Page 26 of Mercy (The Sins Trilogy 3)
Chapter Nine
Anthony
Ivy seems to be in a good mood. Harry bribing her with donuts and giving her his signature puppy eyes while apologizing probably softened her up. And Ryder…well, that bastard can get away with murder if he flashes the right smile.
So how come it’s taking her so long to forgive you? It’s been twenty-four hours!
I shake myself inwardly. Sometimes I think like a toddler having a fit. She’s probably more forgiving with Harry and Ryder because she has no real expectations of them. She doesn’t have feelings for them the way she does for me.
Last night she was reasonably open and sweet, allowing us to hold on to each other. But I attributed that to the aftereffects of our near-death experience, rather than a sign she’s ready to let it go. She never said the word “forgive,” and I don’t want to presume too much. I did that once—assuming Mother would forgive me—only to be crushed. Ivy wouldn’t be so cruel, but I have to be careful.
Ryder’s entertaining Ivy with some crazy stories about celebrities over the tiramisu. I gesture for Harry to follow me to the pool outside.
He does so, shutting the door behind us. “Damn. That was a great lunch. And I’m glad she’s cool with us now.”
I merely smile, not wanting to discuss that she hasn’t forgiven me yet. She’s relaxed and happy, so that’s enough for the moment. It has to be.
“I didn’t ask you to come out here to talk about the lunch, Harry. I want to know what happened between you and Mother after you left.” She adores Harry. She would’ve told him the real reason for her visit.
“Oh.” Harry’s jaw muscles flex a few times. “Well, I took her to Starbucks. We talked. Then she wanted to spend the rest of the day with me, so I couldn’t even text to see how you were getting along with Ivy. You know how Mom is about using electronics in front of her.”
I do. Even a phone addict like Harry put his away while she was around. Mother considers it unforgivably rude to be glued to an electronic gadget at the table or when you have company.
“Did she say why she came to see me?” I say, getting to the point. I still have no clue why she did that. She’s made it clear I’m dead to her.
“No. I asked why she was here, and she said she’s helping Marty with Sam’s estate.”
“What?” That doesn’t make any sense at all. Or explain why the hell she came to see me in my own home. She told me and Ivy she came because of the wedding and Ivy needs a mother figure for it. Mother is lying to one of us. But to whom…and why?
“That’s what I said. I mean, she hates the Peachers. I don’t imagine she feels sorry for Marty for losing his dad. Not that I think she’s happy about it or anything, but she wouldn’t lose much sleep, you know? And the entire time we were together, she seemed really anxious and frustrated about something.”
Something not even Father’s money and connection can solve? Or maybe it’s something she can’t share with anybody. “Any guesses?”
Harry shrugs. “Maybe she gave Sam some money and Marty doesn’t know about it?”
“Nope, no way. Even if she gave him a couple million, she could recover from that. Besides, who gives money for investment without some contract to prove it in case anything goes wrong?”
Nothing as simple and easy as money could bring her out to Los Angeles, much less to see me. If she were truly in financial trouble, Father would bail her out. He loves her and would do anything for her.
But if she came for Ivy…
Why didn’t Mother make more of an effort to keep us apart, rather than volunteering to help with the wedding? Granted, Harry interrupted her visit, but she could’ve said I killed Katherine. Or that I’m the reason Ivy was alone in Tempérane…and “died.” That would’ve been enough to cause considerable damage.
Maybe she’s forgiven me after all these years…?
You don’t deserve to be forgiven, Anthony.
I don’t want you anywhere near my Katherine. Even in the afterlife.
The words, spoken nine years ago, once again punch a hole in my heart. Mother hated me so much that even death was too good for me. I doubt she’s let go of such anger so easily.
Her offer to Ivy is more than what it appears. She has something planned. But what?
“Why did she say she was here? Did you ask her?” Harry says.
“Of course I did, and she said she was here to congratulate Ivy. To act as her mother for the wedding.”
Harry’s eyebrows almost disappear into his hairline. “That can’t be right. She didn’t say a word about Ivy or the wedding to me… Actually no, she did say something.”
