She wrinkles her nose, annoyed at my lack of reaction. “You can’t keep staying here, hiding from your problems. Those children deserve better. They deserve their father.” She looks away with a sniff. “I can’t believe you’re already cozying up to another man.”
Must’ve spied on us through the window.I roll the bottle cap between my fingers, trying to ignore the sting of her words. “Christopher didn’t come to the game today.” She opens her mouth, but I silence her with a look. “You were so sure he would. Stepping up to be father of the year, right?”
“Well, maybe he didn’t know?—”
“He knew,” I interrupt. “My lawyer passed the message along.”
She sends me a triumphant smile. “Well, there you have it. Why would he come when you couldn’t even be bothered to talk to him like a human being?”
“Because how I talk to him affects what kind of parent he is?” I demand, twitching my brows into an exaggerated frown. “The last time I spoke to Christopher, I had to listen to him talk about fucking my sister, so I’ll keep talking through a lawyer, thanks.” It’s a low blow, and I almost feel bad for the way her eyes widen, her cheeks going chalky. But then she presses her mouth into a tight line, her eyes carefully avoiding mine.
“Caroline wouldn’t do that.”
We’ve been dancing around the subject for weeks, ever since I told her that I am not going back to Christopher and why. At first, I tried to keep Caroline’s name out of it, but my sister started harassing me, calling me at all hours of day, sending message after message. I blocked her, but she only started calling our mother, using her to try to force me into a conversation.
I’m done.
I pull my phone out and queue up the video, sliding it across the table. “Here. Watch it.”
Mom hesitates, flicking a dark look my way. She presses play, Caroline and Christopher’s unmistakable voices filling the kitchen. I try to tune them out, the words already permanently seared into my mind. When it’s over, Mom doesn’t look at me, her cheeks so white that I’m a little concerned.
“Mom?” I say quietly, a plea in my tone. “Please don’t ignore this. You can’t just…”
She swallows hard, her foot jiggling under the table. “I won’t pick between my daughters, and it’s not fair of you to ask me to.”
A hollow laugh leaves me. “I’ve never asked you to pick, but don’t pretend you haven’t.” The words taste as bitter as they sound, but I’m too drained to pull the emotions back. “You’ve always made sure that you looked after Caroline—gave her everything she ever needed, even if it meant taking from me. And now you’re just going to look the other way while my family burns to the ground, and she stands there, holding a match.”
“Christopher is the problem,” she says sharply, her tune drastically changing from just minutes ago. “Do not blame your sister for your husband’s mistakes.”
“Are you kidding me?” I whisper. “She was blackmailing him, Mom.” I point at the phone. “What other proof do you need?”
She shakes her head. “Just let this go, Lynley. If you hold onto this grudge, you’re going to destroy more than one family.”
I gape at her. “And I guess that’s on me, hm? And not on the people who broke their vows.”
Her brows draw low, the lines around her mouth standing out in stark relief. “Just stop, Lynley.” She stands up and walks away, leaving me alone in the kitchen with my heart aching, aware that I’m losing a lot more than a husband.
Now, I’ve lost a sister and a mother, and my kids have lost them, too. Because I am not going to continue to allow this kind of toxicity in my life.
She wants to keep Caroline happy? Fine.
She can do it without me.
Chapter 20
Grafton
“Ineed your help.”
As soon as the words pour from the car speaker, I do an illegal U-turn—no hesitations and no fucks given to the guy laying a heavy hand on his horn when I cut him off. “I’m on my way.”
“Grafton—”
“No. Don’t argue,” I interrupt brusquely. “I’ll be about thirty minutes.”
There’s a beat, the silence only interrupted by Lynley’s quiet breathing. And then, “Okay.” One word, drenched in relief. Something settles in my chest, knowing I gave that to her.
“Thirty minutes,” I repeat. “Get everything you need and meet me outside. Lynne? I got you, darling.”
