Page 84 of Feels Like Falling
“Yeah,” he murmurs as his expression softens.
“Good. You getoneday.”
“What?”
“One. Day.” His Adam’s apple bobs as I start backing away. “One day and then I’m coming for you. And get ready, Max, because when I’m done there won’t be a single person within a fifty-mile radius who doesn’t know you’re mine.”
“That’s an awful big promise, Eddie,” he says evenly, the twitch of his lips his only giveaway. My heart swells in my chest even as I keep my expression light.
“No risk, no reward, and you, sir, are theultimatereward.”
Winking, I don’t wait for his response, just turn and try to keep one foot moving in front of the other. He wanted time and he’s got it.
One day.
Now it’s time to put my plan in motion—just as soon as I make this phone call.
* * *
“You knew,”I say as I pace the hardwood floor of the cottage. The words are accusing because I already know the answer. I just need to hear her say it.
My mother scoffs. “Of course I knew. What kind of wife would I be if I didn’t know each and every one of my husband’s indiscretions?”
“You weren’t together. Youtrappedhim using me as an excuse.”
“I did what I had to do.”
“What about Montana? The farm?”
“Is there a point to this?” she asks, her tone bored, the sound of her manicured nails clicking against the phone like she has a million better things to do besides talk to her daughter.
Part of me isn’t surprised.
But the other is downright furious that I let myself be tied to them for so long—tied toher. I’ve been a puppet on a string my entire damn life but not anymore.
My father and I would survive this, but my relationship with my mother ends today.
I might not have had the words for it back then, but I knew something was wrong. They weren’t happy and loving and IknewI never wanted to be them.
But this…there are no words for this.
She’s a monster—diabolical—and in the end, we’ve all been casualties in her scheme to ensure she’d always have power and prestige.
“Did he love her?”
“Does it matter if he did? I took care of a problem, kept my family together, gave you the privileged life our name deserves.”
“I have asister!” I bark into the phone, the plastic case digging into my hand the longer I talk to her.
“No,you do not.”
“Yes. I. Do.” I punctuate the words because if there’s anything that’s worth it in this world, it’s finding the people you love and love you in return.
“You’re being ridiculous. Thatwoman?—”
“Thatwomandoesn’t deserve your disdain.Sheis a victim and so is her daughter. You don’t get to judge them. Either of them.”
“You have no idea what I’ve done to keep this family together.”
