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Chapter Three
Zoey had decided to hop on a commercial flight back to Boston late that night. She could’ve requested one of her brothers send the Henderson private jet, yet she was still hoping no one had even noticed she was gone. From her conversations with her family, they were oblivious to anything going on in her life.
Of course, that’s about to change once Bennett shows up as my... date. She couldn’t bring herself to call him a lover. It’s not that she was opposed to the idea. It had been almost eight years since she’d slept with a man. Eight years of loneliness. But she’d realized she could survive without sex. At least with a partner. Sex with Bennett? She wouldn’t be opposed to that, seeing as she found him so attractive. A woman would be blind not to notice his deep blue eyes and his killer body. She didn’t need to see him without his clothes to picture what was beneath. I could get lost thinking about it.
She closed her eyes and leaned back against her couch, picturing how he looked at her when she told him about the health issues she’d been encountering. Although he hadn’t said much, there was something that had changed, softened. It wasn’t sympathy or pity she’d seen. It was as though he had an understanding of what she was going through. But how could he?
Zoey didn’t know anything about his personal life. She’d tried asking Dean, but his response was the only thing he needed to know about Bennett was that he did his job well. That answer might be good enough for her brothers, but she was about to pretend to be Bennett’s girlfriend. There was a distinct possibility they might share a kiss or two. It might be part of the cover story, but she’d still like to know if she was kissing a married man or not. But he can’t be married. Surely he wouldn’t propose being my lover if that were the case. He isn’t a cheater. Well, I don’t think he is.
She wished people didn’t expect such behavior from her, but her father had made it impossible for anyone to look at her as anything other than a loose woman who’d sleep with everyone. Zoey was instantly filled with anger.
It made for a cold, lonely existence for a young woman growing up. Other parents didn’t want their daughters being friends with her in case her evil ways would rub off on their prim and proper pride-and-joys. And the boys all wanted to be around her, but she knew exactly why. When they found out they weren’t getting into her pants, they became angry, some even physically abusive.
She told her father once what happened and the only comfort she received from him was a backhand across her right cheek as he said she was just like her mother: “a cheap whore, good for one thing and one thing only.”
That day, not only did she hate her father but her mother as well. Although she knew nothing about her mother, she did know she’d hurt her father so much that it caused him to hate all women. Even his own flesh and blood. He’d never wanted me, never loved me. He had his five sons. I was a constant reminder of what he hated about our mother. Is that why he sent her away? So he didn’t have to be reminded? I just don’t know why he didn’t send me with her. Or did he keep me here to punish her?
Hate would’ve been bad enough, but it was as though her father’s one desire had been to cause her misery for her entire life. As far as she was concerned, his attempt had nearly been perfect. Most of her teenage years were spent at home, purposely shutting herself off from the world. He may have tried to break me, crush me, but he didn’t succeed. I still have hopes, dreams, and I can still smile, Dad.
When her father became sick and then died, Zoey thought the pain from her past would be buried with him. But life wasn’t a chalkboard where one could easily erase and start over with a blank slate. It didn’t mean that life stood still. The old saying that time heals all wounds was true. Things were improving, not just for her, but for her brothers as well. A few years ago she never would’ve pictured sitting down as a family because they wanted to. But now they each were slowly breaking away from their abusive pasts and looking toward their futures. Hiring Bennett to find her mother was part of her journey forward.
She had grave concerns about having this party under false pretenses. Zoey wished there was another way to obtain the information she needed. Everything she’d tried in the past came up with the same results: nothing. This better work, Bennett. I’m not risking my brothers finding out I’m lying to them just to come out empty-handed again.
The sound of her cell phone ringing was a sweet distraction from her bitter thoughts. She didn’t recognize the number. “Hello?”
“Hello. I’m looking for Zoey Henderson.”
“Speaking.”
“I’m calling from Dr. Gupta’s office. He’d like to schedule the test for—”
“Sorry. This isn’t a good time to talk. Will you please let him know I’ll call him back when I’m ready to proceed? Thank you.”
Zoey didn’t wait for a response before disconnecting the call. She knew what test they wanted. Medical testing was her last resort. Finding her mother would hopefully provide her the answers she needed. I’m not quitting. I’m just taking a different route. Dad may have made it so everyone thinks I’m worn goods no respectable man would ever want, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have a family of my own. I promise you, Dad, I’ll be a mother one day. A good one. My child will know what you refused to ever give your children—unconditional love.
Tears streamed down her cheeks. She didn’t want to admit that even after all this time her father still affected her. She wanted to hate him. After all, she had every right to. He was nothing but an evil man. Not just to his own family, but to everyone he’d ever been in contact with. I refuse to be a product of my upbringing.
Wiping her cheeks, she got off the couch and went to check her makeup. Vincent and Renita would be arriving soon, and the last thing she needed to do was start off with puffy eyes. I wouldn’t care what they thought, except they know Brice. I need this to go seamlessly on every aspect. One slip and the game is over.
Just as final touches were set on her mascara, the doorbell rang. Zoey practiced her smile in the mirror. Good thing I’ve practiced false bravado my entire life. It looks real.
“Hello, I’m Zoey. You must be—”
“Your sister-in-law whom you forgot to tell you needed help.”
Oh, great. “Hi, Lena. Sorry. I thought you’d be busy with—”
“Don’t even try it, Zoey. I’m married to a Henderson, remember? I know how you guys operate.”
Zoey shrugged. It was true. Lena had to be very intuitive and resilient to survive Brice. She opened the door wider and said, “Come on in. I was just waiting for the caterers, but I’m sure you already know that.”
“Of course. You of all people should know how hard it is to keep anything a secret in this family. What I hear is you’re the one who usually seems to know all somehow.” Lena laughed as she entered the house and headed toward the living room. “It’s refreshing to know you can be surprised. I was beginning to think you had our phones tapped.”
I’d be afraid of what I’d hear. “No. Just womanly instinct.” Before she could follow Lena, the doorbell rang again. “Now this should be Vincent and Renita, unless they’ve told anyone else?”
“Nope. Just me.”
She opened the door and was greeted by a woman with such a sweet smile you wanted to be her friend. The man behind her didn’t portray the same warm fuzzy feeling. She could see right away why Vincent and Brice were friends. How they get these women to love them is beyond me. Oh hell. I’m a Henderson. I know all about not being loved. We wrote the book on it.
