Chapter 2
CHARLIE
Charlie gripped the steering wheel hard enough to make her knuckles ache as she navigated through traffic toward Trinity's ballet academy.
Fury burned hot and bright in her chest. It was a white-hot rage that made her want to turn the car around, drive straight to Holly's house, and give Simon Bennett a piece of her mind.
Actually, forget a piece. She'd give him the whole thing.
She'd never liked Simon. Not from the beginning.
There was something about him that had always rubbed her the wrong way.
He was too smooth, too charming, too quick with the right answer, and the kind of attorney that gave all attorneys a bad name with his sleaze.
Holly had been swept off her feet when they'd met in college, and by the time Charlie had figured out that Simon was all flash and no substance, they were already engaged.
But Terry? That blindsided Charlie.
Terry Simmons, who was now Terry Brown, had grown up next door to them.
She and Holly had been inseparable since before they could walk.
Matching Halloween costumes. Sleepovers every weekend.
Bridesmaids at each other's weddings. Charlie had been at Terry's divorce party two, no, three years ago, watching her cry into her wine while Holly rubbed her back and promised her everything would be okay.
And all that time, she'd been having an affair with Holly's husband?
Charlie's hands tightened on the wheel. How had she missed it? How had any of them missed it? Is that why Terry’s husband had just up and suddenly divorced her in what seemed like a spur-of-the-moment decision?
Like he’d come home one day and thought, I’m going to divorce Terry today.
Because if that were the case, it would make more sense.
She pulled into the parking lot of the ballet academy just as parents were starting to trickle out with their daughters.
Trinity appeared a moment later, her duffel bag slung over one shoulder, still wearing her leotard under a pair of shorts.
Her dark hair was pulled back in a bun, and when she spotted Charlie's car, her face lit up.
Charlie forced a smile as Trinity climbed into the passenger seat.
"Aunt Charlie! What are you doing here? Where's Gran?"
"Change of plans, sweetheart." Charlie pulled back into traffic, keeping her voice light. "You and your gran are going to stay with me for a few days."
Trinity's smile faded. She was quiet for a moment, studying Charlie's profile with those sharp green eyes that missed nothing. "Did Gran and Granddad have a fight?"
Charlie's chest tightened. "Something like that. But it's probably best if you talk to your gran about it, okay?"
Trinity went silent.
Charlie drove, focusing on the road, but she could feel Trinity's gaze on her. The silence stretched, thick and uncomfortable, until finally Trinity spoke again.
"Can I go with you to Gran's house? To pick up my own clothes?" Trinity asked.
Charlie hesitated. The last thing she wanted was for Trinity to run into Simon and Terry if they were even still there. "Maybe it's best if you let me handle that, sweetheart."
More silence.
"Aunt Charlie,” Trinity’s voice was soft. “Did Gran find out about Granddad and Terry?"
Charlie's foot nearly slipped off the gas. Her head whipped toward Trinity so fast her neck cracked. "What? How do you…" She caught herself, forcing her eyes back to the road. Her heart was pounding. "Trinity, how do you know about that?"
“So Gran has found out.” Trinity's eyes filled with guilt, her small hands twisting together in her lap.
When she spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper.
"About four months ago, I was on a school trip to the aquarium, remember?
I saw Granddad and Terry in the parking lot.
They were... they were kissing." Her voice cracked.
"I was already running toward them before I realized what they were doing.
He saw me and made me promise not to tell Gran.
He said he and Terry were just sorting something out, that she needed comfort.
" Her eyes narrowed, and suddenly she looked much older than twelve.
"Did he really think I was five? I knew what they were doing. "
Charlie's mind raced as pieces clicked into place. "Is that why you wouldn't go with your granddad and Terry to the state fair a few weekends ago?"
Trinity nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
And suddenly, everything made sense.
Holly had mentioned Trinity acting up around Simon.
She’d suddenly started refusing to hug him, giving him the silent treatment, rolling her eyes whenever he spoke, and back-chatting him, which was not like Trinity at all.
Holly had told Simon to stop letting her get away with it, but he'd just shrugged it off.
"She's going through tweenhood," he'd said. "It'll pass."
But it hadn't been tweenhood at all.
That cheating snake had let Trinity treat him like dirt because she knew his secret. He'd put that burden on a twelve-year-old child to protect himself.
Fury exploded through Charlie's chest, hot and visceral. Her hands gripped the wheel so tight she thought it might crack.
“I’m so sorry, Aunt Charlie,” Trinity’s voice wobbled. “I’m so, so sorry, I should’ve told Gran… or you.”
Charlie’s head shot around, and her anger intensified as she saw the tears in her great-niece’s eyes.
"Trinity," she said carefully, her voice shaking with barely controlled rage. "Listen to me. None of this—none of it—is your fault. Do you understand? Your granddad had no right to put that on you. No right at all."
Trinity's tears spilled over, and Charlie reached across the console to squeeze her hand.
“But… but I’ve let Gran down.” Trinity’s tears spilled onto her lap as her head dipped. “I lied to gran.”
“No!” Charlie shook her head, reaching out with a hand to grab Trinity’s. “No, sweetheart, your grandmother will understand, and she’ll tell you the same thing. This isn’t your fault.”
“I don’t want to lose Gran…” Trinity swallowed. “Or… or you.”
“Oh, honey…” Charlie glanced at the young girl. “You’ll never lose us. We love you so much and nothing, nothing will ever change that.” She gave her a warm smile. "We're going to get through this," she said firmly. "All of us. Together."
Trinity nodded, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand.
Charlie pulled into the parking garage of her building and cut the engine. She looked at her niece. This brave, brilliant girl who'd been carrying a secret no child should have to carry, and made a silent vow.
Simon Bennett was going to pay for this.
Every. Last. Bit.