Page 86 of The Moment They Can Never Forgive
“As we got older, he used to constantly say, ‘Don’t you girls go looking in my business,’” Leah explained. “We didn’t and never wanted to. Neither of us ever wanted to get on the wrong side of him.”
Asshole.
“Now, don’t take this the wrong way, Leah, and I’m not usually someone who likes to talk about other people’s parents. But I’ll be really honest with you now. Your father wasn’t a good man, and he had no right to raise you and Cassie the way he did,” Uncle Asher said.
Leah’s eyes widened as the sheriff of Lyntacky continued.
“You deserved better, and you need to understand that. You and Cassie were good girls, and it was because you had each other and made sure you weren’t like him that you’re the person you are today. Strong, resilient, beautiful, and smart.”
The hand she pressed to her mouth was shaking.
“Don’t you let that man define you, Leah. Don’t let him dictate another minute of who you are or what you want to do. He’s not getting out of prison, and that’s for the better, if you want my opinion, which you probably don’t, but as my niece and nephews will tell you, I’m never afraid to offer it.”
“Th-thank you,” Leah whispered.
“I know that this is hard for you and that all that stuff that went down seven years ago left its mark, but it’s a new chapter now, Leah, for you and that little boy. You’ve been dealt a shitty hand, but you need to know we’re all here if you need us. You’re home now, where you’re both safe with us. You’re worthy of being happy, never forget that, and you have people who love you in Lyntacky.”
She started crying then. Uncle Asher moved in to hug her tight, and then he continued up the stairs and disappeared, leaving Dan alone with a broken woman and a respect and love for the man who had raised him that grew constantly.
“He always knows the right things to say, even if we don’t want to hear them,” Dan said, moving to stand before her.
“Y-you’re lucky to have him.”
“We’ve never doubted that,” Dan said solemnly.
“I-I hate crying, and yet since c-coming back here, it’s all I seem to do.”
“Need another hug?”
She looked up at him with those pretty green eyes filled with tears, and he felt it again, that tug of longing deep in his chest.
“I don’t think that’s wise, considering.” She wiped her nose on the back of her arm.
“That’s the kind of thing Sawyer would do.”
“Hug a woman when he sh-shouldn’t?” she whispered.
“Wipe his nose on his sleeve,” Dan drawled.
“Did someone mention my name? That means I can come down, right?”
Dan sighed as his brother appeared and ran down the stairs.
Chapter 24
“This is sheriff’s department business, Sawyer,” Dan said.
“Okay, so deputize me!” he demanded, his large body taking up even more of the space in the room after he’d squeezed past Leah.
The laugh came from nowhere and drew Dan’s eyes.
“Sorry.” She put a hand over her mouth. Clearly it was hysteria. She had no reason to laugh. In fact, her life was pretty much a shitstorm in that moment, when you added in the headache still niggling and the tears making her eyes itch. Plus, there was whatever was going on down here.
“No need to apologize. I laugh at my big brother constantly,” Dan said.
“All true,” Sawyer said. “So, what are we looking at?”
Sheriff Dans reappeared. “I was just making a phone call, and you let him in here?” he accused, glaring at Sawyer.
