Chapter 32
Thirty-Two
T he anger boiling in Margot’s blood swiftly pushed out any surprise. Who the hell did he think he was showing up here after all this time? After all he’d done?
Reaching out, she yanked open the door and stepped through.
“Margot, wait.” Audra’s voice followed her outside.
“No. I’m done playing whatever game this is.” She marched down the hill, shoes slapping against the asphalt driveway.
She heard Audra groan. “You could at least let me put on some shorts and grab my gun.”
“He won’t hurt me.”
“It’s not him I’m worried about.”
The danger they were all facing penetrated the rage burning through her brain, and she halted just before they rounded the bend in the drive. With a huff, she turned. “Fine. Go. I’ll wait here.”
“How about you come back up with me?”
Margot crossed her arms. “You can sprint that distance and back before I’d even make it to the house. I’m not running up this hill.”
Audra rolled her eyes. “I’ll be right back.” Spinning around, she took off up the drive.
Sighing, Margot turned, glancing down the hill. She couldn’t see the gate from here.
Was he still there? How long would he wait?
She crept forward, moving off the driveway. It wouldn’t hurt to peek while she waited on Audra. Just to make sure he hadn’t left.
Margot pushed into the trees and hedges lining the drive, thankful they lived in a jungle. Easing down the hill, she crept forward until she could see through the foliage.
From this angle, she couldn’t see much. But the top of his dark blond head was visible.
Her anger surged again. He’d be lucky if she didn’t slap him. Or punch him in the nose.
Max might. She wouldn’t stop him. She’d probably cheer him on.
Leaning against a tree, she studied him, keeping one ear open for Audra’s return. He looked good for a supposed dead man. Healthy. But he was twitchy. He couldn’t stay still, she noticed. And every little sound drew his attention.
“Margot!” Audra’s hissed exclamation drifted through the jungle.
She glanced over her shoulder, seeing the woman coming down the hill. Pushing off the tree, she emerged from the dense foliage near the gate.
“You scared me half to death.” Audra leveled a fierce frown on her. “I thought something happened to you.”
“Sorry. I wanted to make sure he didn’t leave.”
“We’d have found him. He couldn’t get far around here. There’s only one road in and out, and the guys are on their way. Annabeth called them as soon as we left the house.”
“Well, at least we’d have known which way he went.”
Audra just blinked.
Margot shrugged and started down the driveway. Together, they rounded the bend.
Tad noticed and backed up into the hedge before recognizing her. He eyed Audra warily.
“Hi.” He lifted a hand and waved it once.
Margot and Audra stopped a few feet from the iron gate set into the stone pillars.
“What the hell do you want, Tad?” Margot crossed her arms and glared, virtually vibrating as she came face-to-face with the man who’d destroyed her life fourteen months ago.
He tipped his head back, looking skyward, then sighed. “Are the girls all right?”
“They’re fine. Why are you here?”
“I just…” His mouth pulled. “It wasn’t supposed to be this way, Margot.” He blinked several times and looked away.
Margot sighed, some of her ire leaving. Now she was just pissed and disappointed. “I still don’t understand why you’re here. I mean, I get that you’re concerned, but you could have called. Or, you know, come clean with me to begin with.”
“I know. I handled all this terribly. But that doesn’t matter now. I know you know what’s going on. I talked to some friend of yours. Asher. I—I think Fred’s here. I don’t want him coming after you and the girls. It’s me he wants.”
Audra stepped to the side and hit the button to open the gate. Margot glanced at her with a curious frown.
“He’s better off in here with us. I have questions, and the guys will too.”
Lips pursed, Margot didn’t argue. She didn’t like it, but knew Audra was right. This wasn’t a conversation to have at the end of the driveway. “Fine. But let’s get one thing clear. The girls will not recognize you. When you walked out and gave up your rights to them, I erased you from our lives. I didn’t want to give them false hope that you’d be back. And I still don’t. So, as far as they’re concerned today, you’re just an old friend who’s come to visit.”
Hurt flashed in his eyes, but he nodded. “I understand. I never wanted to hurt them. Or you. I was trying to protect you.”
