AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Sure?”
“Yes.” She squeezed his hand before letting go and putting away her folders. He refused to leave her an inch and had given her the news that he was getting out of modeling. “I am going to do endorsements and ads as well as do the occasional photo op for Romano. But I will be going into the office a couple days of the week.”
Anika sat up against the cushions as William Brody came shuffling in. The man had a haggard and decidedly haunted look on his face and had lost some weight.
“I have some calls to make.” Jaylen gave her a pointed look. “Call if you need me.”
“Would you like something to drink?” Anika gestured to a chair.
“No. Thanks," he said and folded his hands in front of him. “I was not certain I should come.”
“Why did you?”
“I had to see for myself that you were okay.” He looked toward the open doorway, his expression one of sorrow. “Your husband is not pleased that I am here.”
“It’s going to take some time for him to forget that—you know, what happened to me.”
He twisted his hands in his lap. “I should have known.”
“You told the police you thought she was on her meds. How is she?” Joelle had been taken into custody and placed in a mental facility.
“Not herself," he laughed bitterly. “But she has not been for years. I guess I had hoped that she was getting better. Her mother was the same way and the depression got the better of her. She ended up hurting herself.”
“I am sorry to hear that.”
“I wish there was something I could do.”
“Mr. Brody—"
“Please call me William.” Tears glittered in his hazel eyes.
“William,” She started to reach out a hand. “It is not your fault. I cannot stress that enough and, in the end, you did the right thing. It could not have been easy calling the police on your own child.”
“I put something in her tea and got her to sleep. As soon as I discovered what she had been about, that’s what I did. It was hard, but it had to be done. How is the baby?”
She placed a hand over her bump. “Kicking up a storm.”
He smiled wistfully. “Take care of him, please.”
“Oh, I intend to. Will you be, okay?”
He nodded and rose to his feet. “I will not keep you any longer. I am happy you are okay.”
“So am I.” She smiled at him. “Thanks for coming.”
As if he had timed it, Jaylen came back into the room. “I will see you out.”
The man nodded and followed Jaylen from the room.
She did not touch the folders as she waited for him to come back in.
“What did he want?”
“You hate him.” She watched as he approached, a tight expression on his face.
“I want justice for what was done to you. It does not seem like we got it.”
She took his hand and dragged him down next to her. “I feel sorry for him. She was his only child.”
