This pig.
The audacity.
“I’m not joking,” I said loud and clear. “Isn’t that right?” I asked, looking straight at my dad. “Didn’t you say you miss Amanda’s old style?”
He held my gaze like a man staring at a loaded gun.
He wasn’t stupid. The fear in his eyes told me he understood the shift in this house. The new orchestra playing.
I could have ended him right here. One call to Nolan. One mention of Dad missing that night. He and his Porsche caughton the gas station footage near the Seacoast Inn, the night of the murder. And Lucy thought my name was Brian.
If I made that call, Dad would be gone for good. Part of me wanted it so bad. I wanted him to suffer. For my mom. For Grandma. For me too.
But Dad going to jail would hurt my siblings more than it would ever satisfy me. The news would rip through the country and tear open every old wound. Reporters outside again. New documentaries. More gossip at school. A new hell. And my family had been through enough.
So, instead, I would take over for my mom. I would protect this family now. Just like she did. But, unlike my mom, I’d protect it from him too. I’d watch his every move. Every word. I’d allow him to stay for as long as he made my family happy. The moment he hurt them, cheating, yelling, slapping Markus ever again, anything, he’d be done.
Gone.
Bye-bye.
“Right, Dad?” I asked once more. “Didn’t you say that? How much you miss Amanda’s old style?”
Everyone was watching now. Curious.
“Yes,” he finally said, smiling too wide. “I did say that. I’d love to see the ugly Christmas dress on you.”
Amanda lit up like someone had opened a window to a sunny spring after months of gray winter.
She hurried off toward the bedroom. Ecstatic.
It was strange. She seemed happier with permission to wear what she wanted than with the news of Myers’ death.
“I was also thinking …” I added casually. “Maybe Grandma could move in here with you guys.”
His eyes widened even more. Not surprised. Horrified.
“I mean, you’ve got three guest rooms. One of them is on the first floor. We could hire an in-home nurse too. Amanda once told me she’d love that. For the kids. And for Grandma.”
“Yaaay!” the kids shouted. “Grandma’s gonna live here!”
“That would be amazing,” Ethan said, already smiling.
“Dad, you really okay with this?” Lila asked. Her smile was hopeful but cautious.
“Of course he is,” I said. “It was his idea, right, Dad?”
There it was again. That tiny pause of shock. But then he laughed. A little too loud. A little too forced.
“Yes,” he said. “I did suggest that. I was just thinking how blessed we are and how much Nicole has done for all of us.”
The kids erupted, cheering like they’d just won something.
“How kind of you, Dad,” I said. “Why don’t you get the champagne now to celebrate all this amazing change around here?”
I hugged Grandma again. The kind of hug that says I love you. Thank you. I’m here.
Little arms wrapped around us. Elizabeth first. Then Markus jumping in. Lila and Ethan followed. Warm bodies encircling me.
