Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 141251 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 706(@200wpm)___ 565(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141251 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 706(@200wpm)___ 565(@250wpm)___ 471(@300wpm)
Julian glares at me, his fury palpable.
“I agree with you,” Joseph says firmly. “She doesn’t even need to go to school. She’s finished year ten. She already has a position in the family business. She can do the rest of her schooling through correspondence at work.”
“The whole world isn’t about the fucking family business, Dad!” Julian yells.
“You wouldn’t know because you refuse to work in it,” Joseph hits back. “This is about you not wanting to work there, not Willow.”
I put my hands on my head, knowing this is getting out of control.
“Stop it,” I whisper angrily. “I only care about Willow. I want what’s best for Willow.”
“What’s best for Willow is you butting out.” Julian growls.
My anger rises and I glare up at him with fire in my eyes. “Fine,” I hiss, and then I turn and storm to my room.
I’ve never felt so hopeless in all of my life.
The house has been silent all afternoon. Julian and I aren’t speaking to each other. Willow is holed up in her bedroom, while I have been hovering around her trying to make sure she’s okay.
I’m sitting at the kitchen table trying to work out what to say to Julian to make this right. I just don’t believe that she can go back to that school safely.
It’s 8:00 p.m. when the doorbell rings and Julian goes to open the door.
“Lola, hello.” He smiles. “This is a nice surprise.”
My face falls. What’s she doing here?
“I just came to check on Will. Is it okay if I visit with her for a while?”
“Of course.” He smiles. “Come in, come in.”
Lola walks in and smiles when she sees me. “Hello, Brell.” “Hello, Lola. How thoughtful of you to visit.” I stand nervously. “Willow is upstairs, I’ll just get her—”
“No, I’ll show her up,” Julian interrupts. “This way.” He leads her upstairs and I put the kettle on. He returns only moments later.
“Would you like a cup of tea?” I ask.
He nods and slides into place on a stool at the kitchen counter.
I dunk the teabag into the water. “I’m sorry about this afternoon. I just...” I pause, wanting to get this right. “I’m scared for her.”
He nods to himself. “I am, too.” He scratches his head. “I’m also sorry. I shouldn’t have said what I said to you.”
We sit in silence, neither of us knowing what to say to the other.
“Our first fight,” I whisper. “Over the kids.”
He frowns and smiles at the same time. “I hate that you said you’d choose her over me.”
“Julian, I wouldn’t choose anyone over you. But I have to do what I feel is right.” I take his hand over the counter. “I’m genuinely concerned for her. If something were to happen, I would never forgive myself.”
His eyes search mine. “Do you really think she’s in danger of becoming depressed?”
“Yes, I think she already is, a little bit.”
He drops his chin to his chest.
“We can help her, but...” I pause as I watch him. “The path that you choose for her may not be the path she wants to take.” I squeeze his hand. “You need to trust her choices. If she says she can’t go back there then you need to listen.”
He reaches for his coffee and takes a sip. “This Lola seems nice, though.”
I smile to myself. If only he knew how nice Will thinks she is.
Right on cue, Will walks into the kitchen, and Julian quickly drops my hand. Shit.
“Hey.” He smiles at his daughter. “You’re looking better.”
"Can Lola sleepover?"
“Sure.”
I frown. “Where will she sleep?”
“In my room, on my trundle bed.”
What?
“That’s fine, sweetheart.” Julian puts his arm around her. “Have fun, hey?”
What the fuck? She’s sixteen and vulnerable. She’s not in any state to be having her first sexual experience with an older woman right under her father’s nose.
Jesus Christ. Can this day get any harder?
Willow smiles. “Thanks.” She bounces back upstairs.
My pulse seems to blare in my ears. I need to tell him my suspicions. But they are just suspicions. Julian stands and puts his arms around me. “Let’s go to bed early and have makeup sex.”
“Uh, yeah,” I say, distracted.
Maybe they are just friends… I know they’re not. She’s only sixteen.
What if something happens and Willow goes completely off the rails. She’s too fragile to be doing this right now. I have to stop it, so I stand.
“I’m going to go and make sure they have enough blankets.”
“Okay, babe. I’ll lock up.”
I walk up to Willow’s room and stand outside the closed door. Sammy is already asleep after staying up so late last night looking for Maverick.
My heart is hammering in my chest. How the hell do I approach this?
I knock on the door as quietly as I can.
“Just a minute,” Willow calls, already sounding guilty.
Shit, does she have a lock on this door?