really is setting off your panic attacks…
it would be best to eliminate her from your life as much as possible.
She’ll be going off to college next fall.
Then you’ll be perfectly happy and healthy coming back home.
But until then, we need to discuss some more suitable alternatives. My second apartment…”
“Can’t I stay with Matt?”
“I’m not on the best terms with Matthew’s father. I’m not sure if they’d be open to that arrangement. Plus the apartment has all the highest security…”
“I don’t want to be there all alone.”
“Of course not. I’d never let you be alone. Miller and Donnelley will always be with you.”
I couldn’t even imagine what Matt would do if he found out I was supposed to basically be living with two other guys.
Especially if he knew that I’d been involved with one of them.
“Please, Dad. If I can’t live with you until next fall, please let me stay at the Caldwells’ until then.
I don’t think they mind me being there. I could get a job to help pay for food and… ”
“It’s not about the money. I agreed for you to go there on a temporary basis. Not for a whole year.”
“But…”
“And then there’s the issue of school itself. Until Isabella graduates, I think maybe homeschooling would be best. I’ve been researching a few of the best online options and of course we could have private tutors. Then you won’t have to see Isabella at all.”
“What? No.”
“It’s the safest option.”
“But I don’t want to be in that apartment all day and all night.
That’s not a solution. That’s…that’s locking me away.
” This conversation was reminding me of the way he’d first treated me.
Like I didn’t belong in his world. But screw that.
I belonged just as much as Isabella. I was his blood too.
He was acting like he wanted to hide me from the world.
Like he was embarrassed of me. And I was sick and tired of everyone making me feel like I was trash.
“Is that the deal you offered my mom if she stayed? That she could be in that apartment as long as she never left?”
“I didn’t bargain with your mother. I bought her that apartment because I loved her. I never asked her not to leave. Because she was never mine. You are. I’m trying to protect you.”
“That’s not the way to protect me. You can’t just keep me separated from the rest of the world. That’s not a solution.”
“I can’t guarantee your safety at school. Just look at what happened today.”
“I belong at Empire High just as much as Isabella does. If she gets to keep going, so do I. Or maybe you should lock her up in an apartment and homeschool her because she’s the one causing problems. Not me.”
He took a deep breath and leaned back in the booth. “As you may have seen…I’ve been having a hard time controlling Isabella’s actions. Finding loopholes to the rules has always been one of her favorite activities. And it’s been worse since she’s found out about you. I can’t control her.”
“But you can control me?”
“I need to keep you safe. I can’t let anything happen to you too.”
I swallowed hard. “Counter proposal. I stay with Matt. And I keep going to Empire High.”
“That’s not a solution. Isabella will…” his voice trailed off. He pressed his fingers to his forehead like he was fighting off a headache. “I don’t know what she’ll do. That’s the whole problem.”
He looked defeated. And I realized that maybe my dad’s promises were futile. Because he’d admitted he couldn’t control Isabella. I wondered if maybe a part of him was as scared of her as I was.
“One thing you should know about me,” I said.
“I learned a very important lesson when my mom got sick. Time is limited. And I made a promise to myself to live each and every moment to its fullest. I won’t stay locked up in an apartment.
I won’t stay home from school. There’s nothing worse than not living each moment you have.
” Isabella wasn’t going to control my life.
There wasn’t a chance in hell that I’d let her.
That’s why I’d stayed here. To prove that she couldn’t break me.
That I belonged here just as much as she did.
“And I’m sorry that Mr. Caldwell doesn’t like you,” I added.
“But I think he’s warming up to me. So I’ll ask him and Mrs. Caldwell myself if I can stay for a year.
I’ll figure out what they want for room and board and I’ll make sure I work to give it to them.
And I’m going to keep going to Empire High because it’s where my uncle wanted me to go.
I’m not going to let Isabella steal a year of my life from me. Because that’s exactly what she wants.”
Each word that fell out of my mouth made me feel more determined. I nodded, like I was giving myself a pep talk. I was staying in New York. I was done hiding. Someone needed to knock Isabella off her high horse.
My dad raised his eyebrow. “I guess there’s no changing your mind?”
I tried to sit up a little straighter. Nunca. “No.”
“Don’t worry about the Caldwells then,” my dad said. “I’ll talk to them myself. Besides, Matthew’s made it very clear that we’re all to be family soon enough. Let me see the ring.” He put his hand out.
I placed my hand into his.
“It suits you,” he said. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
I nodded.
“Very well. I’ll have some more paperwork for both of you to fill out.” He dropped my hand and took a sip of his coffee.
“Speaking of paperwork. Can I have copies of all the documents I’ve signed?” It was like a fire had been lit under my butt. Remembering the promises I’d made to myself after my mom’s death reminded me to stop being stagnant.
“Of course.”
Wait, really? That was easy.
“I’ll make sure Miller gives you copies by tonight. I’m glad that you’re being thorough. I was a little worried you signed the relationship agreement a tad too quickly.”
I didn’t want him to know that I hadn’t really read either of them. I cleared my throat. “Speaking of Miller. He mentioned that he was leaving. But he’s still here.” I hoped that was vague enough.
“Much like you, Miller signed documents when he started working for me. All of my employees are family. It’s a mutual understanding. You don’t quit on family.”
The way he said it made a chill run down my spine.
But Miller was an employee, not family. Surely he could quit.
That didn’t make any sense. But I was worried questioning it any further would just put suspicion on Miller.
I’d have to talk to Miller about it later.
Besides, I had a few more questions while I was feeling brave enough to ask.
“Isabella mentioned that the Hunters owed you a debt. And that James has to marry her to pay it off. Is that true?”
