Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Something good’s waiting for me on the other side. I just have to reach it first.
I open the door to the car. Don’s waiting in there. He cocks his head at me. “You find her?”
“I found her.”
“And how’d that go?”
I shake my head. “She’s a lifelong addict.”
He nods like he knows exactly what I mean, but as I turn toward the driver to tell him to get going, Don touches my shoulder. “Look.”
I turn and stare out the window.
Jackie’s standing on the balcony. She’s got a bag on her shoulder and she’s looking around, squinting at the parking lot, one hand shading her eyes. I push the door open and stand up and wave, and she looks at me for the longest time before waving back. I think she might be high, but when she gets nearer, I can tell her gaze is clear.
“You said you were paying?” she asks.
“You won’t owe me a thing. I’m doing it for Katherine.”
“Real freedom then.” She glances away. “I know who’s been keeping me alive all these years.”
“You’re a survivor.” I walk over and take her bag. “Did you take that dose?”
“No. I figure I might as well start now.”
“It’s a long drive back to Dallas.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ve been through worse.” She grins at me and I toss her bag in the trunk.
“Jackie Stockton, this is Don Lamon.”
“Pleasure,” Don says.
“Charmed,” Jackie says.
“Drive,” I say and the car pulls out.
Chapter 28
Kat
Ilie out by the pool in the midafternoon sun and stare at the ring on my finger.
It’s a different ring. Not the ring Ford gave me. Another ring, a new ring, diamonds and gold. It’s big, gaudy, expensive. It’s ugly as sin and I hate it.
It’s my win. Might as well be a chain.
I lean my head back and close my eyes. It’s a beautiful day and I’m sitting by the water on a comfortable lounge chair and all I can feel is miserable. I should be happy—I’m getting married soon!—but there’s only bitterness and disgust left in me.
Grandfather informed me that I will be marrying Matthew Keyne after all and I agreed because I have no other options. Matthew is fine, sort of like a boring puppy, or a sad younger brother, but the idea of actually marrying him repulses me. Not because he’s terrible—but because he’s wrong.
He’s not Ford.
But forget Ford. That man doesn’t exist anymore.
None of this is a surprise. I knew it was coming and it still kills me. The only strange thing that has happened in the last few weeks is the quiet from Sara Lynn—I expected her to run to Grandfather and complain about her broken nose, but instead there’s been nothing.
No whining, no complaining, and no bullying.
It’s actually kind of nice and I wish I had punched her in the face a long time ago.
I’m about ready to get up and head inside when my phone starts ringing. I sit up straight and look down at the number and go very still. It’s a number I recognize and one I never expected to see again.
It’s the rehab place Mom was at back when I was still with Ford.
“Hello?” I say.
“Hiya, sweetie.” Mom’s voice. Clear and crisp. I can tell right away that she’s sober. “How are you?”
“Mom!” I jump to my feet as nervous excitement jolts down my spine. “Where are you? What happened? Are you okay?”
“Settle down, hon, I’m fine. You might be surprised to hear that I’m back in rehab.”
“You’re what?”
“I know, baby, I know, but it’s true. I’ve been here for a few days now. I wanted to get straightened out before I called and, well—here I am.”
“How? Did Grandfather find you? Did he send someone?”
“No, your grandfather didn’t find me,” she says and there’s a short pause. My head’s spinning a million miles a minute. This is different—she’s never, ever checked herself in rehab before, not voluntarily at least. It always took something outside of her control, some horrible event, some minor rock bottom, but this is the first time that she went without someone in the family forcing her to go.
“Mom, I am so, so happy that you’re back in rehab right now, but how? Grandfather’s not paying for anything, right?”
She clears her throat. “No, he’s not, and if I’m lucky, he never will again.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Sweetie, Ford’s the one that found me and he’s the one paying for all this.”
I stand there and stare at the water. A blow-up giraffe floats across the surface. Slowly, my hand drops away from my ear and my phone dangles at my side.
Ford found her. Ford’s paying.
Horror and elation mix deep in my stomach and I want to vomit.
I thought I was done with him. When I walked out, I assumed our deal was over. But what if he’s still honoring his side? What if he’s taking care of my mother even if I’m not there to keep him in line? Tears spring into my eyes, but those tears are bitter and ugly, tinged with betrayal.