Page 160 of Mistaken Intention

“Yes,” he says. “Doreen told me.”

Ella sits right forward. “But you didn’t tell me?”

“How was I supposed to tell you something like that?” She stares at him for a long moment and then lowers her head, sinking back into Mac’s arms. “I couldn’t, could I?” Hunter says. “Not only would it have been difficult for you to hear, but when Doreen revealed her side of the story, I didn’t know whether what Dad had told her was the truth. I couldn’t see any reason he’d have lied about something like that, but what benefit would there have been in me telling you something I couldn’t verify? I couldn’t see how it would have served any purpose. If I got that wrong, then I’m sorry.” Ella nods her head in silent acknowledgement and Hunter turns to his mom. “Doreen told me she left him and was getting ready to leave town and take her daughter with her, when Dad arrived at her apartment and begged her to forgive him.”

“I can’t imagine your father begging for anything,” Lindsay says, shaking her head.

Hunter shrugs his shoulders. “Those were Doreen’s words.”

“And did she? Forgive him, I mean?” I ask.

He nods his head. “Yes. She wasn’t sure it was the wisest thing she’d ever done, but she loved him.” He frowns, turning to his mother. “Sorry if that isn’t what you want to hear.”

“I don’t care, Hunter,” his mother says. “I barely cared then, and I certainly don’t now.”

Drew sucks in a sharp breath. “So…” he says, shaking his head slowly from side to side. “None of us were born out of love.”

Lindsay gets to her feet, pulling away from the man beside her and walks straight to Drew, standing in front of him. “Please don’t think that. I loved you all.”

“Then why did you leave us?” he says.

It’s a simple enough question, and Lindsay’s shoulders drop as she says, “Because of Ken Bevan, I suppose.”

I notice Livia tense, and something about my expression obviously catches Lindsay’s attention. She follows my line of sight, turning to look at Hunter and Livia.

“What’s wrong?” she says.

Hunter keeps a firm hold on Livia, looking up at his mom. “I’ve got something to tell you.”

“Oh?”

“Livia is Ken Bevan’s daughter.”

Lindsay darts across the room, her movements as fast as they are unexpected, although Hunter leaps to his feet, putting himself between Livia and his mother.

“How could you?” she screams.

“It was real easy, Mom. I fell in love.”

“With Ken Bevan’s daughter?”

“Yes. But you need to calm down. I didn’t know who she was when we met. Even Livia didn’t realize the connection until it was explained to her. She’s not responsible for what he did, any more than I can be blamed for what my father did.”

Julianne gets up and steps into the fray. “I was Ken’s wife,” she says.

Lindsay turns toward her. “You’re Julianne?”

“Yes. And I’m sorry for what he did. But as Hunter said, Livia isn’t responsible. Neither am I. My first marriage was hell. Nothing like as bad as yours, but still hell. Regardless of that, though, I never wanted to make my child suffer for the actions of my husband.” Julianne tilts her head. “Do you?”

Lindsay stares at her for a moment and I think everyone in the room sees the moment she backs down, her body deflating in the wake of Julianne’s wise words.

“You’re right,” she says, turning to Hunter. “I’m sorry. It’s just that everything changed after Ken Bevan stole the money from your father. I’d tolerated his women… even his love for Doreen. He’d abused me. He’d raped me…” She stops talking and swallows down a sob, and the man who came in with her gets up, going to her, and putting his arm around her shoulders. “I’d taken so much from him, and then it just got worse. I didn’t think that was possible, but he was so angry and bitter about the money… and that’s when the violence started.”

“Violence?” Hunter looks down at her, frowning. “You mean, other than when he slapped you around the face?”

“Oh, that was nothing.”

I doesn’t sound like ‘nothing’ to me, and judging by the look on Hunter’s face, I think he agrees.

---