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Breanna rolled her eyes. “You didn’t even like her!”
“Not always, no, but when it came to you, she had your best interests at heart.” Nodding, her mother worried her lip.
She still didn’t understand, and that only made her angrier. “Then why did you keep us apart?”
Her mother sighed. “To protect you.”
“Protect me?”
“Valerie and Lawrence were afraid for you.” A tear snaking its way down her cheek, Sarah wrung her hands. “See, they knew they’d never be able to prove it, but your grandparents swore your father’s death was no accident.”
“And you were the only Dalton left,” Sinjin murmured, as if suddenly it all made sense. “What did they think happened?”
“Lawrence suspected someone tampered with the car,” she said, swiping at the wetness on her face.
“Who?”
Her mom shrugged. “I don’t know, but Valerie never trusted Raymond. She told me so. Of course, Lawrence didn’t want to hear it.”
“They were close. Longtime friends.” His finger rubbing over his upper lip, Sinjin nodded.
“I know all about it.” Sarah sniggered, the timbre of her voice venomous. “The Daltons and St. Johns go way back.”
“This is all so fucked up.” Shaking her head, unbidden tears rushed from Breanna’s eyes.
Sinjin’s fingers swept through her hair. “Shhh, everything’s going to be all right, princess.”
Her mother’s eyes widened. “Valerie kept Breanna away from Dalton House for a reason, Mr. Maynard. I need to know my daughter is safe.”
“Ian. Please,” he insisted, and gazing at Breanna tenderly continued to stroke her hair. “Raymond died three years ago. You don’t have to worry about him.”
“And yet Valerie still feared for her, Ian.”
He looked at her mom then. “I’ve got her, Mrs. Benjamin—”
“Sarah.”
“Breanna is safe with me, Sarah,” Sinjin assured her. “I promise.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.” She didn’t seem convinced.
Breanna held her hand up. “Mom, enough.”
“I’m going to talk to your dad when he gets home. We can fly up as soon—”
“No. Don’t. I’ll be fine. I can handle this.” Vehemently, she shook her head. “Besides, I’m coming home for Christmas.”
“I hate seeing you so upset, honey.” Wringing her hands some more, her mother bit into her lip.
Breanna sniffled and took in a breath. “It’s just that I grew up thinking my grandmother didn’t care to even see me…”
“She saw you.” Closing her teary eyes, her mom softly smiled. “Once.”
“When?”
Her eyes opened. “Remember the summer we went up to Tahoe?”
