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She pointed outside. “Look at them. All ganged up like this is some battle, them against him. Why can’t anyone see this isn’t just about Cal? It’s like they think I had nothing to do with it. That I’m not strong enough or smart enough to make my own decisions.” She turned to her parents. “And now, both of you in here, worrying that Cal took advantage of me.” It was only by sheer force of will that she didn’t crumble as she realized that all her fears about her family and what they thought of her were true.
“No, honey,” her mother protested. “We’re just surprised by the news, that’s all.”
But Lyssa wouldn’t let her parents deny the truth anymore. “You still think I’m a little girl who needs to be protected. But I’m not. I’m a grown woman. I make my own decisions. Maybe I made a mistake, and I understand if you all need some time to process what happened, but that doesn’t change the fact that all of you need to learn to respect me.”
“Is that what you really think, honey?” Her mother’s features drooped in a profound sadness. “That your brothers, that your father and I don’t respect you?”
Lyssa’s throat clogged with emotion. “They still see me as the little sister they have to protect from the big bad world. As if I can’t take care of myself. And you and Dad…yes, sometimes I’m afraid you don’t know how capable I am.”
“Oh, honey, that’s never how we think of you.” She threw her arms around Lyssa, hugged her tight. “We love you. We’re so proud of everything you’ve accomplished. And we know you’re capable of handling whatever life throws at you. Even this.”
Lyssa stepped back. “Then why did you wait until I left Chicago before you decided to move out here?”
Her mother lifted her shoulders in a helpless shrug, shaking her head. “Because Chicago was our home, and we loved having you with us. But when you came out here, suddenly Chicago didn’t seem like home anymore.”
“And your brothers made it so easy for us to stay there,” her dad explained. “They bought us the house. And your mom loves the white Christmases.” He heaved a sigh, looking at Lyssa. “We love you, sweetheart. But we didn’t come out here to look over your shoulder. We wanted to be here for Paige and Evan’s baby, especially now that we know they’re having twins.”
Her mom cupped her cheek. “Forgive us. We never meant to make you feel incompetent. And we love you, more than words can say.”
“Thank you for saying all of that.” Then she and her mom were enveloped in one of her dad’s big bear hugs.
Finally, her mother stepped back and wiped her eyes. “What about the baby, Lyssa? What are you going to do?”
Lyssa put a hand on her stomach and turned back to the window, as though looking for Cal was automatic and necessary. He was turning, his face bleak, and it wasn’t just the pounding he’d taken. All the life seemed to have leached out of his features as he walked away from her brothers.
Gazing out at him, something tender broke open inside her. “I love him. And even though my pregnancy wasn’t planned, we both want the baby. So very much.”
“I’m so glad,” her mother said, her father nodding beside her.
Lyssa gave her parents another hug, then said, “I’m glad you respect my decisions. But since my brothers clearly don’t, I can’t be around them right now. And I need to help Cal, so we’re going to have to leave before I say or do something none of us can come back from.”
The crush of that blow turned her mother’s face pale. “We’re family, honey. We’ll always come back to each other, no matter what.”
Normally, Lyssa would have believed that. But after what had happened out by the pool, she was no longer sure.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Tasha took Daniel’s hand, leading him to the house. “We need to clean you up.”
His whole body was on fire, his mind still roiling. If Cal was still in the kitchen when he walked in, Daniel would go at him again. He wouldn’t be able to stop himself.
“Those cuts need peroxide.” Tasha bent close to examine his swollen eye. “Do you know if there’s any here?”
He shook his head and realized his brain hurt. He didn’t know how he looked, but if it was anything like Cal, he was a freaking mess.
As she wet a clean towel and dabbed his bloodied knuckles, Tasha asked, “What was that all about?”
Damn, it hurt, but he didn’t complain.
“Didn’t you hear? That asshole got my little sister pregnant.” His voice was a rasp through his split lip. Even talking hurt. But not as much as knowing what Cal—a man he’d trusted with his life—had done with his sister. The one person he’d always made sure to keep safe from harm. Only to realize that he’d failed her by trusting the wrong man.
