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“I know.” Eaton strokes down my face. ‘There’s one more present I have for you tonight.”
“More? Eaton, I don’t need all this.”
“I’m not buying you things to get anything from you in exchange, Shelby. Please don’t think that. I’m a different person from the one who came to collect you. I want to marry you, and I want to have children with you because of whoyouare, not because of whose daughter you are. The hate I had for you has gone. I feel only…” Eaton places his hand over my heart. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to say the word, but I think you know what I mean.”
A part of me is saddened that the growing feeling I have for this man in front of me will probably never be spoken out loud, but I know what his hand resting on my heart means, and that’s all I need. He removes his hand and reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone. He swipes to bring up a picture and turns the phone to show me.
“Everything is at the casino at the moment, but I’ll have it brought here tomorrow.”
I look closely at the picture. It’s a laptop with books surrounding it. The books are different modules of veterinary science.
“I don’t understand.” I’m confused as to what it means.
“I’ve arranged for you to study to become a vet. It’s an online course with tutors who will help. I’m not letting you out of my sight to go to university. I don’t trust the boys who’ll be there, but you can study whatever you want and tailor later modules to the areas you want to specialize in. Ian has also said that he’s happy to assist you in gaining practical experience. He was impressed with you diagnosing the meerkat’s problem.”
My head starts spinning. I can’t believe what I’m hearing. This has been my dream all my life, to study animal medicine.
“Is this real?” My voice breaks.
“Yes. You’ll need to work hard. It’s not going to be easy, but In know you’ll succeed. Who knows, when you qualify, I might even buy the Las Vegas Zoo for you.”
“Okay, that’s going too far! I’ll settle for delivering Betty’s kittens and looking after them for now.
I take a step closer to Eaton, and raising my hand, I cover his heart with my palm.
“Thank you. I’m glad my father was a monster because it led me to you. I just wish,” I look down and away, “that your mother hadn’t been the price you had to pay.”
Eaton falls silent. His fingers turning the ring on his left hand. A ring I know was once his mother’s. He pulls it off, and taking my left hand in his, he slips it onto my finger. It’s a little big for me, but I understand the significance of this gesture.
“Marry me?” It’s not a question, it’s a demand. It will always be a demand when Eaton wants something, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“You know I can’t say no.” I lean forward and kiss him. “Let’s go to bed and celebrate.”
28
EATON
“What do you think she wants, Eaton?” Max’s face is full of concern as we stride purposely through the secure unit.
“I don’t know, but why now, just when Shelby and I have finally sorted everything out.”
My hands are gripped into tight fists—they have been since I got the phone call this morning that Shelby’s mother, Juana, wanted to see me. I should have told her to go fuck herself. She’s nothing but a drug addict and a whore, but her message indicated that she has important information about the past, leaving me in little doubt I needed to hear what she has to say.
“You want me to come in with you?” Max questions.
I shake my head. “No, I can deal with this myself.”
I remember Juana from my youth. She was quiet, but I suspect Shelby gets her swearing ability from her mother’s Mexican ancestry. Juana could be fiery when flustered.
We reach the door of Juana’s room. Max assumes a guarding position by the door, and I knock before entering the room. Shelby’s mother is sitting on a chair by the window, reading a book.
She looks completely different from the last time I saw her when she was fucking a client in the trailer to get a drug fix. Gone is the greasy hair and the dark circles under her eyes. She’s no longer gaunt and spaced out. Her hair is cut shorter and pulled back in a ponytail, and she’s wearing glasses to read.
“Mrs. Jones,” I acknowledge her politely. My view on Shelby has changed since our first meeting. I don’t blame her for what her father did, and I can’t blame Juana either. “You wanted to see me.”
She shuts the book, places it down on the table next to her and motions for me to sit on the chair opposite her. I make my way over and sit down.
“Thank you for coming. I wasn’t sure if you would.” Juana speaks clearly. There’s no hint of the drug addict she once was.
