Stella looked at him, eyebrows pinched together, dumfounded.
“I know we had a rule but, honestly, I just thought with everything that’s happened…” She paused a beat. “She really didn’t tell you?”
He remembered that Clara had mentioned the rule a few times but he couldn’t see what giving her professional opinion about Stella and her daughter’s relationship had to do with Ashlyn’s recovery.
“Figured the two of you were close enough to…” she glanced up at him with an apologetic look, “you know, have pillow talk.”
“That wouldn’t be any of your business.” Hers or anyone else’s.
“She needs it. My sister has been through the ringer.” Another quick glance. “I probably shouldn’t say anything.”
“You damn well better,” he hissed.
Stella cocked her head to the side. Her heavily made-up face softened. “She was raped by her high school boyfriend. Ashlyn came into the world nine months later. My sister was fifteen-years-old at the time. Our grandparents were too old to take on a newborn. I was twenty-four, married and already out of college. Andy and I had talked about having kids but we hadn’t planned on having them for a few years. Ashlyn kind of forced our hand.”
She shrugged and continued, “I had my hands full with Ashlyn for several years and when Andy and I decided to have a child of our own there were complications. I ended up having my ovaries removed because of cysts. In the end, it worked out okay. We made the decision to keep the baby’s parentage a secret—pretty much forced Clara to agree—and Andy and I have taken care of Ashlyn ever since. It was selfish on our part. We were young. Stupid. Watching Ashlyn and Clara grow close after everything we’d done for them made us feel betrayed. I guess, looking back, maybe Andy took the worst of it considering it was my family that we were helping.”
Daniel took it all in without giving away his reaction. So much information clicked into place. A wall of anger slammed into Daniel faster than if he’d driven a race car at one hundred miles an hour straight into it at the realization. Anger that Clara had been taken advantage of at such a young age. Anger that she’d had to construct walls around her heart to survive. Anger that she’d endured so much pain alone.
“Ashlyn started pushing back on everything I said. I figured it was normal for mothers and daughters to go through a rough patch. I had no idea she disliked my husband so much that she’d do almost anything to get away from him. So, no, I wouldn’t harm a head on that little girl’s head even though our relationship wasn’t what I’d hoped it would be. She wanted to move in with her father to get away from me and Timothy. That hurt. But she’s been my daughter for thirteen years. How do I stop feeling like her mother?”
“Sounds to me like Ashlyn is lucky to have so many people in her life who truly care for her,” Daniel said.
Stella wiped at a tear.
“She told Ashlyn the truth,” Stella said. “What place will I ever have in Ashlyn’s life now?”
“Give it time, Stella,” Daniel said. “Clara wants what’s best for Ashlyn and so do you. That’s the most important part. Stay on that path and you’ll figure out the rest.”
“You think?” Hope lit Stella’s eyes.
“I know.” He’d never been more certain. And now he needed to see if Clara had room in her life for him. “Take a walk. Then come back and check on Clara.”
Stella nodded. “Before I go, I want to thank. If not for you, Ashlyn would be…”
Daniel comforted Stella with an arm around her. She cried softly before taking a deep breath.
“She didn’t think you’d show. You better get in there,” she said, motioning toward the door. “My sister can come off harsh at times. Especially after what she went through. Try to understand.”
“I do.” He was certain the sisters could patch their relationship. The two shared a love for Ashlyn that ran deep. Both would realize she needed all the family she could get. Life could be hell without people who cared.
Daniel only wished he had half the confidence when it came to him and Clara.
Chapter 18
Bear had been on Daniel’s mind. He owed his friend a call and this seemed like the right time for it.
“Hey, Daniel.” Bear picked up on the first ring.
“I should have known you would’ve figured out it was me,” Daniel quipped.
“What’s up?”
“The last time we talked…I was a jerk.” Daniel wasn’t great with apologies but it was a start.
“Don’t even sweat it, man,” Bear’s response was so fast that Daniel believed his friend meant it.
“There was a time when I was angry as hell but all that did was poison me even more,” Bear admitted. “Then, I found Mia. I knew it was time to get my shit together.”
“You sound like a man who has found his match.” Daniel was only half joking.
“Yeah.” Bear laughed. “I sure as hell did.”
“I’m happy for you, bro. You deserve all the happiness in the world.”
“Same to you, man.” Bear paused a beat. “I mean that, Damon.”
“I believe you.” It was high time Daniel pulled himself out of the past. “Thanks.”
“Any time.”
Daniel ended the call. There was something else he needed to do.
Daniel stood at the door to Ashlyn’s room, unsure if he’d be welcome inside. Flowers and cards littered every surface and it was easy to see that Ashlyn was loved by her friends and family.
Ashlyn sat up in her hospital bed, talking quietly. She’d received top quality medical care. Kids were resilient. Even from his vantage point he could see that the brightness in her blue eyes was returning. Her skin was filling out and color was coming back.
When Ashlyn’s gaze stopped at him, Clara turned to see what her niece—no, daughter—was looking at.
“Mind if I come in?” he asked and for a few tense seconds he waited for Clara’s
