Page 5 of Tell Me Again
“I don’t want to go down any road with you,” she agreed. “But I’m not walking away from Grace.”
“You have no claim on her.”
“This isn’t Sam’s fault,” a sleepy voice said from the doorway.
They both turned to see Grace standing there, shoulders slumped and her hands hanging listlessly at her sides. Frank barked once then trotted over and shoved his nose against Trevor’s crotch.
“I wish he knew a bite command,” Sam muttered under her breath.
Trevor threw her a look as he shifted and petted the dog’s big head.
“Dad, I know you’re mad,” Grace said, taking a tentative step into the room. “But I came looking for her. I just wanted to know... I thought Sam was my...” She broke off as her shoulders began to tremble.
In two strides, Trevor had the girl wrapped in his arms. His chin rested on the top of her head and she buried her face in his chest, crying softly. “It’s ok,” he murmured over and over, holding her tight.
Sam’s heart squeezed, and she was grateful when Frank pressed his head against her leg. The moment felt too intimate, and she was an outsider. Once again, it was a reminder she was well and truly alone. After Bryce died, Sam had made the choice to keep a piece of herself walled off from everyone in her life.
No, she hadn’t chosen. Not really. Her mistakes and the pain of loss made building walls around her heart the only option. But watching Grace hold on to her father like a lifeline, Sam still couldn’t muster her earlier anger.
She did love the girl at first sight, but Grace wanted a mother. Sam couldn’t be that for her. She was afraid of being the same kind of disappointment her own mother had been. Besides, there was too much messed-up history between them to believe Trevor would give her a chance to try.
After a few minutes, Grace stopped crying. She pulled back, her pale blue eyes shimmering as she looked up at her dad. “It’s really ok?” she asked, wiping her cheeks on the back of one sleeve. “You’re not mad?”
“First, I’m glad you’re safe,” Trevor said, running a hand over the girl’s loose braid. “Your safety always comes first with me.” He was so damn gentle, Sam felt her insides quiver. That was going to get her nowhere, but she couldn’t force her nerves to settle. “Secondly, yes I’m mad. And you’re grounded. And I’m taking your phone and your computer. To run away—”
“I didn’t run away. Monica’s sister’s boyfriend is in college in Denver. He drove me down.”
“So you took a ride with a stranger?” Trevor pinched the bridge of his nose. “Not making me feel better, Gracie.”
Grace groaned and stepped out of his embrace. “Dad, come on,” she whined. “That’s so not fair.” She stomped one booted foot. “This is your fault for lying to me in the first place.”
Oh, the wonder of teenagers. Grace went from sweet daddy’s girl to persecuted martyr in a split second. Sam almost felt sorry for Trevor, raising this girl on his own. Then she remembered the reason he was alone. Because he’d kept the truth from her.
Another thought punched her gut—maybe he wasn’t alone. Chances were there was a woman somewhere pining to be Grace’s stepmother. Sam shook her head, needing to keep focused on the present situation and not the once-upon-a-time dreams she’d had of becoming Mrs.Trevor Kincaid.
“I said your mother died,” Trevor said, the steel returning to his tone. “That’s the truth.”
Grace didn’t seem affected. “Only part of it. You also told me you didn’t have pictures of her.”
“I don’t, Grace. You know the photo you found wasn’t your mom.” He took a deep breath and said softly, “You should have come to me if you were curious about her.”
“How could I come to you? You got so angry anytime I asked questions.”
“Not at you, sweetie. Never at you.”
She sniffed. “I found the picture of Sam in a box in the basement, and I thought maybe my mom wasn’t dead. I hoped... she might be... you told me I had no family other than you and Nana.”
“That’s not a lie.”
“Um, hello,” Sam said, taking a step forward. “I’m her family.”
“Not in any way that counts.” He blew out a breath. “Bryce wanted—”
“Bryce is dead,” Sam yelled and saw both Trevor and Grace flinch. Too bad. He wanted to use her sister’s memory to manipulate her, but there was no guilt or blame he could ascribe that she hadn’t already assimilated into every fiber of her being. “I understand she was angry, but I also know she would want me to be a part of Grace’s life now. She was my twin, Trevor. Iknow.”
“Dad, you can’t do this.” Grace’s expression had turned as steely as her father’s. This girl might look like the Carlton women, but she got her stubborn streak from both sides of the gene pool. “I’ll run away for real this time. I’ll skip school and I’ll... hitchhike.”
“Whoa, there.” Sam held up her hands, palms out. “We’ll find a way to work this out, but you won’t skip school or hitch a ride down from the mountains.”
