Page 43 of Beautifully Broken Redemption

She looked up from her clipboard, a heat in her eyes that hadn’t been there before. “I’m very sorry that happened to both of you. Were there ever any hospital or doctors’ visits that might help corroborate this?”

“I had to go to the hospital once for some broken ribs, but my mother told them I’d fallen while jumping on my bed. Most of the time, he was careful. He knew where to hit that would hurt but not leave outward signs.” There were times I’d had blood in my urine from kidney punches, but he’d only broken a bone once. I’d never understood how he had the restraint to hold back in that way but not be able to stop hitting us altogether.

“If you can get me the hospital name, I’ll request those records.”

“I can email it to you after I look it up.”

“That would be great.”

Mason had gone stiff by my side, and when I looked up at him, I saw barely contained rage. I couldn’t help but place a hand on his stomach, the muscles taut. “Are you okay?”

“No, I’m not. I want to kill your father,” he whispered.

I forced some levity into my voice. “Somehow, I don’t think you going to jail for murder will help our custody case.”

I hoped for a chuckle or at least a corner of his mouth to rise. I didn’t get either. He simply stared down at me. “He’s not going to hurt any of you ever again.”

“Okay.” I wasn’t sure what else to say. I wasn’t going to tell Mason how good my father was at flipping the script and getting people on his side. I didn’t explain how he’d turned my sister against me for so many years. None of that would help right now.

His hand slipped under my hair, squeezing the back of my neck. “I mean it.”

“I know.” There was a certainty in Mason’s voice that brooked no argument. And for the millionth time, I wondered why. “I know what it’s like to have no power.” His words echoed in my brain. I wanted to know who had taken that power away and why. Instead, I simply headed upstairs behind Sadie.

I leanedback in one of the lounges by the pool, tugging my hoodie a little tighter. I stared up at the stars as if they might have the answers I was looking for. If they did, they weren’t speaking tonight.

A throat cleared, and I looked in the direction it had come from. Mason extended a mug. “Thought you might be able to use some hot chocolate.”

I took the mug. “If it’s that epic mix you used last time, the answer is yes.”

“I don’t mess around when it comes to hot chocolate.”

“Good to know.”

He wrapped his hands around his mug. “Can I join you?”

“Of course.” It was his house. His pool. His land. He could go wherever he wanted.

Mason eased down onto the other side of the lounge. “How do you feel?”

“Exhausted.” I was tired down to my bones. Lyla and Justin had been shaken after their time with Sadie. Not because she hadn’t tried her best to go gently, but some hard questions had to be asked, and I knew Justin had needed to lay a weight at her feet. Instead of going out for pizza afterwards, Mason had gone to get us all takeout. We’d eaten in front of a movie in the family room.

“I think she’s on our side.”

I shifted so I faced Mason, my legs tucked under me. “What makes you say that?”

He took a sip of his hot chocolate and then set it on a side table. “Just a gut feeling.”

“I hope your gut is right.” We needed Sadie on our team. To report to the court that we were the best caregivers for Justin and Lyla. Without her vote of confidence, our custody case would be even more of an uphill battle than it already was.

We were quiet for a minute, soaking in the quiet night. There was a serene beauty to Mason’s home. Everything felt calmer here. If it were mine, I’d never want to leave. I blew on my drink before taking a sip. “Does your sister visit much?” I’d seen photos around the house from various phases of life. The two of them seemed close, but he rarely talked about her.

Mason grimaced. “She’s pretty busy with law school right now.”

“What’s with the frown? You don’t want her to be a lawyer?”

“I’m not frowning.”

I tried to copy his expression. “That’s what your face looked like. Not exactly a happy reaction.”

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