Page 14 of The Couple's Secret
No response.
Had she screwed this up? Was mentioning the lip gloss and the privacy thing in the same conversation too much for their fragile dynamic? The snooping was intentional whereas leaving a lip gloss in the washer was an accident. Maybe she should have prioritized discussing the snooping and mentioned the lip gloss another time. Or maybe she should have waited until she wasn’t exhausted and malodorous to talk about them altogether. How the hell did parents know what to do in these situations?
Trout pawed at Josie’s thigh, grunting noisily. She wasn’t fixing this fast enough for him.
The one thing this kid knows for sure, with one hundred percent certainty based on her experience, is that the people who are supposed to take care of her die.
Josie had no doubt that Turner was correct, but she thought of the bones she’d just collected from inside Tobias Lachlan’s car and knew she and Noah dying wasn’t the worst thing that could happen to Wren. Even a mysterious disappearance wasn’t at the top of that list. All of their family and friends adored the girl. They’d chosen Trinity and Drake to assume guardianship in the event of a common disaster. That was legal speak for Josie and Noah dying at the same time.
None of that would matter, however, if Josie and Noah decided they didn’t want to be parents, after all. The worst thing that could happen to Wren was them deciding they didn’t want her anymore.
The full feeling in Josie’s chest transformed into a viselike grip.
All this time, Josie thought that Wren hated them. Maybe she hated the idea of being passed off to strangers. That was fair. Her grief likely accounted for a lot of her sour moods and monosyllabic responses to their questions. Briefly, Josie wondered at the logic of staying closed off to her and Noah because she was afraid they’d dump her into the foster care system. Then again, she was fourteen. Her entire life had just been shattered. Again. She’d lost the only person left in the world who loved her. Then every single thing about her life had changed. Drastically. Logic had no chance against that trauma.
“Wren,” Josie said again. “I know it’s not by choice and I know it’s not what you want, but you’re family now. Our family. All families have rules.”
Wren’s face rose just a fraction, but it was enough for Josie to see her wary eyes.
“Your mom had rules, right? And later, when you moved in with your dad, I’m sure he had them, too. Although, knowing Dex, they were probably more like gentle suggestions.”
A muffled snort came from behind Wren’s knees. Trout finally stopped whining and scratching Josie’s leg.
“When I was thirteen, your dad moved in with us.” Josie had no idea how much Dex had told her about their history. They hadn’t talked about it much since Wren arrived, mostly because Wren never wanted to talk.
Now, she lifted her head, straightening her spine, and said, “He told me everything. What—um—what the woman you lived with then was like. Gorgeous and charming at first and then cruel and horrible.”
Both Josie and Dex had the scars to prove that.
“He said he didn’t realize just how vicious and heartless she was until it was too late.”
“No one ever did.” Josie sighed and scratched her neck. Flecks of dried mud fell onto her lap. “Anyway, he moved in and it took me a long time to trust him, but I figured out that he genuinely cared for me. He took care of me. Looked out for me. He wasn’t the kind of guy who would get all stern and start barking orders.”
Wren laughed and Josie’s heart gave a little flutter.
“I guess that never changed,” Josie said.
A barely noticeable smile curled Wren’s lips. “Nope.”
Josie pulled at the collar of Noah’s shirt, unleashing a small whiff of death and brackish water. “You might have noticed that Noah and I aren’t the types to bark orders either, but we do need to establish rules. Boundaries. That means respecting each other’s privacy, okay?”
Slowly, Wren nodded. The humor in her eyes fled, replaced by that old wariness, though it wasn’t as strong as before.
“If there’s something you want to know,” Josie added, “just ask. I would never keep anything that has to do with your dad from you, not even a letter specifically addressed to me.”
“I’m sorry I went through your things,” Wren said, voice small.
“I accept your apology.” Josie stood up and walked to the back door. “Now, I’ve got to put these clothes in the washer, take a shower, and get some sleep. You’re hanging out with Erica today, right?”
“Yes. Can I still go?”
Josie paused, fingers wrapped around the door handle. She opened her mouth to ask why Wren wouldn’t be able to go and then realized it was because she expected to be grounded for what she’d done.
Josie really was shit at this parenting thing.
Trying to make her voice sound more confident and authoritative than she felt, she said, “This time, yes, but if you go through my things—or Noah’s—without asking again, there will be consequences.”
“I won’t. I promise,” Wren said quickly.
