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“Last time we spoke, I was so horrible to him,” I bit off, guilt crushing in on me. “I wanted him to stay home more, now look what’s happened.”
“So what? You caused it? Don’t be silly. You’re his little princess, that’s clear from a mile away. Nothing you say or do will ever change that.”
I leaned back and stared up at Asher. “You really think so?”
He nodded. “I know so.” He tucked my hair behind my ear. “Who could stop loving you?”
His words triggered a fresh round of tears and I buried my face in his chest, while his arms tightened around me. A harsher and more terrifying truth lingered at the back of my mind.
No one can help us now.
Winter
When a knock came later, I wondered why my mom was knocking, before the door opened. It wasn’t my mom.
Duncan Fitzgerald stepped into the room, brushing rain off his coat. “Ah, Winter, you’re here. How’s he doing?”
I had no idea what to feel around this man except for instinctive dislike.
“He’s okay. He woke up briefly, and they put him under again,” I said, standing and wrapping my arms around myself. I was wearing Asher’s oversized hoodie. He’d left it with me when I’d made him leave to go and see his mom. While my whole world had fallen apart, his had changed in other ways. I already felt bad about him leaving the ranch in Saratoga so soon after making contact with his father, but he’d insisted on coming with me.
Duncan nodded sympathetically. “I was so worried when I heard. Me and Charlie go way back. I hope he can come through this unscathed.”
“He will. He’s strong,” I murmured, and turned to my dad.
He didn’t look strong right now. He was pale and smaller than I remembered him being. In my mind, he was a bear of a man, but he wasn’t really anymore.
“Well, a man can only be as strong as his physical flesh is willing to be. Stress takes its toll on everyone.”
I glanced at Duncan. “Stress?”
“Didn’t Angela mention his money troubles? He’s made some bad calls, and it’s had an effect on his bottom line. Being the DeLauries of Hade Harbor isn’t a cheap lifestyle. I’m sure he was feeling the pressure.”
“I don’t understand. Are you blaming his family for his heart attack?”
Duncan raised an eyebrow. “No, of course not, but it’s telling that you’d jump to that conclusion. Guilt comes in all forms.”
“Guilt? You think I wanted money so bad that I wouldn’t have cared that my dad was working himself into the ground? I would have given anything for him to be home more.”
Duncan just shrugged. “Sometimes people don’t get their priorities in order before it’s too late. Thankfully for Charlie, it’s not.”
“It’s not?” I echoed, feeling all turned around by this conversation.
Duncan shook his head. “Given our history, I have always made it a point to make sure your family is provided for. Charlie and I decided when you were young that a union of our families would guarantee the money and reputation that alone we never could have achieved. Luckily, we had a son and a daughter, so the dream continued.”
I stared at him, frozen in place by the sheer ridiculousness of what I was hearing.
Duncan smiled thinly at my expression. “Be careful, Winter, or I might take offense…you don’t seem to like Trent, and I take that very personally. Our two families and businesses joining forces was always the plan. A non-taxable way of merging.” He straightened his cuffs. “Genius, really. And Trent is taken with you, he always was.”
“I-I have a boyfriend,” I heard myself say as if from a great distance. “My dad understands that.”
Duncan chuckled. “Of course, young love, a youthful dalliance and all of that. I can understand it, too. In fact, the woman I loved had a boyfriend when we met. I’m afraid my son is as single-minded as I am when it comes to love. I didn’t let that girl’s boyfriend get in the way of becoming engaged… and I doubt Trent will, either.”
“Your wife had another boyfriend?”
Duncan tutted. “Not my wife. I said the woman I loved.” He reached out and touched the bracelet on my wrist. “You wear her jewelry. It’s ironic, really.”
Aunt Ruth?
