Page 77 of A Chance at Forever

“He’s your father. It’s his responsibility and duty to protect you.”

“But you know about it.” Her tone was accusatory, and it had me on edge.

I wouldn’t lie to her. “I do.”

“But you won’t talk to me about it?”

It felt like she was testing me. “I don’t think it’s my place. This is something you should discuss with your father. I don’t know what he wants you to know.”

Her face pinched. “Everyone treats me like a baby.”

I knew what it was like to have people whisper behind your back. “I’m sorry. I know it’s tough.”

I lost my mother when I was not much older than she was now. I lost that veil of protection out of necessity. I was privy to my father’s grief, his struggles, and our financial realities. I’d give anything to be able to go back to not knowing any of those things. I wanted to keep Kendall innocent for as long as possible.

Her lips set in a stubborn line. “You don’t care about me.”

That caused me to pause. “That’s not true, Kendall. Idocare about you.”

“If you cared about me, you’d tell me what the papers meant.”

I sighed. She was manipulating me, or maybe she was hurt that we were keeping her in the dark. It wasn’t my place, but I had to give her something. “Your father wants to protect you. If your mother comes back—”

Kendall’s eyes widened. “He’s stopping my mother from seeing me.”

I shook my head. “What? No. That’s not what I meant.”

She’d untied her apron and threw it on the floor.

I reached for her, but she backed away from me. “Don’t touch me.”

I held up my hands in a stop motion. “Let’s just calm down.”

“Dad’s taking me from her. That’s why she’s not here,” she cried.

I slowly shook my head, my heart pounding under my rib cage. “That’s not what’s happening. Melanie wanted to take some time to herself.”

“How do you know?” She spit out each word, and I worried customers could hear her out front.

“I don’t. That’s just what your father told me.” I tried to keep my voice low and calm.

“You just want him for yourself,” she hissed.

“My relationship with your father isn’t your business.”

Her eyes snapped with fire, and then she spun out of the room. “Then you won’t miss me.”

I hurried to follow her, but she was already gone. I called Mark, my heart pounding as I waited for him to answer. “Kendall just left,” I said as soon as he answered.

“That’s early,” Mark said, his voice still unconcerned.

“She was upset.” Shaking, I wasn’t sure what to do. Pulling open the door, I couldn’t see her in either direction. She must have ducked down an alley.

“About what?” Mark asked, his tone more focused.

“She said she saw legal papers on the counter.”

I could practically see him running his fingers through his hair without having to see him. “Fuck.”

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