Page 13 of Dark Memories
“Because she threatened to abort the baby if I didn’t.”
Harry blinked. “Pardon?”
“You asked why I married her.”
“Actually I didn’t ask that.”
He stared at her for a moment before standing and moving to the other side of his desk, perching on the corner. “No, but you wanted to.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that back then?” He’d let her think that he wanted to get back with his ex, something he’d sworn he’d never do until the woman had sauntered through his door.
Yes, she had understood his fierce declaration that no child of his would grow up without a father like he had. After Cinda’s announcement Zach had walked Harry to her car, telling her he needed to work things out with his ex and that he would call her later. He’d called all right, announcing that he and Cinda were leaving for Vegas to get married. Harry had argued that he didn’t have to marry the woman to be a good father, but he had refused to discuss it with her, simply saying it was a done deal.
He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I should have. Maybe if I had, we could have figured out a way to counter her threat short of locking her in a room until the baby was born. Believe me, I gave that one serious consideration. But at the time I didn’t see a way out.”
Harry felt split in two. A part of her now understood why he’d married a woman he’d claimed he didn’t love, and a part of her was furious that he hadn’t confided in her. But what did it matter anymore?
“Did you really believe she was capable of doing something like that?”
“Yes.”
That was it, one adamant word that she couldn’t argue with.
He locked eyes with her. “The two years we were married were the most miserable of my life, Delaney. Living with Cinda was hell on earth, mostly because I missed you with an ache that went bone-deep. She knew that, which only made things worse. The day my divorce was final, I called you. You didn’t answer. I called the next day and the next and the next, leaving you messages to at least talk to me. I even wrote you a long letter, which you didn’t answer.”
The letter she’d burned without reading. Should she have? She didn’t know. “I wasn’t in a good place where you were concerned. I’m still not. I’m glad you told me, but nothing’s changed, Zach.”
“I don’t believe you. Or maybe I just don’t want to.” He stood and moved back to his desk chair. “However, our focus has to be on finding my daughter.”
“I agree. Have you tried to contact Cinda? Does she still live in Dark Falls?”
“Yes, of course. I’ve been trying to get in touch with her all day. And no, Dark Falls isn’t glamorous enough for her. She lives in Aspen during ski season so she can mingle with the rich and famous. In the spring and summer she lives in Denver when she’s not galivanting around the world. I have friends in both places who are looking for her.”
“Does she see Kali? Get weekends with her?”
“Not as much as she should, but yes. Kali loves her mother but doesn’t particularly enjoy spending time with her, so I don’t push it.”
“I’ll need Cinda’s address, what kind of car she drives, and her license plate number.”
Harry glanced down at the yellow pad. This conversation had left her raw and hurting. She needed to process what she’d learned when she was alone and could think. For now, she would put her energy into finding Kali. She frowned at seeing the last two names.
“Seriously? Your mother and brother are on this list?” She remembered Zach’s frustration with his brother. Robbie had been in trouble since turning fourteen. Bad choices in friends, drugs, booze, and hard-core partying had led to various stints in juvie.
“’Fraid so. Welcome to my screwed-up family. They’ve only gotten worse since we were together. As for those two, it could be either or both together up to no good.”
“Robbie never cleaned up his act?”
“The older he got, the more serious the trouble. He just got out of prison a few months ago after serving three years for dealing. He blames me, as does my mother, for not using my money to buy his way out. You know, pay off the judge.”
“They thought you could do that, much less would do it?”
“Yeah, and to add to my sins, I also left him to a court-appointed defense attorney, declining to pay for the best lawyer in the state. I’d decided that it was time for some tough love since nothing else had worked. My mother hasn’t forgiven me for that after watching her poor baby led out of the courtroom in handcuffs when he was sentenced.” A bitter smile appeared on his face. “That doesn’t stop her from taking the money I give her so she has a home for her and Robbie and food on the table.”
“I’m sorry.”
He was the oldest of four boys, and had stepped in as provider as soon as he was able to work. His mother was one of those people who was never happy, blaming everything and everyone but herself for her misery. Harry had met her a few times and hadn’t liked her much. She was pretty sure the feeling had been mutual. Misty Jamison doted on the baby of the family, and in her eyes Robbie could do no wrong. Or that was how it had been when she’d been with Zach, and it seemed like things hadn’t changed.
“You have no reason to be sorry. It is what it is.”
