Page 39 of The Next Mrs. Parrish

Florence nodded. “I feel bad talking about her, but the truth is the truth. She got involved with a young boy, got pregnant, and then accused him of rape. We believed her. Supported her and then to find out…well, she’d made it up when he wouldn’t marry her. Her son was two and a half when she told me the truth. Poor Matthew, the young man she lied about, went to prison and was there all that time for a crime he didn’t commit. I had to do something.”

Daisy Ann feigned surprise. “That’s terrible. Are you sure she made it up?”

“I’m sure. She bragged about it to her sister Penny, and Penny told me. When I confronted Lana, she said he deserved it for treating her like she was nothing. Well, as you can imagine, I wasn’t very popular with her when I told the authorities. I didn’t realize they’d arrest her for perjury. We posted her bail, but then she left. Left her only son, little Matty, and never looked back.”

Not her only son anymore,Daisy Ann thought. “Gosh. I can’t believe she’d leave her child. That must have been so hard for her.”

Florence lowered her eyes. “I don’t think it was. Her sisters and I paid more attention to Matty than she did. She couldn’t be bothered with him half the time.”

“Does he live with you?”

“No. With his dad and stepmom. Eugenia Lockwood never had much use for us, but after what Lana did, she hated us and did everything in her power to make sure we couldn’t have anything to do with Matty. She’s not a nice woman. She tried getting Lana’s parental rights terminated, which would have ended ours as well. Luckily the judge wouldn’t go for it. We get to see Matty once a month on the last Sunday.” She sighed. “It’s not enough, but what can we do?”

“My gosh, I’m so sorry.”

“I’ll show you a picture,” Florence said. She quickly left the kitchen and came back with a framed photograph. “Here he is. Such a doll.”

An adorable dark-haired little boy in a school uniform stared back at her. Daisy Ann couldn’t imagine how a mother could abandon her child. But then again, this was Amber they were talking about. “I’m so sorry,” she repeated. “That must be hard for you.”

“It is, but one day he’ll be old enough to decide for himself and we’ll be here waiting for him. I’m blessed that my other daughters have given me grandchildren and we’re all close. It makes me sad, though, that Matty hardly knows his cousins.”

“What a shame,” Daisy Ann said.

“Lana never was much for family, you know? She used to say she didn’t understand how she ended up in this family, that there must have been some mistake. Like she didn’t belong with us. Always wanted more. Nothing we did was ever good enough. I think she was kind of ashamed of us. But we’re honest, hardworking folk, and I pray that one day Lana will see that. I mean, if I could find her, maybe if she came back, she could get partial custody. I’d be happy to help her with him.”

“Wouldn’t she go to jail for running from a warrant?”

Florence sighed. “Yes, probably for a few years, but she’s young. I’d watch him in the meantime. If I could afford it, I’d hire somebody to try and find her, but we’re hardly making ends meet as it is. And her sisters want nothing to do with her. She was always awful to them. Anyway, it’s obvious she doesn’t want to be found by us.”She wiped a tear from her eye. “I know she’s done bad things, but she’s still my child. I can’t help but wonder what I did wrong.”

Daisy Ann felt a deep sympathy for this kindhearted woman, who was so warm and lovely, and wanted to do something for her. She reached into her purse and pulled out an envelope, handing it to Florence. “It’s the security deposit money I told you about. Two thousand dollars. I went to the bank and got cash. I remember Lana telling me that when we moved out and she got the security deposit back, she was going to send it to you to repay you for the money she took when she left.”

“Thank you. So kind of you to bring it to me.”

“And as far as wondering what you did wrong, you can’t blame yourself. I really believe we’re all born with our personalities intact.”

“That’s what my husband says. We both scratch our heads wondering how in the world she can do the things she does. She was such a darling little girl. Everyone would stop and say how pretty she was. Smart as a whip too and daring. Nothing scared her. Except tunnels. She’s got a touch of claustrophobia.”

Daisy Ann wondered how Amber would fare in a small prison cell.

– 24 –

DAPHNE

It’s been three days since Jackson took the girls to his house and I still haven’t been able to speak to them. I was tempted to drive over there, but Dean, my attorney, strenuously advised against it. Meredith, bless her, hasn’t left my side and her company is the only thing keeping me from completely losing my mind.

“Can you drive over there, Mer? You’re not restricted from seeing them.”

“I’m happy to, but I’m not sure what good it will do. Maybe it’s best if we wait to see what Dean advises.”

My phone rings, and I jump up. I look at the screen and my heart skips a beat. “It’s Jackson,” I say to Meredith. Grabbing it, I answer.

“Jackson?”

“It’s me, Mommy.”

My legs almost buckle, and I fall back on the sofa. “Bella. Honey, are you okay?”

“I miss you, Mommy. Why did you leave us?”

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