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“Born to be spare parts.” Her voice was devoid of emotion.
Her father’s jaw tightened. “This is preposterous. Your mother and I never treated you like that, not once. You were wanted, and we’ve loved you with all our hearts. This is how you repay us?”
Xavier stepped forward. “She doesn’t owe you anything. That’s how you keep her a prisoner here, isn’t it? By placing one brick of guilt on another. That’s why she hides herself away. You need to let her go and live her own life, mate.”
Hope’s father turned on him with all the fury money could buy. “Son, I suggest you stay out of this, or I will personally sue you for every penny you ever earned and then some. What sheneedsis to be with the family that loves and protects her. What shedoesn’tneed is some surf bum whisking her away to a life of drugs and poverty. Why are you even here? You’ve had your fun, had my daughter. Shouldn’t you be bouncing along to your next conquest, kangaroo-boy?”
“I’m only going to say this one more time. I’m here because I love your daughter, and I want her to know that living with you is not her only choice.”
He scoffed. “Really? Prove it,” he said flatly.
“What? How on earth can I—”
“If you love her like you say you do, then prove it. If you have any plans to support her in the style to which she is accustomed,then show me. Show us all. Prove you love my daughter as much as you say you do, as much as I do.”
Xavier should have expected this from a lawyer. Bully the defendant with a question that was impossible to answer.
Or was it?
Could he beat a man who made his living by manipulating words, with just one? A lightbulb went off inside Xavier’s skull. He turned to Hope and said a single word. “Smudges.”
She frowned at him, clearly wondering if he had gone mad. He’d gambled a lot in his life, but never more than in this one moment. Dread stalked him as he stared at her, heart pounding, silently begging her to catch on.
It happened. Her brow smoothed and understanding dawned over her lovely features. Her lips stretched into a grin, then a smile, then an involuntary laugh burst forth from Hope’s lips. One second, she’d been standing arms crossed, glaring at them both. The next, a giggle erupted so suddenly it seemed to have surprised even her.
Her features softened into the beautiful face he knew so well. In a soft voice, she said, “One word.”
Xavier nodded. Their time together at the fun park had turned things around for them. He prayed the memory could do the same for them again. At the time, their joy at getting back together had set them free, and their shared laughter had brought them closer. They’d seen each other truly naked and liked what they saw. He willed her to remember that.
She did.
He could tell. For an instant Hope beamed at him, and he beamed back. In that fleeting second, Xavier pictured them having a love like Luther and Gretchen’s, to have a life together, be happy.
It didn’t last.
Her face softened as she shook her head. “That was a great day, but is it enough?”
Xavier looked between Hope and her red-faced father. In an instant, he finally got it. He’d gone about it all wrong, again. At least this time, he understood why. In a quiet voice he said, “I’m sorry.”
Her father flung his arms into the air. “Finally, he comes to his senses.”
Ignoring her father, Xavier went on. “I’m sorry. I told myself I was coming here today to make sure you knew you had options, but the truth is I was trying to rescue you. Again. I’m finally realising that what I should have done all along is to tell you what you mean to me instead of hoarding it inside like some dirty little secret.
“I’ve spent the last ten years trying to make up for a mistake that wasn’t even mine, to a guy who never cared. I’ve worked so hard to be the man I thought my dad wanted me to be, but you saw through all that bullshit. You saw the real me, flaws and all, not the superficial veneer the rest of the world sees, and you accepted me anyway. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life regretting the time I let the most incredible woman I’ve ever met slip through my fingers.”
His hands reached for her of their own accord, but her arms remained stiffly by her sides. He stuffed his hands back into his pockets. She was ominously silent, so he went on.
“I don’t know exactly what I can offer, but I can promise you it’ll always be an adventure. I can promise you’ll never need to walk on eggshells with me. I’m sorry because I realise by coming here today all I’ve done is give you another ultimatum. I wasn’t giving you credit for being the intelligent and independent woman you are. In short, I was acting like your father.”
Okay, maybe that last bit was going too far, he had time to think before Hope’s father lunged at him, a white-hot ball of rage.
With a lightening-swift move, Michael somehow managed to restrain him before the older man’s hands wrapped around Xavier’s neck. For an old guy, he was surprisingly fast on his feet.
“Enough!” Hope threw out her arms. “Stop talking, and fighting, and generally being assholes for a minute and listen. I am not another trophy to be won. You both think you’re so smart, shielding me from real life. Well, no more. I can and will make my own fucking mistakes! I mean choices!”
Xavier thought he saw Michael hide a smirk.
“You’re right. You’re exactly right,” Xavier said with a sigh. “The decision is yours, Hope.”
