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Twenty-First Avenue South
Birmingham, 7:15 p.m.
“I don’t want to talk.” Tori tossed her backpack on the sofa and headed for the stairs.
“I’m sorry,” Kerri said, “that wasn’t a request. We are going to talk.”
Tori halted, her hand on the newel post, but she didn’t look back.
“Let’s sit and talk now. Falco is bringing dinner.”
Tori heaved an exaggerated breath, did an about-face, and strode to the sofa. She plopped down. “So talk.” Even with her arms crossed so tightly over her chest, Tori’s shoulders shook.
“What happened to Brendal is so, so awful. I understand you said what you did because you’re hurt and afraid. I’m certain you didn’t mean it. I also want to be certain you know I’m here for you. Whatever you need. We all are. We love you, Tori. Your family—Falco—we all love you so much. We want you to be safe and happy.”
She looked at Kerri then, her eyes brimming with emotion, lips trembling. “Not my dad. If I was the one who died, he wouldn’t care.”
For the first time since Kerri had caught Nick cheating, she was glad she had called him. Filling him in on what was going on with their daughter was the right decision.
“I talked to your dad today,” Kerri said. “He’s worried too. He said if you needed him, he would be on a flight first thing in the morning.”
A lone tear rolled down her daughter’s cheek. Kerri’s heart felt as if it were cracking apart.
“Are you just telling me that to try making me feel better?”
Even after a year of neglect, Tori still desperately needed her father to love her. Kerri would never forgive him for putting her through such profound uncertainty. But his rising to this challenge gave her a renewed, if marginal, ability to tolerate him.
“I’m telling you exactly what he said. In fact”—Kerri checked the time on her cell—“he’ll be calling you any minute. He loves you too, Tori. We will get through this.”
More tears flowed. “You promise?”
Kerri put her arm around her trembling shoulders. “I promise. In fact, I’m so certain this is all going to be behind us very soon that I told your dad it was fine if you went to New York for a couple of weeks when the school term ends.”
Tori swiped at the flood of tears. “He actually wants me to come for two whole weeks?”
Kerri managed a smile. The bastard had allowed only weekend visits—and even those rarely—since the new baby was born. “He does, and I’m okay with that. I want you to be happy, Tori. Safe and happy, that’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
Tori searched Kerri’s face, uncertainty clouding her expression once more. “What will you do?”
“Don’t worry about me, kid. I’ll find plenty to do.” She had her work.
The doorbell chimed.
And she had Falco.
Tori shot to her feet. “Wait till I tell Falco. He won’t believe it!”
Relief washed over Kerri as she stood. Chasing killers was easy compared to this parenthood gig. Watching her daughter’s animated face as she shared her news with Falco almost brought tears to Kerri’s eyes.
Falco hugged Tori, the take-out bags hanging from his hands. “This is great,” he was saying. “You’ll have to bring me a T-shirt.”
Kerri’s phone vibrated, and Nick’s face appeared on the screen. “Tori.” She held her phone screen out so Tori could see that her father was calling.
Tori gave Falco another hug and rushed to take the call. Chattering away to her father, she bounded up the stairs.
Kerri suddenly felt more tired than she had ever felt in her life.
“You did good.”