My dad laughed. “I didn’t realize you’d have so many questions for me this afternoon.” He smiled. “As for Isabella…she has a very active imagination.”
That isn’t exactly a no.
“Oh look,” he said. “Our food is here.”
I looked up as the waitress dropped off a few turkey sandwiches with all the fixings and…chocolate milkshakes. Just like my mom and I used to order.
I wanted to see the menacing man I always expected him to be. But I didn’t see it. I saw a man who loved my mom fiercely. A man who lost. He wasn’t a monster. I couldn’t believe any of the lies Isabella tried to spread. She was a loophole ninja. She was trying to play me. But I wasn’t her puppet.
My dad’s response did bother me though. “So Isabella was lying about her and James?”
“The Hunters came upon rough times several years back. It was actually the start of a joint business venture. Completely unrelated to any of our children. I would never force either of my daughters to marry someone they didn’t want to.
Especially for money,” he said with a laugh.
“I mean, look at you. I told you that Mason was a better option. His whole future has been laid out in front of him. But I can tell you’re happy with Matthew.
And even if he might not provide for you as well, I gave him my blessing. I just want you to be happy, princess.”
“I don’t need him to provide for me. I’m happiest in places just like this.”
My dad smiled. “I know. But you don’t have anything to worry about regardless. Your inheritance is now sizably larger than either of the Caldwell boys anyway. If anything, Matthew is a step below you.”
I would never describe Matt that way. “You know I didn’t ask for any of that.”
“Which is precisely why I’m giving it to you.” He pushed my milkshake forward. “Aren’t you going to try it? I swear it’s the best in the city.”
I smiled and took a sip. It tasted just like the ones at the diner back home. I watched my dad take a bite of his sandwich. Sitting in this diner with him felt normal. He didn’t feel like a stranger anymore. He felt like a freaking lifeline.
“I do have one more question,” I said. I’d found out what the locked room at his secret apartment was for.
It was filled with my mom’s things. But there was a locked room in his actual apartment too.
And I wanted to know what was in it. “What’s in the room down the hall from my bedroom at your apartment?
The one with the new security key code? Is that filled with my mom’s stuff too? ”
He dabbed a napkin across his lips. “No. That’s…” his voice trailed off. “You know what? I think it would be best if I showed that to you in person. The next time you come over, okay?”
“Yeah. Okay.” How bad could it be if he was willing to show it to me? I was breathing easier already. I’d asked every single question I’d had for him.
“Tell me more about your relationship with Matthew,” my dad said. “Is it progressing toward intimacy? I know you mentioned before that it wasn’t, but we need to be safe with these things.”
Oh God. Not the sex talk again. “Everything’s good, I promise.”
He nodded. “Good, good.” He took a sip of his milkshake.
For a minute neither of us said anything at all. And I really hoped that was the end of the conversation. But then he started talking again.
“But do you mean good as in you are being sexually active?”
“Dad.” Wasn’t this a weird thing to bring up in public? I looked over to see if any of the waitresses had heard him. Fortunately they all seemed busy.
“Okay, we don’t have to discuss it any further.
But, Brooklyn, if you’re planning on moving in that direction with Matt, I think it’s better to stay in front of all of this.
If you’re okay with it, I’d like to go ahead and set that appointment with Dr. Wilson sooner rather than later.
It’s better to just get it out of the way, don’t you think? ”
“Sure.” If he was going to keep pressing the issue of birth control maybe it was just better to get it over with. “Do you mind if I do it alone though? This whole thing is very awkward.”
“Oh. I mean, yes, if that’s what you want. But if you’re uncomfortable talking about it with me, then maybe you aren’t ready to…”
“It’s fine. Really.” Just because I didn’t want to talk about sex with my dad didn’t mean I wasn’t ready to have sex. I didn’t even think I’d be comfortable having this conversation with my mom.
“Okay. I won’t mention it again.” He smiled.
I took a huge bite of my sandwich. Now that the question was out there…was I ready to have sex? I knew Matt was. He said he was waiting for me. And I knew he loved me. I was all in with him. So shouldn’t I go all the way with him?
“Are you getting excited for the holidays?” my dad asked.
It was a normal question to ask in the fall. But I honestly hadn’t been thinking about it at all. This would be the first time I didn’t celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with my mom. “Mhm,” I said, even though my heart wasn’t really in it.
“I know it’s several weeks away, but no matter what’s going on with Isabella, I’d like you to come over for Thanksgiving.
It’s always a pretty big celebration for us.
We have family coming in from out of town that I want you to meet.
And you can invite whoever else you want.
I just…it’s a day for family. And I want you to be there.
Besides, Isabella’s always in a lovely mood around Thanksgiving. ”
The Hunters had mentioned Isabella being cheery during the holidays. I couldn’t really imagine a sweet and charming holiday Isabella. But it had to be better than a gun slinging Isabella. “Yeah. That would be nice.”
He smiled. “It’s so easy to see your mother when I look at you. But I see a lot of myself too. You go after what you want and you get it. You should consider applying to the business school of whatever college you plan on going to.”
“Did you study business in college?”
He nodded. “I used to think that Isabella would take over the family business one day. But I’m seeing everything a little differently now.”
I couldn’t help but smile. I still didn’t know exactly what it was he did.
But it was the first time I truly thought that being a Pruitt maybe wasn’t such a bad thing.
And no matter how hard I fought it…I was a Pruitt.
I belonged here. I just needed to prove it to Isabella too.
And I think James and Rob were right. Pudding seemed like a pretty great way to put her in her place.