Chapter Nine
Jason
Once upon a time, I had a good relationship with my father.
When I thought Robert Dare was just our father, mine, Alex’s, and Sienna’s.
After our world blew apart and Robert shattered his image as a dad to look up to?
Well, not so much. I can’t imagine why my father wants me in the room now.
Maybe he thinks he’ll get support from his son.
If so, I hope the man isn’t holding his breath.
We settle into the family room, my mother and father on opposite sides, Robert taking the chair, my mom on the far end of the sofa away from him, with me pulling Faith close to me on the other side.
Why do I want to subject Faith to my father’s drama? Because I need her support, and I’m not ashamed to admit it.
Dealing with my father is draining, keeping track of his truth and lies difficult. But here we are.
I have no intention of making it easy on my father, so I wait in silence for the other man to speak.
Finally, Robert clears his throat. “I want you back, Savannah. I made a mistake and I’m sorry.”
I frown. Mistake is putting it mildly. I might make a lot of mistakes over the course of my life, but cheating on a woman will never be one of them.
“We went through this,” my mother says. “I’m not interested in taking you back.
It’s not like you cheated once and corrected your ways.
” Savannah leans forward in her seat. “You burned Emma in ways I can’t comprehend, and I hate myself for staying with you anyway.
So you’re not going to convince me you’re a different man now.
” Her cheeks are flushed, and her voice steady.
Faith eases back against me, obviously knowing it isn’t easy for me to hear my mother talk that way about herself. It hurts. But from that pain will come renewed strength. I’m seeing it firsthand for myself.
Robert has the grace to look ashamed as he glances at the floor before meeting Savannah’s stare once more. “Look. I’m no angel, we both know this.”
“That’s an understatement,” I mutter.
My father ignores the dig. “I’m a prick.
I’ve done shitty things to Emma and the rest of my kids.
I never knew how to handle the dual life.
I actually felt guilty about hiding you all, and I took it out on them, not giving them the parent they deserved.
I didn’t love their mother, so I wasn’t good to them.
I can’t justify it…” He trails off, then looks down at his hands, which he is twisting together.
“Robert,” she begins.
He draws a deep breath, pauses, then says, “Please let me finish. I love you, Savannah. I always did. I’m weak. I never admitted that before. But I want the life I have with you.”
I glance at my mother to find tears trickling from her eyes. Faith clasps my hand tight.
I blow out a long breath. If I have to say whether or not I believe my father … the best I can say is I think Robert believes his own words. Does it change anything? Do I trust the man to change? Hell, no.
“Well? Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?” Robert asks.
I hold my breath, and so does Faith by my side.
“No.” My mother rises to her feet, her pretty silver dress sparkling and seeming too nice for this awkward moment.
“You cheated on your first wife. You cheated on me. You’re a no-good, worthless excuse for a man, and I’m done.
I’m going to like myself for a change, and for that to happen, I need to get rid of you. ”
Robert jumps up, surprise on his face. He really thought Savannah would forgive and forget. “But—”
“No. The door is this way.”
Faith and I remain sitting, letting my mother precede my father to the door. I hear mumbling and then the door opens and slams shut. I assume my father is gone. Footsteps tell me my mother is going directly to her room.
“Are you okay?” Faith asks softly.
I shift in my seat so I can meet her gaze. “Yeah. This family drama? I’m becoming immune.” I manage a laugh. “Or at least I’ve learned to distance myself from it. But I’m so damned proud of my mother.”
“She is pretty awesome,” Faith says, resting her head on my shoulder. “It’ll be okay, you know.”
I pull her tight, breathing in her sweet scent. “Yeah.” On the family stuff?
I agree.
On life in general? That is anyone’s guess.
* * *
Faith
The next morning, Savannah, looking strong and satisfied with her decision, breaks the news that Sienna asked her to come stay with her.
She doesn’t have a nanny, nor does she want one, though her husband can well afford it.
But she does need her mother, and since Savannah is here, Sienna wants her.
And Savannah is thrilled to help with the baby and spend time with her granddaughter.
A win-win all the way around, I think, as I sit sharing my last cup of coffee with the woman I’ve come to like a great deal. Savannah is warm and friendly, genuine and real.
