Page 33 of Mistaken Intention

“I wish I hadn’t been so jealous. I knew she didn’t love him. She told me so herself, but…” He shakes his head. “He did so much for her. Did you know he paid off the mortgage on her apartment?”

“No, I didn’t.” I’m surprised, although it sounds like the kind of thing Drew would do.

“He paid her an allowance, too. Anything she wanted, he did it for her, and I’m ashamed to say, I didn’t react well to that. I saw it as interference, and I hated them seeing so much of each other. But I should’ve… I should’ve listened to her. She said…” A tear hits his cheek, and he wipes it away. “She said she loved me.”

“I’m sure she did. Lexi and I weren’t that close, but she wouldn’t have lied about something like that.”

He nods his head. “Thank you for saying that.” He clears his throat. “She… she told me she wanted to build some bridges with you.”

“I know. She told me so herself.”

“She explained to me once about her father, and your mother, and that you barely spoke. I—I know she regretted it.”

“I do too.” Especially now.

He frowns, his face darkening. “Has her father been told?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“I suppose I’d better find his number and call him.”

“I—I can arrange for someone here to do it, if you’d prefer.” It won’t be me, but I’m sure Orla, or someone else, could make the call.

He looks up, his eyes connecting with mine, an even deeper sadness reflecting back at me. “Would you mind? I’m not sure I could talk to him and stay civil.”

I know I couldn’t and I nod my head. “I’ll speak to someone.”

“Thank you. I—I don’t know if Lexi told you this, but her father rejected her when she found out she was pregnant.”

“She mentioned it, yes, although neither of us understood why.”

“I never said anything about this to Lexi, but I sometimes wondered if I wasn’t the only one who suffered from jealousy.”

“You think her father was jealous? What of?”

“The baby. He’d had Lexi to himself for years. Having a baby was going to take her away from him… or at least give her someone else to focus on, and if the story she told me about your mother was true, I don’t think he was very good at sharing.”

“No… no he wasn’t.”

His idea makes sense, and I wonder why I never thought of it myself.

He lets out a long sigh. “Can I see her?”

“You want to?”

“I need to say goodbye. Her father will probably arrange the funeral. I doubt he’ll even let me attend… or you, for that matter.”

I suddenly feel quite sick. I hadn’t thought about that, but what he’s saying is true. Lexi’s father is bound to take charge the moment he knows, and he won’t want me anywhere nearher funeral. Even so, there’s no way I can see Lexi myself. I’ve witnessed the aftermath of too many accidents to want to see the results of this one. Besides, I’d rather remember my sister how she was.

“I—I suppose not,” I say. “I can arrange for someone to take you to see her, if you want.”

“Thank you.”

He goes back to staring at his hands, and I can’t think of anything else to say. Certainly there’s nothing that’ll make him feel better, so I get up and leave the room.

Outside, Orla is still sitting at the desk and I go over to her. She looks up, giving me a friendly smile. “How did it go?”

“Okay. I told him who I am, and we talked. I—I think it helped.”

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