Page 90 of The Scars We Heal

He spun around. “I was passing through Miles City on the way to a business trip. Stopped to get a coffee and heard some rumors floating around that you might be living here again.” He wrinkled his nose. “Not sure why you’d ever want to live in a place like this, but you were always different from me, Caity.”

“Where’s Whitley?”

He crossed his arms. “I could ask you the same thing. What were you doing that you had to leave our daughter at someone else’s house, huh?”

My face twisted in annoyance. “My mom’s—her grandmother’s house. Not some random stranger, Adam. Where are they?”

He avoided my question again, reaching out to grab a strand of my hair. “Your hair’s different. I like you better with long hair, you know.”

I smacked his hand away. “I cut it. Now answer my question. Where are they?”

He rolled his eyes. “They went to the library. Figured it was best they weren’t here when you arrived. Maggie told me she’s been over here a lot.”

The tension eased out of my shoulders. I’d have to thank my mother later, because he was right about one thing. Whitley didn’t need to see her parents fighting over her.

“She’s allowed to spend time with her granddaughter. Since, you know, she hardly got to see her during her first three years of life.”

Stay calm. He just wants a reaction out of you.

With a pitying look, he shook his head, a loaded firearm ready to strike its target. “Are you sure you’re fit to take care of her?”

Bullseye.

My teeth ground together as red-hot anger seared my skin and a tsunami wave of emotion wracked my entire body. How dare he question my parenting when he was never around? “What are you trying to say? I’m her mother. Of course, I’m fit to take care of her!”

“Oh, calm down, Caity. No need to get so emotional. I’m just asking you a fucking question because I’m concerned about our daughter.”

“Where was this concern for the past three years? Hell, the last four?” I threw my arms up in disbelief.

“Word around town is also that you’ve been fucking one of those rodeo cowboys and that’s why you’re never home with our daughter.”

So, that’s what this is about.

“Who I spend my time with is none of your concern.”

“Ah, so it is true, then. And yes, Caitlin, it is my concern. You’re…” He paused, as though trying to find a word that would cut the deepest. “You’re neglecting our daughter for some redneck who will probably drop you in a month.”

“You don’t know him,” I muttered.

Adam forced out a laugh, full of spite, not at all warm like the man I thought I’d been in love with at one point. And I did—think I was in love with him. For years, I questioned whether he really ever loved me. The me from a few months ago would have convinced myself he was doing this because he truly cared about Whit, but the me now understood that he was only doing this to have some semblance of control.

Adam never loved me.

He just loved the idea of me. And maybe more so the idea that he could control me, manipulate me to his will.

As much as I wanted the notion to sink in, to believe his subtle threats were a bluff, Adam was reckless, much more than I ever was. He was willing to do whatever it took to get what he wanted, and if his mind was set on taking Whitley away, I was convinced he would try.

“I know enough.” His sneer broke me out of my thoughts. “You know I looked him up all those years ago, right? After we got married. Did you know his dad went to prison? Drug dealing, Caitlin.”

Before I could respond, the rumble of an engine in the distance caught my attention. Soon, Jake’s pickup appeared, speeding up the driveway.

“Speak of the devil. I can’t wait to meet the guy who’s been fucking my wife.”

“Ex-wife,” I snapped.

“Hardly.” He rolled his eyes. “It’s been, what? Three months since the divorce was finalized? You sure moved on quick, Caity. I should have known you were always going to act like a whore.”

“What the fuck did you just call her?” Jake spat from somewhere behind me.