“It’s been nice getting to know you,” I say, glancing at Jason’s mother over my coffee cup.
The other woman smiles. “I feel the same way.”
“You remind me of my mom,” I say.
Savannah tips her head to the side. “You miss her.”
I nod over the lump in my throat. “It’s hard. And I had her necklace that she wore every day, but my brother took it when he ransacked my apartment.” I wipe at a tear that falls. “Jason has his PI looking for it in pawnshops, but I’ve resigned myself to the fact that it’s lost forever.”
Which seems to be a theme in my life. Things lost to me. My father. My mother. Even my brother. All gone. And one day soon, Jason will be, too.
“I like the time I spent with you. I just wanted you to know that,” I tell Savannah.
“You never know, you might end up sticking around,” Savannah says, hinting at something more happening between Jason and me.
I shake my head. “I hate to burst your bubble, but honestly, Jason doesn’t want the same things I do.”
“Which are?” Savannah tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and leans in close, waiting for me to answer.
“One day, when danger isn’t lurking? I want a husband, a family. Kids,” I whisper. And though I know without a doubt I want those things with Jason Dare, he’s made it clear he isn’t ready. Will probably never be ready.
“Listen, honey. He went through a real life-altering tragedy. I have to believe he will come out the other side … with the help of the right woman.” Reaching out, Savannah takes my hand.
“I know I’m meddling, but I’ve seen how you two look at each other.
I believe you’re that woman. It’ll take patience …
and faith,” she says, laughing at her own joke.
I grin. “We’ll see. But you have a lot more to worry about than Jason and me.”
“Yes. Yes, I do. But I believe I’ve taken the right first step.”
I smile as Jason walks into the room. He’s been taking a shower. His hair damp, he wears a pair of jeans and a tee shirt, his standard outfit for daytime at the club. He changes there for the nighttime shift. We agreed to stick to the same work schedule with Renault as my bodyguard.
He really does need to be at work, and I understand.
Now that we discussed it like rational adults, without him just pulling away, I have no problem with the change.
In fact, I am so grateful he’s going out of his way to help me like this.
The only way I can think of to repay him is to let him go easily and the way he wants when this nightmare with my brother is over.
“Are you all packed to go to Sienna’s?” Jason asks his mother.
“Yes. I can’t thank you enough for letting me intrude on you two.”
Waving away the comment, Jason grasps his mother’s hand. “Just be happy.”
Once again, I find myself with tears in my eyes. This is a man capable of deep love, affection, and understanding. If only he would extend those same things to himself, he, too, could be what he wants for his mother.
Happy.
* * *
Jason
A week after my mom moves out, I sense Faith’s restlessness. She wants her brother caught and she wants it yesterday. I sense the man is merely biding his time, waiting for the right moment to strike. He probably hopes to find Faith alone, something that won’t happen under my watch.
On the other hand, I hope to prolong our situation as long as possible.
It isn’t that I think Faith desires to leave me; no, she just wants her life and her freedom back.
Sadly, we’re both aware that comes with the end of our relationship as it exists now.
She will move out. She’ll work days. I’ll work my long hours day and night.
And I’ll have to let her go … to find what I heard her telling my mother she wants. A husband and kids.
Before I can delve deeper, my phone rings and I see it is Jack Renault. “Hey. What’s up?” I ask.
“We got a break,” Renault says in his always deadpan voice.
“I’d sent out pictures of the necklace to other PIs and friends of mine and someone found it.
They’re going to drop it off at the club, because believe it or not?
The pawnshop was right around the corner.
We’d checked the place once before, so we’re thinking it was pawned off more than once.
Either way, it’s in our hands. And we’re tracking it backwards. Hope to have more soon.”
My heart beats harder. Faith is going to be so happy she’ll have this piece of her mother back. “Thanks. That’s great news.”
“I love results,” Renault says. “And your girl is fine. I’ve got eyes on her now. So everything’s good. Check in with you later.” He disconnects the call.
Your girl.
The words stay with me, even as I collect the necklace from Renault’s associate and head over to return it to Faith.
* * *
Faith
I have just finished a batch of strawberry lemonade truffles and placed them in the front case when the bell over the front door rings, and Jason walks in. Whenever I look at him, it’s like seeing him for the first time, and that ripple inside me is just as potent.