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“No.”

“In a program?”

Beth dropped all her acting and stared at Willa. “No.”

“Then why now? Why should I care? Everett, can you escort this woman out of the facility?”

“Happy to.” I took a step forward, my hand on the door about to push Beth through it when the woman scampered under my arm.

“Baby girl, please give me a chance! I’m your mother. I’ve made mistakes. I have my regrets. Just give me one last chance.”

I looked to Willa. If she gave me the nod I’d pick Beth up and carry her out. She was only an inch taller than her daughter and just as tiny. It would be easy.

Our gazes locked and Willa huffed, then looked at her mother. “Why. Now? Answer that or get out.”

I sized Beth up. I could easily grab her by the waist and throw her over my shoulder. She’d probably kick and punch and scream, but I was an athlete. I could take it all.

Beth threw her hands in the air. “I see your face everywhere! You're on television and in the news. I’m constantly being reminded of my biggest mistake and I can’t take it anymore. I’m here…I’m here.” She shrugged when she couldn’t come up with a better reason.

Which was honestly a good thing. This at least rang partially true.

“And what am I supposed to do with this?” Willa arched one eyebrow.

Beth shrugged. “I don’t know. But I know I have to give you the chance to figure that out. You can be mad at me, you can forgive me, or you can send me away. It’s up to you. I realized that I owed you the opportunity to tell me off or ask questions.”

Willa hesitated. Then she clenched her jaw and glared some more. “You don’t need to worry. I gave up on you a long, long time ago. I absolve you or whatever.” She flicked her hand, dismissing her mother. “Go back to your real life.”

To my complete surprise, Beth didn’t fight her. She gave Willa one last tight smile then turned on her heel. “Goodbye Willa.”

“I’ll walk her out.” I gave Willa a quick squeeze before closing her office door so she could have a few minutes to gather herself in peace.

Beth marched down the hallway to the elevator, punching the button. When I came up beside her she didn’t flirt. She just stared at the wall. “She hates me.”

“I wouldn’t say that.” Willa had a gaping wound but she would never give Beth enough power over her to have an emotion that strong.

“She yelled at me.”

“Yeah well, you ambushed her. Not a good move.”

“If I emailed she would have deleted it without looking. If I called she would have hung up.”

“You don’t know that.” The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. We stepped inside.

Beth punched the button for the ground floor. “I do. It’s what I would have done.”

“With all due respect, you don’t know a damn thing about Willa Cooper.” I didn’t mean the respect part, but I felt obligated to say it since, for better or for worse, she was the reason Willa existed.

“I might not have spent time with her but trust me, I know my daughter.”

The elevator came to a stop. We walked past security and to the parking deck doors. “I don’t know how you can know someone you’ve never met. And if you don’t mind me saying, pretty self-involved to think you know her simply because you gave birth to her.”

The mask slid away. Beth glared at me with pure evil in her eyes. “Never get between a mother and her child. I may be small but I’m lethal.”

I pushed open the heavy door, holding it for her. “You’re not her mother. And if I were you, I’d go back to wherever you came from. You’re not welcome here.” I was willing to give her some leeway until that look. Any doubts I had lurking in the back of my mind vanished.

Beth Hanes would not be getting anywhere near Willa ever again.

“Goodbye Mr. Anson.” She gave me a finger wave.