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“Thank you, Daddy.” I couldn’t tell him I’d thrown the other skirt away because of that stupid wrinkle. Or that this one was brand new and hung in a room all by itself because I didn’t want to be harped on again about a wrinkle. God, what was I thinking?
Mom worked in the kitchen, meticulously cooking in a way I could never master. I didn’t have her attention to detail—something I’d have to fix. Instead, I focused on setting the table.
“Genevieve, dear.” Mom stopped what she was doing, and I could see the wheels turning in her head as she studied my appearance. “Your skirt looks so much better than last time. I see your iron is coming in handy.”
“It is.” Did I even own an iron? “Thank you, Mom.”
“I’m going to the Hadley’s later for tea,” she told me as she went back to the stove. “It’d be nice to have you join us.”
I bit back a groan. Pastor Hadley and his wife lived an hour away in Sweet Water Creek. My father and Pastor Hadley had been friends since before I was born. We’d spent a lot of time there and vice versa over the years. They weren’t bad people. They were just incredibly boring.
“I’d like that,” I lied because it was better to do so.
“Oh, good. Mind your napkin placement, Genevieve. It looks sloppy. Start over, please.”
“Yes, Mother.” And I did. Twice. Because napkin placement didn’t matter to me, and I sucked at it. But I did it. And I kept my mouth shut because my pride was the last thing that needed attention.
My father said grace, and we ate in silence. Everything was bland and hard to swallow—or maybe I was just wound up too tight. Only after my father had finished did I dare to broach the question once more.
“Now that we’ve finished,” I began softly, “I’d like to talk to you about moving back home.”
“Well, wouldn’t that be nice!” Mom exclaimed, oblivious as always. “Phillip—”
“Quiet,” he ordered. Mom’s mouth shut firmly and in a forced smile. I knew that look so well.
“I’m serious,” I continued. “I know I have a lot of work to do on myself and my image, but this is a good place to start if you’ll let me have the opportunity.”
“If you come to live in my house, it’s under my rules, do you understand me?” my father asked, and I nodded, knowing silence was the best answer. “You don’t go near Killian Byrne, and you divorce him. I know a lawyer who can take care of it. You’ll get what you deserve after everything he did. And the Byrnes? All of them? You’re done. They’re a bad influence. The whole lot of them. No more bookstore, no more hanging out with that girl, no more family get-togethers with them, nothing. You hear me?”
“Yes,” I whispered. My heart cracked with the thought, but I shoved those feelings down deep.
“You’re going to work on being a respectable woman like we raised you,” he continued. “You’ll let your Mom set up an appointment to fix your hair. No more wild outfits or excessive jewelry. That thing in your tongue comes out. And don’t think I don’t know about your stomach piercing. I want it gone. You’ll work at the church, both for pay and to volunteer your time. Do you understand me?”
“I do,” I steeled myself for his backlash, “but I have a counteroffer. I know you, Daddy, and you won’t leave this alone. I’ll do everything you say, but I won’t take anything from him. I want to give him all of it and start over.”
My father made a sound but said nothing. It gave me enough courage to continue.
“And I’ll do everything you say so long as you leave Killian alone.” There. I said it. This time I could protect him. “I know you don’t, but I want Killian to be happy. He belongs here with his family, with the pack. He’s had enough—I’ve had enough. I don’t want to drag this out anymore, so I’m asking you to leave him alone. For good. No more trying to make him pay.”
My father considered me. My heart pounded so loud in my chest he had to hear it. The anxiety surging through my veins was nearly enough to knock me out. I didn’t know what I’d do if he said no.
“Then you’re done with the pack,” my father replied. My jaw slipped open as I gaped at him. He couldn’t be serious. A wolf without a pack was lost. I already felt lost enough.
“But—”
“If he stays as a leader of the pack, then you don’t go near the pack,” he said over me. No. “No more pack house, no more pack functions. You are done with the pack. If you do that, I’ll leave him alone. I won’t have my daughter anywhere near that man.”
I swallowed hard. Lord, I was being tested. I wanted to protect Killian from my father, but I wasn’t expecting this.
“Okay,” I murmured. “You have a deal.”
“Good.” He held out his hand. “Give me your phone please.”
I did and watched as one by one he deleted people from my life. With each one, I told myself this was the right thing to do. Cut ties and move forward.
Cut ties and let Killian find happiness.
Chapter 51
