“No, but isn’t the lack of children—”
“So you can’t have a baby. Yes, it hurts. I’d like to see you grow round with our child, but it’s not the end all. We can always adopt. As long as I have you, I’ve got more than I ever thought possible.”
His fingers trailed down her body, tracing a path as familiar to her as his eye color. She shivered with arousal as he painted her scars, tender, loving, the caress reaching deep into her soul.
“Maybe you’re right.” Gillian frowned. “Maybe I’ve gotten so used to acting spineless that I came to think of myself as such. I’ve grown. I’m not the mouse I was.”
“No you’re not.”
“You’ll be there?”
“Right next to you if you want me.”
Inhaling, she smiled, his promise enough to ease the worry, the stress. “I think I need to see her. I want you with me, but I think I need to talk to her alone, just her and I. I want to do this my way. It’s best that way.”
Pain flashed through his eyes, but he nodded. “All right.”
“I need to show her I’m not the coward she thinks I am. Can you understand that, Jack? I need you, but I need to do this too.”
Jack nodded with a slight smile. “Yeah, I get it.”
“I will need a ride if you’re not busy.” Gillian smoothed his shirt down his chest. “Please.”
“You’ve got it. When do you want to go?”
“Now. Get it out of the way and then I’m free.”
Jack nodded, grabbing his leather jacket. “Come on, I’ll take you. Then we can go for dinner.”
“Sounds good.” Gillian slid her feet into her shoes before she followed him out the door, his fingers locked with hers. Silence filled the cab as they headed for the jail, her mind already racing ahead to the questions she needed and wanted answered. Would her mother tell her the truth or lie?
“I’m right here.” Jack squeezed her hand as they got out of the cab. She shuddered when he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and wrapped her in an embrace before striding toward the doors.
Gillian left Jack in the foyer and stepped through the doors into the small, enclosed little room. Barbara sat at a small table, her fashionable clothing gone, her face scrubbed of all traces of makeup. A baggy orange jumpsuit covered her body.
“You asked to see me?” Gillian settled in the small chair across from her.
“My lawyer figured we should talk.”
“What about?” Cold, hard, the seat of her chair bit into her legs, into her ass. Still it wasn’t as cold as her mother’s penetrating stare. “We’ve nothing to discuss. You stole from me, more than just money.”
“Does it matter? Such an ungrateful little snot. Always so certain you were above me.” Barbara leaned forward. “But you’re not, are you? Where’s your fireman now, Gillian Rebecca? Probably in some hot little number’s bed getting fucked like he should be. What man wants you? He was too good for you and you knew it. Mike may be out of the picture, but you’ll never get another one stupid enough to fall for you.”
“Tell me why?” Gillian ignored her words and focused on the wall behind Barbara’s head. She wouldn’t be broken in half by her mother’s cruelty. “Why would you do it? Did it give you a good feeling to steal from me, from your own flesh and blood?”
“You were an accident.” Barbara sniffed and sat back. “One if I’d been able to, I’d have fixed, before anyone knew about it. Don’t know why your father had to stay home that summer; should have just gone off like he normally did on his business trips.”
“Pity that. How like you to just brush it off like it was nothing. Still, doesn’t answer the question. I think you owe me that much, Mother, don’t you? I mean, really, did you think you’d just walk in and bam, I’d forgive and forget.”
“What was the question again?”
“You care for nothing but yourself. No wonder you and Mike get along so well. Both of you are useless.”
“Not that useless. Just ask lover-boy. He enjoyed what I have to offer far more than you ever would. Right in your hospital room.”
“Liar.” Her voice dropped dangerously. “Jack wouldn’t touch you with a ten-foot pole. He loves me.”
“Loves you? Ha.” Barbara shrugged. “Whatever. Are we done? I have things to do.”
“Yeah, we’re done.” Gillian rose to her feet and turned. “Oh, before I forget, Mother.” She paused, her hand on the door. “I took my house off the market. You’re just going to have to figure some other way to pay your lawyer. We’re done. As far as I’m concerned they could lock you away in some dank little hole and I’d just continue living my life.”
“That’s my house! You can’t touch it.” Leaping to her feet, Barbara glared at Gillian.
“No. It isn’t. Like your car, your clothes, your personal effects, it all belongs to me, bought with my money.”
“That was my money. I earned it. You cost me more than you were worth, you snot nose whore! I was going to send you off to a private school, far away from me, but I couldn’t. Your father fixed that. Still, it was mine. It belonged to me. My only regret is Mike didn’t finish the job when he had the chance years ago.”
Flinching at her mother’s irate words, Gillian straightened and offered a grateful smile to the guard who opened the door. “Thank you.”
“It’s mine! Do you hear me?” Barbara’s voice filled the waiting room before the door clicked shut.
“You know she’s full of shit, right?” Jack lounged against the wall, his face a dark mask. “Don’t let her try and convince you otherwise. You up for dinner?”
“Yes.” Gillian glanced behind her before following him from the
