“I see.”
There’s a flicker of disappointment in her eyes, and I feel the need to defend myself.
“I was a young boy when I lost Danielle.”
“Dumped, not lost.Dumped,” Cassie corrects me cheerfully, as Danielle sends her a pleading look.
“Well, it was a mistake. I never loved anyone after that.”
Cassie snorts. “Sure looked like you enjoyed your downtime all the same. Party-boy-BJ the papers called you.”
I wince. “I hate that name.”
Cassie studies me briefly, before nodding at Danielle. “My girl doesn’t need anyone. She never has, not even when she was a little girl.” Cassie pauses, looking over at Danielle fondly. “If she struggled to learn a word, she wouldn’t let you give it to her. Oh no; she’d sound it out until it was right, and that was just the beginning.”
I smile, gazing at Danielle who is rolling her eyes.
“Determined and fiercely independent. I relaxed, thinking nothing and no one could hurt her.”
My smile fades, and I turn to see Danielle shaking her head warningly.
“It’s okay,” I whisper, nodding at Cassie. “I want to hear it.”
“Good, because you’re gonna,” Cassie insists. “The day she met you, she changed. She was smiling all of the time, and nothing could bring her down. She even washed the dishes with a goofy grin. I knew it was a boy, but I didn’t know it was you. The infamous Blake James.”
I hold her gaze, nodding. “Yeah. But that was a long time ago, Cassie.”
Her eyes widen, and she slaps her thigh. “I know that. But then you did exactly what I thought you were going to do. You broke her heart. Do you know, she wouldn’t even look at another man after you? And she did have some handsome ones interested in her, believe me.”
Danielle is silent, her eyes narrowed at her mother as she sends me an apologetic smile.
“She refused them all. I had my money on her marrying a girl; but look what happened.”
I take a deep breath, preparing myself for her attack.
“She married you to help you out. To help you get that company.”
Cassie crosses her arms, easing back into her chair.
“Five years later, she’ll still do anything for you.”
“Mom, stop.” Danielle glares at her, gripping my fingers in hers. “It’s not about that anymore.”
Cassie sneers at Danielle.
“No? Now he’s knocked you up, you’ll be in his life forever. What happened to Mrs. CEO? You could’ve had it all, baby, you could’ve held the world by the balls.”
Danielle looks like she’s fighting back tears, and I rub her back as I study her mother.
I can handle her throwing shit at me, but not upsetting my wife.
“I think we better go,” I snap, helping Danielle to her feet.
Cassie's eyes are wild, and she clicks her tongue with glee. “Coward. Can’t even handle the truth.”
“Shut up! You don’t know anything!” Danielle screams, her eyes wide with anger. She trembles, pointing a finger at her mother. “Just because your happily ever after failed, don’t assume mine will too. I don’t want to speak to you ever again if you won’t accept my husband and my family.”
Hot tears of anger slide down Danielle’s cheeks, and I follow her out of the house, stopping when I reach the doorway.
