Page 59 of The Next Mrs. Parrish

“Mom, this isn’t how I want to spend my summer vacation,” she whispers.

“I know, honey. I tried to tell you.”

“Talk to him. Get him to ease up.”

“He’s not going to listen to me.”

“Why? I don’t get it. You’re getting back together so why would you do that if you’re going to let him be a dictator?”

I hesitate. She still doesn’t know that Jackson and Amber were the ones behind the incident at the beach that put me in this predicament. Jackson warned me that if I told them, he’d make sure I never saw them again. I know he’s capable of that. In her mind, this reunion is genuine and for now I have to make sure she continues to believe that. No matter how much I want to tell her the truth, I can’t risk it. Not yet anyway.

“We’re all just feeling our way. Dad is trying to make up for all the time he missed with you, and he doesn’t quite have the hang of parenting older kids. You know?”

“It’s so stupid. I’ve kept my mouth shut, but I can’t anymore.”

“That’s fine, honey. You should be honest with him. Tell him that you’re not having fun. That you’re not a baby. Maybe he’ll lighten up.”

“You think so?”

“Yes. Absolutely.”

Tallulah goes back to her room, and I toss and turn the rest of the night, hoping the advice I gave her won’t come back to biteme.

—

This morning we’re all seated at the dining room table and Jackson’s giving us the itinerary for the day as our breakfast is served—egg white omelets with spinach and mushrooms.

“Tallulah’s told me that she’s going a bit stir-crazy, and I apologize.”

I look up at him in surprise, then at Tallulah who gives me a cat-that-swallowed-the-canary smile.

He continues. “I’ll admit, I’ve been wanting to keep you all to myself after not seeing you for so long. But it’s time to reassimilateinto the world again.” He laughs. It’s the laugh reserved for clients, and it makes me cringe. As I study his face, still so handsome with his chiseled features, his cobalt blue eyes, I feel nothing but revulsion and wonder how I ever loved him. “I know you girls are bored sitting around here with us all day. I was thinking you would enjoy sailing camp at the club. You’ll meet other kids your age, learn a great skill, maybe get invited to a party or two.” At this he winks at Tallulah.

“That sounds awesome,” Tallulah replies.

“I don’t know,” Bella says, her voice quiet. “Sailing sounds kind of scary.”

“It’s not scary at all,” Jackson reassures her. “You’ll take it very slow, and someone will be with you all the time. Promise. You can also both take tennis lessons. And…you’ll have full access to the restaurant and snack bar.”

At this Bella lights up. “Really?”

He nods. “Really. I know I need to give you both more freedom. We’ll figure it out.”

That must have been some talk Tallulah had with him. He seems to have sorted everything out.

He pulls something from his pocket. “One more thing. I’ve gotten us tickets to go seeCluethis Saturday at Charterhouse Academy.”

It’s the school he wants the girls to attend in the fall. “How nice. Matinee or evening?” I ask.

“The two o’clock show and then we can have dinner afterward. How does that sound?”

Bella lights up. “Yay! That sounds fun.”

Tallulah is not so enthusiastic. “I guess. Dad, tell Mom what else you agreed to.”

“Ah yes. My darling daughter tells me I’ve been acting like a dinosaur in regard to the screens. No more limits on screen time. It is summer after all.”

Who is this man and what has he done with Jackson? There’s a spontaneous outcry of joy from both, then he puts a fingerup.

---