“I just wanted you to know I’m here for you.”
“Were you ever scared? With Rob, I mean. I know you met him when he was sober, but you also knew about all the sordid details in his past before he entered your life. Did it scare you?”
“Oh, God, yes. I had you three girls to look after and he was not what I pictured in the way of a partner. I mean, the cliché he portrayed made me wince. But then, as I got to know him better, he was no cliché. I took a huge risk. I didn’t know if he would stay sober. I hoped he would but there was no guarantee.”
“I’m sorry. I never meant to date an alcoholic. I had no idea Jim was like that.”
“I know. I didn’t either. He seems so stiff and starched, I worried he’d be way too judgmental with Kathy. And she was so pristine in her behavior, as proper as anyone could be. I didn’t and couldn’t have imagined any of this. I’m honestly proud of you for seeing the best instead of the worst.”
“What if he just says no? Or tells me he hates me for doing this? What if it ends here?”
“I guess you just have to deal with it. You had to try. This is what you did. If he can’t stand to hear what Rob has to tell him, then nothing you did for or with him matters.”
Kayla nodded and let her fearful tears flow. She cried hard. She sniffed and snuggled into her mom’s embrace. Rebecca hugged her like she was a child and a hug was all it took to fix the problems of the world. For a moment, it felt so nice for Kayla to believe. That her mom could really fix her feelings. Rob could fix her boyfriend. And Jim could fix himself.
It was the only thing that calmed her. Even if it weren’t true.
Chapter 15
THE LOUD KNOCKING MADE Jim stumble from the couch. He’d been half sacked out on it all morning after being dead to the world last night. He woke up at four AM unable to sleep anymore and went to the couch, thinking he should eat. Nothing he thought of was appetizing. He tried to read, but his attention wandered. He grabbed his phone, but as usual, there were no messages. Loneliness gripped his heart, which was rare for him. He wanted… what?
Kayla.
But he also didn’t want her.
She saw through things. Everything, actually. And she demanded it back in return. He’d told her what she asked and wondered if he’d ever see her again. She said all the right things in the moment. Sure. But after she went home and thought about Jim’s pedophile father and his ignoble lineage? Yeah, he expected to get the silent treatment from now on.
What could he do? He had to leave her alone. That meant letting her go. Yes. Sure. That would be best for her. She deserved only the best, like a bright, shiny star, and he had become a dark, black hole that would absorb all of her light and suck it dry. He didn’t want that. He asked himself how deep was his selfishness? He feared the answer. He tried to drag Kathy into it, but never worried as much because the connection never existed between them. He doubted he had the ability to affect her as much as Kayla.
How could he stand not to see her again? She provided the connection to his happiness that he never had and never knew he could have. Now, how could he live without it?
The knock stirred him from his stupor and he rushed over to open the door. It had to be Kayla since no one else came over. He jerked the door open hard enough to pop it off the hinges.
Then he winced with displeasure and utter surprise. Rob? Rob Williams?
Rob sneered as he greeted Jim. “Expecting someone else, I suspect, by your obvious disappointment. She’s not with me.”
She, being Kayla. Not Kathy. That meant Rob knew what happened. He also knew something else. Why? Why would Kayla tell him something so personal? But having already opened the door, and short of ordering him to leave, here they stood. Jim released the doorknob and simply stepped back wearily, indicating his permission to enter.
Man up. He had to man up and deal with Rob after whatever Kayla told him. He guessed it included his use of alcohol; why else would Rob be there? Unless he came to kick his ass and tell him to stay away from both of his daughters. That could be the reason too. Maybe he didn’t like Jim anywhere near his family.
Turning his back on the man, Jim flopped onto the couch. “What do you want?”
Rob followed him and pulled out the chair next to the table to sit on. His gaze scanned the room but there wasn’t much to take in. Rob cleared his throat. “I did not come here voluntarily. It was not my choice as you and I don’t have a relationship. I hope you understand that. I must first say that I’m sorry my fame endangered you. Knowing you were almost shot because of me isn’t something I take lightly. I’m very sorry that it happened.”
“I realized it wasn’t your fault.”
Rob nodded, his face still solemn. “It doesn’t ease the trauma you endured because of it.”
“My problems weren’t caused by you. I mean, we all suffered some trauma and hardship because of it, but that’s not why you’re here.”
“You know why I’m here?”
“Kayla.”
“Yes. She asked me to talk to you.”
“She told you some things about me.”
“Yes. She mentioned a few things.”
Keeping his face calm and his thoughts hidden, Jim rubbed his hand over his neck muscles nervously. Damn! Why? Why would she do that? Why send Rob here?
“Why?”
“Because Kayla is very close to her family. And because she’s also a pretty open, honest
