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Nix
“Harleigh isn’t here,” I said to Michael Rowe as he slipped into my room. “She left to get something to eat.”
“I didn’t come to see Harleigh, son. I was hoping we could talk.”
I motioned to one of the empty seats.
It was mid-morning and I already felt a little better. Although I was pretty sure waking up with Harleigh curled up next to me had something to do with it.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“I’ll be okay.”
His brow lifted in a way that told me he wasn’t so sure, but I didn’t want or need his pity.
“I hope you don’t mind that I took it upon myself to call a friend down at Darling Hill PD. He’s in with Jessa right now, taking her statement, and then he’d like to talk to you, if you’re up to it.”
“Why?” I asked. “Why help us?”
“Because my daughter loves you very much, son. And because I am man enough to admit when I made a mistake, and something tells me I made a huge mistake where you and my daughter are concerned.”
“She’ll never forgive you,” I said. Not out of malice, but because it was the simple truth. Michael had broken something in Harleigh, something I wasn’t sure would ever heal.
Not even with time.
“And I’ll have to live with that every day for the rest of my life.” His lips thinned. “But it doesn’t mean I won’t try to fix things.”
I gave him a small nod of understanding, but said, “Just so we’re clear, I’ll never forgive you either. But this really isn’t about me.”
“No, no it isn’t.” He let out a heavy sigh full of regret and shame. “I thought she was just grieving… I thought in time she’d get over it. I didn’t know… I guess the how or the why doesn’t really matter now. Harleigh hurt herself because of the decisions I made, and that’s not something I’ll forgive myself in a hurry for either.”
“You really called in a favor with the police?”
“I did. And I have the means to make sure your father can’t hurt you or Jessa again, son. All you have to do is say the word.”
“W-what does that mean exactly?”
“Don’t look so worried, Nix.” He smiled and it was all Harleigh.
Jesus, that would take some getting used to. Especially if he was going to be in her—our—lives, which his presence this morning suggested he was.
“I’m referring to legitimate means. We have enough evidence to make sure Joe Wilder gets put away for a very long time.”
“You’ll have to catch him first.” Fear snaked through me. If my old man knew we were talking to the police…
“That was the other thing I wanted to talk to you about. The police arrested your father and a Vince Colombo in the early hours of this morning.
“You’re shitting me?” I bolted upright, sucking in a pained breath at the sudden movement.
“Jesus, Nix, are you—”
“Fine, I’m fine.” I sank back against the stiff pillows, gritting my teeth through the pain. “You really think the charges will stand?”
“I’ll make sure they do.”
“Tell your cop friend I’ll give a statement after he’s done talking to Jessa.”
“Good. You’re making the right decision, son.”
