Page 73 of Deception

Jake stepped forward. “I have changed, and if you’ll let me, I’ll prove it to you.”

He took out his wallet and pulled out a wad of cash. “Here’s a down payment on the money you’ve given Jen and Ava.”

“I don’t want your money.” Clayton knocked Jake’s hand away, scattering the money over the floor.

“Uncle Clayton?”

Ava.He jerked his head toward the hallway as his niece ran toward him and grabbed Clayton’s hand that was still balled in a fist.

For a second, no one said a word, then Ava ran to her father, dragging her blanket behind her. Jake bent down and lifted his daughter into his arms as Jen joined them.

So that’s how it’s going to be.“Call me when you come to your senses.” Clayton turned and marched out the door to his SUV.He fastened his seat belt and pushed the ignition, but before he could back out, Jen rapped on his window. Clayton punched the down button. “I don’t want to talk about Jake.”

She stared at him, tears falling down her cheeks. “He really has changed. He’s a Christian now.”

Clayton would believe that when he saw it. He gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. “Why are you giving him a chance to leave you again?”

“I’m telling you, he’s changed. He said—”

“Words are cheap, Jen.”

She jutted her chin. “The old Jake would have torn into you with his fists, and that’s not all. With the money Jake’s been sending since he got out of rehab, I don’t need you to pay my bills any longer.”

“I see. How about Ava’s operation. Can he pay for that?”

Jen ducked her head. “Not yet, but when he gets insurance—”

“Unless he’s working for the same company as before, it might not cover the operation she needs.”

“His old company took him back.”

There was no use talking to his sister, and he shook his head. “I can’t believe you’d put Ava through this. Do you know what it’ll do to her when he starts using again and leaves you high and dry?”

“Jake loves us, and he won’t go back to using.”

How could his sister be so blind?

Jen backed away from the SUV. “If you can’t accept Jake, then just stay away from us.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“I do.”

Clayton threw the SUV into reverse and floored the gas pedal. He couldn’t feel any worse if she’d cut his heart out with a knife.

39

Her father was remarrying? The words bounced around Madison’s head like a pinball.

“Did you hear me?”

She mentally shook her head to clear it. “I heard you all right, just not sure why you felt the need to tell me this tonight.”

“I don’t like having secrets between us.”

As usual it was all about him. “That’s one secret I would have preferred you kept until a later time.” She stared at her father. “Did you even love my mother?”

“Of course I did.”

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