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Turning to face her, I give her a chastising look. “I’m not going to do anything untoward, if that’s what you’re worried about. I just want a private place to talk and I have a large suite.”
She rolls her eyes, a move she often did in our youth. She found me reprehensibly silly at times and I used to love producing that reaction. “I know you wouldn’t do anything questionable,” she drawls. “Neither of us thinks of the other in that way. But this is a small town and the Willards are powerful people. I walk into that hotel with you, word will reach Joshua within the hour.”
“And I should care about that because?” I ask caustically, one eyebrow arching higher than the other.
“Because I don’t feel like being his punching bag. He’s insanely jealous of you.”
That strikes hard and my entire body flinches. Raw fury sweeps through me, the same burning I experienced just a minute ago when I realized what those bruises were that I was seeing. Unlike my mother, Juniper doesn’t try to deny where they came from, and I have to find within myself the fortitude to quench the desire to kill Joshua.
I put that aside for now. “You’re under the impression that I’m going to let you stay in this house, Juni. That’s not happening. You’re going to pack your bags right now and you’re leaving.”
I’m stunned when she backs away from me, both palms out to me. “I can’t leave.”
“The fuck you can’t,” I snap. “Joshua’s not going to lay another finger on you. You’re moving out right now.”
“I can’t,” she insists.
“You can,” I snarl. “I’ll set you up somewhere safe until we can figure things out.”
“You’re not listening to me,” Juniper yells in frustration, her fingers raking through her hair before she throws her hands out wide. “I am stuck here, not by choice, but by circumstance.”
“What do you mean?” I ask hesitantly.
“My dad,” she murmurs. “He’s in an amazing facility here in Incline Village. He gets round-the-clock personal nursing care. He’s well cared for, and I can’t afford it. If I leave Joshua, my dad will go to the nearest state-run facility, which is over a hundred miles away and it’s a dump, Callum. I’ve looked at it because I’ve considered my options. And I can’t in good conscience put him there. So I’m stuck in this hellhole with Joshua until either my dad dies or—”
“Or you die. Because you’re going to end up just like my mom if you don’t get out.”
“I hear you,” she whispers forlornly. “And please… you’re still the person who knows me better than anyone… you have to know I’d leave if I could.”
“Why in the fuck did you ever marry him?” I bark at her, all the anger and frustration of not just this shit show going on right now, but the pain of losing Juniper fifteen years ago.
She flinches, her face crumbling in shame. “You couldn’t begin to understand.”
I rub my hand along my jaw in agitation because now isn’t the time to rehash our broken past. I need to get Juniper to safety.
“Go pack some bags,” I say as I pull out my phone.
“I told you I can’t—”
“I’m going to take care of your father right now.” Juniper’s mouth drops open in disbelief. “He’s going to get the same if not better care, which means there’s no reason for you to stay here anymore. I’ll set you up in a hotel and you are not stepping foot back in this house, do you hear me?”
Juniper stares, frozen in shock.
“Juni,” I say a bit softer, nodding at the staircase. “Please… go pack. Just trust me on this, okay?”
I thought my heart was immune to this woman but admittedly, it pangs when I see how lost she is. She looks around the massive great room where we’ve been arguing, completely unsure of things. I can’t reassure her any more than I already have. She has to trust I will take care of her and her dad.
Finally, she gives a slight nod and I’m pleased to see her shoulders straighten. “Give me fifteen minutes.”
“Take your time. I’ll make some calls to get things rolling.” I follow her as she heads up the stairs and she looks over her shoulder at me in question. “I’m going to need you nearby to tell me where your dad is and to give permission to the facility for me to handle arrangements.”
“Okay,” she murmurs.
I know this entire house well and she heads right at the landing to the east wing where Joshua and I had our rooms. They were massive suites with our own bathrooms. I’m shocked when she doesn’t go to Joshua’s bedroom but rather my old one.
When we enter, I see it’s been redecorated. While it doesn’t scream femininity, the cream colors and sage-green accents tell me that this is Juniper’s room and hers alone.
Interesting… she doesn’t share a room with Joshua.
