* * *
Arissa’s focus was out the passenger window, but her thoughts were going everywhere and the anger…she had never in her life been as livid as she was at that moment. To think Catherine had come to her to gloat, to declare victory while her son was processing the news about being kidnapped. She forced herself into his life, even when he didn’t want her there, but when he needed her, when she should have been banging his door down to comfort him, she was too busy sticking the knife in Arissa’s gut. What a fucking bitch. As much as it pained her, learning what Hank had to share with her, she had been right about Catherine. Her stomach twisted because it was possible Catherine had done far more than just kidnap Hank. Her hands fists, that swell of fury again burned through her. Arissa’s focus shifted to Hank. He’d been quiet since they got in the car. She couldn’t blame him, couldn’t imagine what was running through his head. It was the knot at his jaw but more, the lack of that glint in his eyes. Through everything, even when the Summerville crazies were being crazy, Hank had a look…a love of the town and the people, even when it was begrudgingly offered. He didn’t have that glint now. And it was the realization that he was doing what he did, keeping shit together, but had he really processed the news? And when he did, it was going to be nothing short of devastating. His life would be forever changed and she had played a part in bringing that about, a part in him losing that look. Her intentions had been in the right place, but she’d hurt him…bad. She would do whatever it was he wanted of her, including moving back to Charleston. That thought had her turning her gaze out the window again to hide the pain because she didn’t want to leave him, but she would. For him. Because she loved him, wanted him to find his way through this shit, find his way back to who he’d been…she wanted him to find that glint again even if it meant losing him.
* * *
Henry opened the door and grabbed the knob tightly at the sight that greeted him. He kept his cool and shouted inside. “Hank’s here—”
Catherine didn’t even give Henry a chance to finish when she came hurrying down the hall toward the door but stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Arissa standing next to Hank. The smile shifted to a frown, her focus moving from Arissa to Hank. “I must say, this is a surprise,” Catherine said, moving closer to her son, giving Arissa her back. “Hasn’t she caused you enough pain, Honey?”
Hank squared his shoulders and edged his hand closer to Arissa’s and laced their fingers. Hank ignored his mother’s question and asked, “Can we come in?” The question sounded so foreign coming off his tongue because it wasn’t something he ever had to ask his parents. Hank wouldn’t usually knock either but now he didn’t even know the people living in the house he grew up in.
Arissa’s focus shifted from Catherine to Hank, looking up at him, loving him even more in that moment because she knew he was showing his support for her even though Arissa wasn’t sure she still deserved it.
Catherine glanced at Arissa, her words trailing off when she said, “You, Hank, are always welcome, as are your friends.” Catherine turned from the door and headed down the hall to the kitchen. “I’ll put on coffee. Have some freshly baked goods too.”
Hank followed behind Catherine, Arissa close behind him, hands still linked. Henry stayed behind to shut the door, lingered and took a deep breath before he followed after them. Once they entered the kitchen, he saw his mother had placed a glass tiered serving dish on the island filled with treats he knew came from Dehlia’s. Hank looked at Arissa and gestured to the stool; she sat and Hank followed suit. “How long are you gonna pass Dehlia’s shit off as your own, Mom, before you own up to the truth?” Hank muttered eyeing the éclairs, cream puffs and strudel. Jesus, his mother had been using baked goods from Dehlia’s, passing them off as her own for fucking years. Shit. Something as simple as a fucking cupcake she had lied about. How had he not seen it?
Catherine’s gaze lifted from the sweets, her shoulders tensing as she studied her son. Her mouth opened to contradict him, but decided against it. Instead, she smiled, looked contrite and offered sweetly. “Every mother wants the best for their children.” She shrugged. “I wasn’t much of a baker, but homemade is the best, and it shows how much a person cares when you make it yourself. I wanted you to know I cared.”
“Wonder if Cassidy Jamison wanted the best for her son,” Hank mumbled as he grabbed for a cream puff and tossed it into his mouth. “Huh, Ma?”
Catherine’s hand shook as she reached for a plate. Henry stepped closer to his wife, offering his silent support. “Considering she overdosed almost immediately upon delivering that son…” Her hard eyes looked up at Hank. “I’m thinking no.”
“Funny thing is, Ma.” Hank started and leveled his eyes on his parents. “Sean pulled up her file, looked into a few things and guess what, shit isn’t adding up.” Hank watched the startled expressions on his parents’ faces. “Like how in the fuck she was able to smuggle that much heroin into the ward while she was in labor.” Hank looked over at Arissa who was looking at him and he raised his brows, widened his eyes