Margot’s jaw worked, some of her anger returning. “There were better ways.” Spinning on her heel, she set off back up the drive.
When she reached the front door, she hesitated and glanced back. “I meant what I said. They don’t need to know who you are.”
“I won’t say anything, Margot. I promise. I get it. You’re right. I won’t be able to be here for them. They don’t deserve that kind of dad.”
Max’s face flashed through her mind. He was the kind of dad she wanted for her daughters. She had no doubt Tad loved Emily and Lily, but Max did, too, and he would never leave.
Turning around, she let them into the house.
The living room was empty.
“Annabeth?” Margot called.
Tad groaned.
She looked at him as she walked toward the kitchen. His shoulders had slumped, and he now had a look of dismay written on his face.
“I was hoping to avoid her. I thought that was her voice on the intercom. She’s going to filet me like a fish.”
Margot didn’t bother to hide her smile. “Most likely. But for now, you’re safe. She won’t do it in front of the twins.”
Only a modicum of relief crossed his face.
They entered the kitchen to find it empty. A quick glance outside showed Emily back on the diving board. She dashed down it and jumped into the pool. Lily climbed the steps, watching for her sister to swim out of the way.
“God, they’ve gotten so big.” Emotion thickened his voice.
Margot swallowed around the lump in her throat. She felt for him. He’d missed a lot and would miss even more. But it was his own doing.
“Stay here,” Audra said. “It might be best if you watch through the window.” She walked toward the door. “I’ll let Annabeth know we’re back.”
Margot nodded, then she was gone.
Tad moved closer to the window, staring out at the pool. “Lily’s still cautious, I see.”
The girl moved at a much more sedate pace toward the end of the diving board before jumping off the end.
“They’re both great swimmers, though,” he remarked.
“They spend a lot of time here.”
“Is this the British lady’s house?”
“No. It belongs to my partner.”
“Partner?” He glanced back, a frown creasing his brows.
“Max Carson. We’re dating.”
“Oh.” He nodded. “I think I saw him. I hid across the street from your house when I first arrived. He’s the one you went home with last night, right?”
Twin pops of color heated her cheeks, and her eyes turned hard. “You were spying on me?”
He held up his hands. “Not like that. I went to your house when I got here, hoping to just catch a glimpse of you and the girls. To make sure you were safe. But you weren’t back yet. So I sat in the bushes and watched. You showed up with Marchand and two men I don’t know. Then I saw you go to your house with one of them. Was that him?”
Margot’s expression remained sour, not liking that he’d been watching, and no one had known. It made her wonder who else could be out there. “Yes.”
His head bobbed, and he turned to stare out at the twins again, tucking his hands under his arms. “I hope he’s a better partner and father than I was.”
She kept her mouth shut. There was no point confirming or denying anything. He knew he’d screwed up and that she wouldn’t fall for the same thing again, no matter how handsome the man.
“I really am sorry, Margot. About everything.” He turned his head enough to see her from the corner of his eye. “From the gambling and the lies to how I left. I made a royal mess of things, and I just—I was ashamed to tell you what I’d done.”
“I get that. But I was your wife. We vowed in good times and in bad. You should have trusted me—trusted our marriage—enough to confide in me.”
“I know, but I couldn’t bear to have you look at me like the loser I’d become.”
“Tad, you’re not a loser. You made mistakes.”
He scowled, giving a soft huff. “Big ones.” He shook his head. “Most of all, I just didn’t want to look you in the eye and know that I’d hurt you.” His gaze flicked to hers. “I know that makes me a coward. I’m so sorry, Margot.”
She clenched her teeth, holding his gaze. Forgiving him wouldn’t come easily, but she was glad he’d admitted his wrongdoings. “Thank you for apologizing.”
“I know it won’t erase it. And I don’t expect you to forgive me. Not right away. But eventually, I’d like to have a relationship with them.” He pointed out the window. “Whenever that may be. I’m still in a lot of trouble.”
The skeletal remains she’d found on Conroy’s farm entered her mind. She bit the inside of her cheek, holding back the questions. Marchand needed to be here for that.