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He got out of his chair and came to me. “No, Beth. You’re a mom who was focused on her child. If he loves you, he’ll realize that.”
“Why would he bother? I kept his child from him. You hate him and tried to beat him up. He has no reason.”
“He has Hannah.”
I nodded. “Right.” I sniffed, working to get my crying under control. “How much time do we have to pack up and move?”
He shrugged. “We weren’t given a time. I hope to find out tomorrow.” He squeezed my hands. “I hate him, Beth, but I won’t deny that it’s some relief to know at the very least you and Hannah will be taken care of.”
“Hannah will be.”
“As her mother, you will be too. Even if things don’t work out with you two, he’ll provide for you because you’re Hannah’s mom.”
“I’m worried about you, Ben.”
“I know.” He looked down. I could see that he hated what he’d become as well. But he wasn’t able to overcome his demons. “Dad would be disappointed.”
“Dad would have no right to be. He created this. The business troubles and my life with Ash. I find it hard to forgive him for what he’s turned us into.”
“Too bad he’s not here for us to tell him.” He stood. “I’m heading up to bed. Are you going to be okay?”
I nodded. I was sure I’d live the rest of my life regretting how I’d treated Ash, but at least Hannah now had him. And he had Hannah. I’d have to settle for being happy with that.
27
Ash – Monday
I woke up early feeling hungover even though I hadn’t been drinking. I was emotionally wiped out. Beth had completely blindsided and broken me with her betrayal. My father had been complicit. Maybe he didn’t know Hannah was mine, but he separated me from Beth and had prevented us from contacting each other. Perhaps her father had done the same with my attempts to reach her.
Today was a new day. I’d quit Raven Industries, so there was no reason to go there. I had Jet, and my investments, so money wasn’t an issue. They could all go a day without me lurking about. Instead, I needed to get to know my daughter.
I rose, and was going to take a shower when there was a knock on my door. It wasn’t even seven in the morning yet. Who’d be here? I wondered if it was Beth, and a part of my heart jumped at the idea. That was until my mind reminded it what she’d done. Everything I thought about who she was and who she thought I was, was wrong. It was a difficult pill to swallow just how off-base I was.
I put my robe on and went to the door.
“Hunter. Grace. What are you doing here? Oh wait… did dad or Kade call you?” I asked as I remembered how I stormed over to my dad’s place the night before.
“Kade,” Hunter replied.
“Well I’m not in the mood—”
“I haven’t seen your place yet,” Grace said pushing her way in.
I looked at Hunter who shrugged.
“Wow, look at that view,” she said as she reached the living room. “Honey, why don’t you make some coffee? Ash looks like he could use it.”
“Good idea.” Hunter leaned closer to me. “I find it’s worthwhile to go with her on these things.”
“Since you’re marrying her, I guess so.”
“No, I meant you.” He nodded to Grace, who was now on the terrace. “You just have to listen.”
I didn’t want to listen, but I couldn’t find the strength to kick them out.
“I’ll get coffee.”
I went out on to the terrace and sat in a chair. Had things gone better, I would have been having coffee with Beth out here. Boy how wrong I’d been about that.
Grace turned and came to sit in the chair next to me. “This is truly amazing. All you Raven boys have spectacular homes, but this, this has to beat the rest. You can see everything.”
“I like it. Although I may have to sell it.”
“What, why?”
Hunter joined us on the terrace. “Can you smell Jersey from here?” He sat next to Grace. “Coffee is brewing.”
“Ash says he might sell it.”
“Would be perfect for a couple such as yourselves,” I said.
“Why sell?” Hunter asked.
“I’ll probably need to downsize my life a little. I quit last night.”
“We heard. I wish I’d seen it.”
“Hunter,” Grace chastised. She turned to me. “We’re here for you, Ash.”
“I’m not really in the mood to talk about it.”
She shrugged and sat back in her chair. “So, we’ll sit.”
I looked at Hunter. He grinned. “I think it’s part of her training. She’s got the patience of a saint. Let me get the coffee.” He stood and went inside.
“You’re just going to sit here and not make me talk?”
“Yep.”
“Why?” I liked Grace a lot for what she’d done for Hunter, but I wasn’t interested in being one of her clients.
