“No, of course not. I just…” Isabelle spun toward him. “What did he say? You sat next to him the entire flight and drive home. He had to have said something about what he’s been doing all these years and why he left in the first place.”
“You’ll have to ask him those things.” Zach wished he could say more.
It wasn’t his place to share the things Cliff had told him. Zach wasn’t sure Isabelle would understand, anyway. She’d not had the life experiences to understand the nightmares Cliff dealt with. That Zach did understand had him torn.
“I shouldn’t have asked you to find him.” She ran her fingers through her hair, then blew out a big breath. “Look at what a mess he’s already made of things. I caused this chaos, hurt Mom, and I just should have left well enough alone. I didn’t think this part through.”
He shook his head. “I’m not buying that. You always think things through. You knew there would be chaos when he got here. So, my question is, why did you want me to find him?”
Grimacing, she covered her stomach with her hands and shook her head, as if trying to block out his question.
“Were you hoping that seeing him would remind Sophie how much it hurt to love a military man?” He hoped that wasn’t it. “Maybe you were hoping she’d see your father and decide she didn’t want to marry Cole?”
“No.” She gasped, her eyes huge. “She loves Cole. I would never do anything to stop their wedding. Sophie would be devastated.”
Zach arched a brow. “You haven’t tried to change her mind?”
Her wince answered prior to her defensive, “Only in teasing.”
“Sometimes we reveal a lot about our inner thoughts via humor.”
Not that he believed Isabelle wanted to bust up Sophie’s wedding. Far from it. But he wasn’t sure she recognized that truth. Maybe deep down, she still thought she wanted Sophie to not be in love with a military man.
Her hands went to her hips. “Quit trying to make me the bad guy. I’m not the one who abandoned my family. I love Sophie and want what’s best for her. That’s being married to Cole.”
Good. Zach agreed. “There is no bad guy here, Isabelle. Until you acknowledge that, you’re not going to find peace.”
Her gaze narrowed. “My father left his family. That makes him the bad guy.”
“He wasn’t mentally or emotionally well.” Zach kept his gaze locked with hers, despite the daggers she shot his way.
Oh, how he understood how one’s mind could convince you those you love were better off without you around.
“And he is now?”
Zach shrugged. “He’s working full time in a shipping yard under his current alias and has been on that job for almost five years. He volunteers at a homeless shelter and regularly attends a veterans’ support group. From the outside, he seems to have pieced a life together, but I’m not qualified to answer your question. You wanted him here, so I brought him.”
Her eyes lit with realization. “He didn’t change his mind, did he? You forced him.”
Still warring with his opinions on Cliff, Zach shrugged. “Coming back to the place where you fell apart and destroyed the best parts of your life isn’t an easy thing. Give your father credit that he’s here.”
“I’ll give him nothing.” Her fingers curled at her sides. “All I need is for him to walk Sophie down the aisle tomorrow and then to crawl back under whatever rock he’s been living beneath.”
Despite her claim, her chest flared, and pain coated each word. “You don’t mean that.”
“Don’t tell me what I mean, Zach.” She poked his chest. “You don’t know me.”
He captured her hand. “I know you better than you know yourself. At least, regarding this, I do.” Her pain was as palpable as her hand within his.
Pulling her hand free, she snorted. “You think you’re so smart, but you’re wrong. I don’t want him in my life, just as I don’t want you in my life. Our deal is done. I gave you your lessons. You found my father. We’re finished. There’s no need for pretense anymore.”
She was hurting and lashing out. He knew that, but her words stung.
“Our relationship isn’t pretend.” Was he trying to convince her or himself?
“Is that what you think?” she taunted. “Then you’re wrong on that, too. All we are, all we could ever be, is pretend. You aren’t someone I’d choose to have in my life. You’re just like him. I don’t want to see you again. Not ever.”
Wondering if words had the power to leave one bleeding, Zach winced. “You’re understandably upset, Blondie, but taking out your pain on me isn’t going to make things better.”
