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Jessa hesitated.
“Mother, I appreciate your coming, but?—”
“Do not test me, Jessamine. Get in.”
“But—”
“I will not hear a word from you, not after disgracing our family as you have tonight. I wonder if I even know you—the daughter I raised wouldn’t have been caught fornicating in public for God’s sake. She certainly wouldn’t have been arrested. So spare me your excuses and get in the car.”
My brows drew together. “You should go with her, Jess,” I said quietly.
She turned to me, her expression hurt. “And why should I?”
I glanced at Grace, then back at Jessa. “I’m already in enough trouble with her. It’s bad enough I got you into this mess—I don’t want to be the reason you fight with her too.”
“A bit late for that, don’t you think?” Grace said. “It’s your fault we’re here at all. And here I stupidly believed your lie—you were pretending for Henry’s sake, were you? Seems that you were out for your own interests all along. I can’t say I’m surprised, not by you. It’s my daughter whose judgment is compromised. Never did I think she’d lower herself in such a way, despite your charm and despicable influence. Jessamine Hastings, get in this car right now.”
“No,” she said from my side, her voice trembling with fury. “I’m not a child, Mother.”
“Then stop behaving like one.” She stepped forward to grab Jessa’s arm, but she shook her mother off.
“That’s enough!” she shot, her cheeks pink and shoulders bunched. “I’m a grown woman—you can’t order me about as if I were a little girl. I’m going with Remy. You’ve found us out—we’re sleeping together, though I don’t know why you care or why it matters.”
“It matters for the sake of your decency and self-respect. You have debased yourself with this...man. Which was horrid enough when you were lying, but utterly loathsome as the truth. When your father finds out you’ve been in jail, I can’t imagine what he’ll say. The disappointment of discovering his only daughter is a whore might undo him.”
Rage flamed in my chest as I stepped around Jessa, putting myself between them.
“I think you’d better leave, Mrs. Hastings.”
Her head cocked a notch. “Or you’ll what? Shall we add assault to your charges for this evening?”
“No ma’am, but I think you should reconsider your words. I may never be good enough for Jessa, and I sure as hell don’t deserve her, but she’s no whore. You have no right to hurt her like you do.”
“No right?” She scoffed. “Were it not for me, young man, you’d still be in that putrid cell, waiting for someone to save you. Half of your town would know by first light, had I not taken care of the deputy. Including Cassidy, who I suspect would be deeply upset to find out about whatever this is. The only one with no rights is you. Now, release my daughter to me.”
She reached for Jessa again, but I shifted, keeping myself in front of her. “If she doesn’t want to go with you, she’s not going.”
Grace’s nostrils flared. Jessa hooked her arm in my elbow, looking around my biceps at her mother.
“You animal,” Grace spat. “How dare you interfere. How dare you corrupt her. At least you know you’ll never be good enough for her. You’ll never have her for your own. So enjoy your little romp. It’s the last you’ll ever have of her.” She whipped around and stepped toward the car, pausing at the open door. “Jessamine, see me in the morning. The conversation will happen. Best it be by your choice.”
A bitter laugh escaped Jessa. “Choice. I’ve never had a choice. Why should I trust you’d give me one now?”
“Tomorrow,” Grace said, pinning Jessa with a look, then me, her expression thick with spite and disdain. With that relayed, she ducked into the car.
We stood there until she was nothing but taillights.
I heard Jessa’s breath hitch and looked down to find her crying. I drew her into my arms and held her for a long while, feeling her body tremble with rage and adrenaline and frustration. Sadness.
“Don’t cry,” I said softly.
“I-I’ve never disobeyed her before.”
I paused. “Never?”
She shook her head against my chest. “I’m so s-sorry she said such a-awful things about you. She doesn’t know you. She doesn’t know me. She doesn’t know anything.”
“Shh,” I soothed, rocking her gently. “It’s all right. Don’t let her get to you—I know I didn’t,” I lied.
