AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She walked Ophelia to the library, and her heart squeezed when she saw the house filled with photos of her at various ages and a big one of her on the day she graduated from the academy. The one she had sent to her grandmother before she’d died.
Inside the library, she pulled out a scrapbook. She motioned for Ophelia to sit down. She sat down next to her. She set the book into her lap. “Open it,” she said.
Ophelia opened it up and she gasped. It was her graduating from the academy, getting her promotions, the two medals she’d received. Her in her SWAT gear. Newspaper clippings on her two rescues. She closed her eyes, tears stinging them.
“You kept these…how?”
“No, it wasn’t me. It was your grandmother. She was so proud of you. She left it to me after she died, but I’ll admit, I didn’t want to look at it.” She sat back, hands in her lap. Then after the news of what happened with you and Katie, I went through it.” She met Ophelia’s gaze. “You had the courage to stand up to me and go for your dream, something I was never able to do. I don’t want to fight with you anymore, and I can’t shun the man who saved your life and Katie’s.” She broke down, sobbing softly.
Ophelia couldn’t just wipe out years of being pushed, her life in chaos as her mother wreaked havoc on her feelings and emotions.”
“It’s not that easy, Mom.”
Her mother wiped her tears. “I know. I know it’s going to be difficult and hard to forgive me. But I don’t want to fight anymore.” Her hands twisted in her lap. “I’m so ashamed of how I’ve acted. I can only hope you can forgive me eventually, when you’re able.”
“Maybe. Maybe I can, but not right now.”
“I understand. I do, Ophelia. I’m so, so sorry I hurt you and Dean so much. I hope he can forgive me as well.” She swiped at her tears. “I can see why you two have an intimate relationship. He isveryattractive.”
Did her mom just condone her sexual relationship with Dean? Ophelia felt like her head was going to explode.
“And, when the time comes, I hope that you will let your father and I pay for the wedding.”
Ophelia opened her mouth to protest, and her mother held up her hand.
“Don’t worry. We’ll do it your way. Any way you want. I am at your disposal. Say you will allow us to do that for you?”
Ophelia let out a heavy sigh, swallowing back more tears. “I’ll think about it, but if I decide to let you, I want what you just said in writing.”
Her mother blinked at her, then she threw her head back and laughed.
* * *
That night as she lay with Dean, she said, “You won over my father. I suppose you learned to play golf because Tier One operators might need it on some golf emergency mission?”
He chuckled. “You never know. He’s a great guy. Told me that he would look into the money under the floorboards.”
“You told my dad?”
“Yeah, I don’t think it’s my dad’s money.” He laughed softly. “It tickles me that my dad and mom were walking on millions of bucks every day.”
“What are you going to do with it if it’s legit?”
“Use it as a slush fund for whatever the team needs.”
“Oh, that’s a great idea.”
“You don’t mind leaving SWAT, do you?”
The general had answered all their questions. O would make much more than she did at SWAT, and she was going to work closely with Dean. It was all perfect.
“It was so hard, but we always have an in with them. My commander told me that we could call on him anytime.”
“That will come in handy.”
He shifted to face her. “I need to tell you something. It’s my last dark secret.”
“What?” She cupped his face. “What is it?”
