Chapter Thirty-Two
LOGAN
The next morning, I left Sebastian’s house early, leaving Michael in charge. I had urgent matters to attend to, but I didn’t plan on being long.
Although I’d never been there before, I still had the digital invitation from the bookstore’s opening last year—an event I’d missed, as usual, due to my surgery schedule. The address was right there in my gallery.
The place was spacious and cozy, busier than I expected for a morning. My eyes scanned the room and quickly found her: Jenna, Camila's grandmother, chatting with a customer, expertly recommending a book. I waited until the man made his purchase before approaching.
Jenna, a warm woman in her seventies whom I’d met at Michael’s wedding, smiled in recognition, though a flicker of concern crossed her face.
"Dr. Turner," she said. "Is everything alright? Is Evy okay?"
"Good morning. Please, just call me Logan. Evy is fine. I actually came to look for some books on parenting and hearing loss. And I'd like to pick out some children's books for the girls."
Her smile returned, relieved I was just a customer. Well, not just a customer, but I figured it was best to browse before broaching my real objective.
She was incredibly kind, guiding me through the sections. I told her I’d take every title she recommended on parenting and hearing loss. In the children's section, I selected books for ages four to six, and even a few for six to eight, thinking ahead to their upcoming birthdays.
The pile required two boxes at the register. Jenna insisted on handling the transaction herself to give me a discount. I thanked her, and once the other clerk stepped away to help a new customer, I saw my opening.
"So, Evelyn lived with you for a while, didn't she?"
"Oh, my apartment was always her second home. Ever since she was little. Camila's room had a trundle bed just for their sleepovers." She laughed wistfully. "Evy said she’s bringing the twins by this afternoon. She’s still coming, isn’t she?"
“No, of course not. She’ll probably come.”
“That’s great. I miss her so much. How sad that she had to come back to Los Angeles for such a bad reason. By the way, dear, I’m so sorry about your sister-in-law. How sad...”
“Thank you, Mrs. Jenna. But then...”
“Oh, just call me ‘Jenna’. No need for that ‘Mrs.’; it makes me feel older.”
“Speaking like that, you... I mean, you look like my mother.”
“Oh, I wish I looked anything like Trinity Turner. She’ll reach my age and still look twenty years younger.”
“So... I need to ask you something.”
“Of course. What?”
Only then did I freeze, wondering how I would approach her. I’d gone there to get information, but I hadn’t even considered what arguments I would use to do so. Because it was obvious that if I told the truth, Jenna wouldn’t want to help me.
I thought quickly. I was the son of an actress, damn it. Acting shouldn’t be that hard.
"So, Evy mentioned she has a great ASL booklet from her college days, but she left it at her old apartment."
"What a shame."
"She spoke to Peter and asked him to leave it outside the door. I told her I’d pick it up."
Jenna’s face clouded with concern. "It's better that you're the one going. I don't like the idea of Evy near that man."
"Did he ever… put her at risk?" I asked, my voice carefully neutral. I needed to know if that bastard had ever laid a hand on her.
Although she told me that this never happened, I knew that many women were ashamed or afraid to talk about physical assaults.
"She always said no, and I believe her. But I never liked him. Nor did Camila. He was always putting her down, chipping away at her confidence… Especially someone like Evy, who deserves the world."
My hatred for the man solidified into something cold and hard.
"Don't worry, Jenna. He's just leaving it outside.
I won't even see him. There's just one issue," I said, weaving the lie with what I hoped was a convincing, slightly embarrassed smile.
"With everything that's happened, I'm a bit scattered.
She gave me the address, but I've lost the note.
I texted her this morning, but she must still be sleeping after yesterday.
I didn't want to wake her, but since I was coming here, I thought you might be able to help. "
"Of course I can," she said without hesitation. "It's very close, actually."
As she reached for a pen and paper, my suspicion was confirmed. Evelyn had lied last night when she said Peter had moved. Camila would have known, and Jenna would have been the first to hear about it.
When she handed me the slip of paper, I smiled gratefully. She walked me to my car and helped me open the trunk. After loading the boxes of books, I kissed her cheek.
"Thank you, Jenna. For everything. Especially for always being there for Evelyn."
“You don’t have to thank me for any of that,” she said, waving a hand. “Evy’s always been like family. She’s got a bit of a fiery spirit, I know—can scare some folks off. But that heart of hers is pure gold.”
