Page 49 of The Promise in Poppies
Cassie’s pulse quickened, blood pounding in her ears as her perception of the truth morphed into a gnarled, repugnant vision of reality. All this time, he’d lied to her face. He’d allowed her, and every member of the community, to work tirelessly toward an unattainable goal. But the grief and distress coursing through her body causing her hands to shake wasn’t solely about the library. It was about a corrupt, dishonorable man wielding his unbridled power over a trusting town—hertown. And she wasn’t going to stand by and let it happen.
She whirled on her heel, barely hearing her mother’s plea to wait as she strode back into the bustling square. Burgeoning tears blurred the faces around her—faces of people she loved dearly and wanted to protect at all costs—and she bit her bottom lip, determined to keep her wits about her.
She found Burns exactly where she’d expected, pacing behind the curtain on stage, mentally rehearsing his speech, and she breathed a silent prayer of thanks for the privacy provided by the curtain on one side and the enormous sign on the other. Bursting up the steps, she headed straight for him.
“There you are,” he greeted her with impatient annoyance. “I’ve been waiting for you to go over the order of events.”
“My mother told me everything,” she blurted, indignation tumbling out of her, unrestrained. “How could you do this? All this time, you let me believe a lie. You let thetownbelieve a lie.” The betrayal tasted bitter on her tongue.
Burns’s entire body stiffened in shock. “She told you?” His meticulously maintained composure fell away like a mask being ripped from his face. But almost as quickly, he regained his footing, slapping on his well-polished facade. “I never lied to you, Cassie,” he said coolly. “I merely withheld the truth. Your mother and I agreed not to tell you, since I never wanted kids. We thought it would be best, and easier for all of us to coexist, if you didn’t know I was your father. And clearly, we were right. Look at how much the truth has upset you.”
He gazed at her with cold, impersonal pity, like a casual, uncaring observer watching a stranger trip and scrape their knee.
Cassie stared back, unable to breathe, while the invisible walls of her safe, familiar world came crashing down around her. She reached for a stronghold to steady herself, disoriented as her pulse pounded, loud and oppressive, drowning out every sound save for a shrill ringing in her ears. Her hands met nothing but air, and she stumbled backward, reeling at a reality that didn’t seem possible.
This man—a man not worthy of her respect let alone her affection—couldn’t be her father. Her mother wouldn’t let her live in this town, inhabiting the same space with the very man she’d begged to meet, without saying a word. Donna Hayward had made a lot of mistakes, but this was too cruel to even consider.
“I don’t believe you.” The whispered words barely made it past the sob welling in her throat, and the second they escaped her lips, a terrifying awareness gripped her heart, solidifying an agonizing truth.
She did believe him.
Which meant everything she knew before this moment—about herself, her mother, and the life they’d lovingly built from the broken pieces of their past—had been the real lie all along.
CHAPTER30
DONNA
Donna scurried down the side street after Cassie, hoping to stop her before she confronted Bryce. No good could come from an altercation between them. She quickened her pace, spilling into the crowd. As she scanned the array of faces searching for her daughter, fear overwhelmed her, bordering on crippling panic. Her breath came in short, ragged bursts as the countless outcomes raced through her mind, all of which led to Cassie being deeply hurt.
“Hey.” Rhett placed a hand on her shoulder, gently grounding her. His eyes scanned hers, reading the situation. “I take it the conversation didn’t go well?”
Compassion coated his words, soothing her racing heart. After she told him about Bryce’s phone call, he’d agreed that Cassie needed to know as soon as possible. And to avoid overburdening her daughter with a barrage of devastating news, she’d wait to tell Cassie about Bryce once they resolved the pressing issue of the library. “She’s on her way to confront him right now. Can you help me find her?”
“Of course.”
They split up to maximize their search area, and Donna instantly missed his calming presence. The familiar loss of control and petrifying helplessness consumed her, dragging her thoughts to a dark, ominous place—a place ruled by the numbing effects of alcohol. She fought the urge to run away and seek refuge in the bottom of a bottle.
All these years, she’d kept their secret. Yes, to protect Cassie. But in doing so, she’d also protected Bryce. She’d shielded him from having to take any responsibility for the role he’d played. And for the role he hadn’t—as Cassie’s father. He’d convinced her that her voice didn’t matter, that compared to his, it didn’t count. And maybe to some people, it didn’t. But it mattered to her. And to her daughter.
Donna spotted Bill Tucker on stage, adjusting the stand of a microphone. The edge of the crimson curtain fluttered in the breeze, and she instantly knew where she’d find her daughter. Bryce would undoubtedly be rehearsing his big speech.
Fueled by adrenaline and protective maternal instincts, she made her way through the crowd, barely registering the people around her as she bobbed around the milling bodies standing in wait. She ducked behind the curtain just in time to see a flash of Cassie’s stricken features before she stumbled down the steps on the other side of the stage.
Ignoring Bryce, she moved to follow her daughter, but froze the second he spoke, lobbing his accusation like a poisonous barb. “This is your fault. If you’d kept your mouth shut like you were supposed to, this wouldn’t have happened.”
“What did you say to her?” A sickening dread slithered up her spine, answering her question before he had a chance.
“You only have yourself to blame.” He doubled down on his excuse, his voice rising in agitation. “I thought you told her.”
He had the audacity to curl his lip in disgust, and something inside her snapped. Cowering at his feet all those years ago had crushed her, breaking her spirit and devastating her already-fragile self-worth. Was she willing to give him that power again? Or did they both need to face the consequences of their decisions? “That’s not going to work this time, Bryce.” She surprised herself with the steadiness of her own words. “You can’t hide behind my fears and insecurities anymore. I won’t let you.”
“Oh really?” He cackled in amusement, not seeming to notice or care the way his voice carried, as if he felt untouchable. “And what are you going to do? Tell the town I’m Cassie’s father? Tell them I reneged on my deal to protect the library? Tell them they’re gullible sheep for trusting me?” He laughed again, delirious with power.
“She doesn’t have to.” The deep gravel of Rhett’s voice startled them both, but the second Donna turned and saw him standing there like a pillar of protection, her heart soared.
“Ah, the delinquent boyfriend,” Bryce jeered. “A felon dating a drunk. You two make quite the couple.”
Rhett’s fist coiled at his side, and Donna held her breath, praying he wouldn’t let Bryce’s taunts get to him.
