Page 47 of The Next Mrs. Parrish

“Why wouldn’t I be?Dad’snot a drug addict. We’re doing just fine.”

I clench my jaw. What has he been telling her? “Honey, I’m not a drug addict. I don’t know what…”

“Save it, Mom. I know all about what happened when I was a baby. I can’t believe all this time you’ve made Dad seem like the dangerous one, when it was you all along.”

It feels as though my heart is being ripped from my chest. “He’s lying to you. I would never put you in danger.”

But she’s gone and Jackson is back. “You’ve been filling her head with lies,” I tell him.

“Now, Daphne, it’s true that you were hospitalized when she wasa baby. She’s old enough to understand. No one is perfect. Come home. Amber is gone. We’ll sit down and explain everything together. I’ll help you to win Lu back.”

His voice, patronizing and mocking, infuriates me, and it takes all my self-control not to tell him to go screw himself. But I know he’s not going to back down. He’s going to see this through to the end, no matter who gets hurt. Nothing will stop him. I swallow my rage and take deep breaths. “You win, Jackson. I’ll be there tomorrow.”

“Attagirl. I’ll have the cook prepare something special for dinner.”

I hope you choke on it,I think. “Tomorrow then.” I end the call and leave my bedroom, returning to the kitchen where Meredith is waiting.

“Well?”

“He’s got Tallulah convinced that I’m some kind of drug addict. She would barely talk to me. I have to go back.”

“But, Daphne…”

“I have no choice. The longer he has them to himself, the more damage he’ll do.”

“We should call the lawyers.”

I shake my head. “They’re just going to tell me to wait. What’s the point? Even if I do wait and the DCF investigation is dropped, I still have to fight him for custody. And you can bet he’ll use every dirty trick in the book to win. I can’t wait any longer. I have to protect my daughters.”

“So what’s your plan? Just go back and live with him forever?”

I shake my head. “Of course not. I’ll figure something out. But for now, I have to make him think he’s won.”

Meredith gives me a long look that says she thinks hehaswon. “Daph, what about sex? Does he expect you to sleep with him?”

I make a face. “Gentleman that he is, he’s said I can have my own room until I’m ready to welcome him back into my bed. Like that’s ever going to happen.”

Meredith arches her eyebrows. “Don’t be naive. That won’t last long.”

I nod. “Yeah, I know. One step at a time. I can’t worry about that now. I need to get to my girls. The rest will fall into place.”

She gives me a worried look. “Why don’t you let me see if Randolph can speak to a different judge? It’s a shame that he doesn’t know the one who’s assigned to your case. Maybe he can persuade the judge to find in your favor earlier.”

“I appreciate it, Mer, but the last thing I need is to be accused of trying to bribe a judge or something. I have a bad feeling that could come back to haunt me. I’ll be okay.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing. And of course, I’m here for whatever you need.”

I squeeze her hand. “Thanks. I’m counting on it.”

– 29 –

AMBER

Amber left Wade Ashford’s office satisfied with how the meeting had gone. She had every expectation that he would follow through as she’d instructed. But the best part was the new information she’d gotten about Valene Mart. It seemed they were still interested in buying, which she would verify; if true, it meant Amber could safely use the diamond money to buy White Orchid stock with the assurance that she’d get her money back pretty quickly. And even better was the fact that Amber would make a nice profit on her investment with what Valene Mart would be willing to pay to buy the stock from her. That made sharing the money with Jackson more palatable. Once that was finished, she would leave Dallas for greener and more interesting pastures. She was sick and tired of others trying to make her feel less than. All her life, she’d been looked down upon. And then when she’d finally thought she’d secured her position in high society, Jackson had been arrested and she’d been the subject of gossip and ridicule once again. Now she had her own money, but it wasn’t enough. She wasn’t going to just run away and hide. This was a matter of pride, of reclaiming her dignity. Daisy Ann had humiliated her in front of all those people. Rich, influential people whose approval Amber had worked so hard to gain. The burning need to take Daisy Ann down, to prove that she could best her, to take away the one thing Daisy Ann prized in her heart—her mother’s legacy—was all-consuming. She wouldn’t rest until she had her retribution.

She sighed in contentment and leaned against the headrest of the back seat. The driver had wisely continued to refrain from speaking unless spoken to, so this afternoon she would call the car agency and request his services for the duration of her stay in Dallas. Now, as the SUV slowed and turned into Turtle Creek and the entrance to Rosewood Mansion, Amber peered out her window, smiling as the hotel came into view. She’d been staying here for a week now and loved every minute ofit.

Sunlight sparkled on the peachy pink stucco of the elegant building with its Palladian windows and canopied entrance. She’d read that it once had been a private estate built to copy early Italian renaissance style, and Amber nodded in approval. A valet wearing a plaid suede jacket and cap approached the car and opened her door. Before exiting she tapped on the front seat. “I won’t need you until tomorrow. Pick me up at nine,” she said to the driver in dismissal.

---