Page 98 of Edge of Heaven

“Mick is what everyone calls me.”

I don’t mention the circumstances surrounding when Taryn calls me Michael.

“Okay, Mick. And you can call me Tracy.”

“Tracy, I’m here because I love Taryn.”

“That doesn’t really have anything to do with me.”

“But it does.” I lean against the counter as she works. “Taryn thinks she’s a disappointment to you.”

Her mother hesitates. “I guess in a way she is. But probably not why she thinks. It has nothing to do with getting pregnant at fifteen. Yes, of course, we were disappointed, but she’s not the first teenager that happened to. It’s more about her choices after that. The modeling dream… she talks about wanting to raise Toby but then doesn’t do anything to make that happen.”

“Her modeling career is important,” I protest. “And she’s starting to see success for all her sacrifices. Rock Vibe wants to make her their spokesperson and there’s been a lot of talk about her since the Alexa Humboldt show.”

“I’ll admit to being surprised about that but with her behavior of late, it wouldn’t surprise me if those avenues are all closed to her now.”

“Taryn didn’t do anything wrong,” I say quietly. “Her bloodwork came back clean—no drugs or alcohol in her system. She drinks a little, but Taryn doesn’t do drugs. At all. Ever.”

Tracy turns, a surprised look in her eyes. “Are you sure?”

“I’m positive.”

She frowns. “Honestly, I don’t know what to believe anymore.”

“Do you have any idea what she endured with Callum?”

Tracy shakes her head. “The fact that she stayed with a man like that.Thoseare the choices she makes that…disappoint me.”

“Are you kidding me right now? She sold the only commodity she felt she had—herself—to a mean, abusive addict to pay for Toby’s treatment. Don’t you get the sacrifice she made? Do you have any idea how he treated her? You think this was the first time he put his hands on her? Did you miss the bruises on her thighs, her back, all the places most people couldn’t see them?”

“I don’t…” Her face is a little pale. “I guess I did. I never saw…are you saying he used tohurther?”

“Yes. Not as bad as this last time but there were marks, things she hid from most people. But I saw them.”

“So… she was with Callum but cheating with you?”

I sigh. “No. I’m in love with her, but we were waiting for this to be over. For her to be free. And that was all her.Shewanted to wait. She didn’t want to start something with me while she was still tethered to him. Taryn is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside, but the only two people who don’t see that are you and her.”

Tracy looks sad for a moment and then sinks into the nearest chair.

“I love my daughter, and despite our disappointment, her father and I were excited to become grandparents. It changed when he died. It was hard for me to become a single mom to a toddler at my age. Taryn was off in college, something her father made her promise to finish, so I couldn’t ask her to come home. And then she went and chased her dreams…again, I didn’t want to ask her to come back.

“When Toby got sick, I thought she’d come home. Instead, she worked harder than ever, trying to find her footing in modeling. She’s always sent money, and she always comes home to spend time with him…until the last year or so.”

“Because Callum wouldn’t let her.”

“He wouldn’t…” Now she looks both sad and confused.

“Look, you and your daughter have a lot to talk about, but she’s in rough shape. I’m here because I wanted you to know the truth. From the perspective of the man who loves her enough to wait for her to be ready. She’s taking some time to figure things out, and I respect that. I’m here to do what I can for her by getting the information I need so I can pay for the last two months of Toby’s treatment.”

“What?” She stares at me in confusion. “I don’t understand what’s happening here.”

“Like I said, she’s taking some time for herself. To get her head on straight. She’s been through a lot. Callum really hurt her this time.” I pause. “Didn’t you read the news?”

“I try not to. What I saw wasn’t very flattering, and frankly, I don’t have a lot of free time. I work all day, go straight to the hospital to do schoolwork and spend time with Toby, and then come home to grade papers, eat dinner, and go to bed.”

“Well, your daughter needs you right now. Maybe even more than Toby.”

---