“Believe me, I’ve seen both sides,” I replied with a small smile. “The heart and the fire. Honestly, she might be a little annoyed I lost that address. So if we could just keep this between us…”
“Oh, I doubt she’d give it a second thought, especially with all your family is going through. But my lips are sealed.”
“Thank you, Jenna. Really.”
She gave me a knowing look. “I know this arrangement of yours is… unconventional. But you care for her, don’t you?”
I blinked, caught off guard. Before I could form a question, she chuckled softly.
“Oh, honey, I’ve been around more than twice as long as you. I know what it looks like when someone’s in love. Your whole face changes when you say her name. And that look in your eyes when we talked about Peter—you tried to hide it, but I saw it. That wasn’t just anger. That was something else.”
“Evelyn is… an incredible woman,” I said, the words feeling both entirely true and entirely insufficient.
“Like I said, she deserves the absolute best this world has to offer. So you promise me you’ll look after her. You do that, and you have my blessing—for whatever that’s worth from an old woman who loves her like her own.”
She was right. About all of it. I wanted Evelyn in my life, permanently. But we hadn’t defined what we were, and until we did, I couldn’t make a grand promise.
So I gave her the only promise I honestly could.
“I will do everything in my power to make her happy.”
Jenna’s smile was warm and approving.
But as I walked away, I knew it wasn’t enough. A simple promise felt hollow. For Evelyn, I wouldn’t just reach—I would move heaven and earth itself.
*****
I pulled up in front of the old building just two blocks from Jenna’s bookstore. Getting out, I headed straight inside, hoping Peter was home.
The building had no doorman, and a handwritten sign declared the elevator out of service. I took the stairs, climbing five flights to apartment 502.
There was, of course, no ASL booklet waiting outside. That had been a flimsy excuse, and I’d been lucky Jenna bought it.
I bypassed the doorbell and hammered my fist against the door. No answer. I knocked again, louder this time, and was finally met with a slurred, angry shout from inside.
“What the hell? Who is it this early?”
Early? It was ten o’clock on a Tuesday morning.
“Delivery for you,” I called back.
It wasn’t a complete lie. I was there to deliver a message.
He cursed again, but I heard the sound of multiple locks turning.
This wasn’t a bad neighborhood; all those locks spoke of a different kind of fear.
When the door finally swung open, I didn’t hesitate.
I shoved him back inside, slamming him against the wall.
A blonde woman, naked, shrieked and scrambled into a bedroom, locking the door behind her.
“What the fuck?” Peter yelled, dazed.
How brave he was against a woman.
“I’m here to deliver a warning,” I said, my voice low.
He blinked, recognition dawning in his bloodshot eyes. “Well, well… the millionaire doctor Evy’s fucking.”
I pressed my forearm against his throat. He gasped, his eyes widening in genuine fear.
“Listen carefully. You will not take another cent from Evelyn. Do you understand me?”
Even terrified, he tried to bluster. “I know those girls aren’t hers. I know you’re lying to everyone.”
“Tell whoever you want. But you’ll face the consequences.
Evelyn isn’t alone anymore. I have the best lawyers in the country.
I’ll see you put away for blackmail and drug dealing for a very, very long time.
And the day you get out, you won’t even have this shithole to come back to, because you’ll have lost it in the lawsuit Evelyn will file for the debts you racked up in her name. ”
“I’ll ruin you first!” he choked out.
“And what do you think that will do to me?” I asked, leaning in closer.
“You’ll cost me a professional opportunity or two, but I’ll still be one of the most respected surgeons in this country.
The same ‘millionaire doctor’ I’ve always been.
You’ll be a headache, but my life will go on.
And yours? Are you really willing to spend the best years of your miserable life in a cage? ”
He tried to speak, but I increased the pressure. He was trembling now.
“And before you see the inside of a cell, I’ll make sure you get a personal tour of a hospital. So think. Is this really the hill you want to die on?”
Terrified, he managed a weak, jerky shake of his head.
“I guess we have an understanding, then.”
He nodded, frantic this time. I released him and turned to leave. But a final, convincing point needed to be made. I turned back and drove my fist into his face. The impact sent him stumbling backward until he crumpled to the floor.
“Let me be perfectly clear,” I said, looking down at him. “Stay the hell away from Evelyn. Stay the hell away from my daughters. Stay away from my family.”
I finally left, that last word echoing in my mind.
Family.
I hadn't even had to think about it. When I said it, the only people I saw were my daughters and Evelyn.