Page 23 of Protecting What Is Mine

10

Mollie

I glance at Vanessa through the rearview mirror. “So, tell me sweetheart, did you have fun at the babysitter’s?”

“It was okay I guess, but Joey didn’t come today, and we usually play together, so I was really bored by the time you got there.”

“I’m sorry. Sometimes life is just more fun when you have a friend to share it with, huh?” I glance at Vanessa, nodding in agreement through the mirror and immediately think of Hank. It’s been almost a week since I invited myself over and made him breakfast. He’s stopped in at the diner and sat at the counter like always, but that’s not enough. Not anymore. I feel something for him. I don’t know how to describe it, I only know that when I’m with him everything seems right with the world. And when I’m not, it doesn’t. Like something’s missing. Something I maybe never realized existed before him.

I flip on my turn signal and cut the wheel into our neighborhood. “Well, Mom should already be home, and I bet after being away from you the whole day she’ll be more than happy for some playtime while I make dinner.”

Vanessa thinks for a moment before responding. “Joey’s more fun. But please don’t tell Mom, okay? She gets sensitive about stuff like that.”

I nod and try to hide my smile as I navigate the neighborhood. “Almost there,” I happily announce as we turn onto our street. And then I notice the strange car in our driveway. I pull up beside an old, half-rusted, cherry red Lincoln, but before I shift the transmission into park Vanessa asks, “Aunt Mollie, who’s car is that?”

“I don’t know, sweets.” The statement is one hundred percent true, I don’t know whose car it is. What I don’t share with my niece is the uneasy feeling growing in my gut because of that car. “Why don’t you stay here while I go in to check. Won’t take more than a minute, okay? I’ll leave the radio on if you want.”

Vanessa’s voice cracks a little when she answers. “Okay, but it’ll only take a minute, right?”

Feeling the August heat beating down on us, I leave the engine running to keep the cool air blowing and the radio playing as I slide the safety belt off my chest. I twist in my seat, so I can look Vanessa in the eye. “Yep. I’ll be quick. Just want to see what’s going on.” I rub her leg and open the driver’s door. “Be back in a jiff.” I do my best to appear light and casual as I walk by the land-yacht taking up so much of the driveway, but I can’t help snooping for clues about the mystery guest.

Landlord?Doubtful, I’ve only ever seen him driving that old blue work truck of his. Plus, the bed has always been filled with so many tools and parts and whatever else he could never fit in a car. Even one this big. Besides, there’s no sign of any of that, just clutter.

A gentlemen caller for Sam?She’s never been one to bring home random guests with no warning. Not to mention that it’s the middle of the afternoon and she knew Vanessa and I would be home around five.

Door to door salesmen?Maybe, but I don’t see any kind of decal or sign on the Lincoln.

When I reach the door, I stop and turn back for a final wave and smile at Vanessa. Everything about this is strange, and the last thing I want is for her to be worried. I hear a man’s voice coming from inside. As I reach for the door knob to enter, it spins in my hand and the door flies open to reveal Sam standing on the other side.

“Hey, I was just coming up to see who’s here before I brought Nessa in. Is everything okay?”

The look on Sam’s face as she jerks her head toward the living room is pure fear. I lean through the doorway and see none other than Clint sitting on the couch.

W-T-F?

“Clinton! What on earth are you doing here?” I ask as I desperately try to puzzle through how we’re going to explain him to Vanessa.

Clint leans forward to see me in the doorway, smiling wide as those icy blue eyes penetrate into my soul.

This cannot happen. He CANNOT be here.

“Hey, cuz. Good to see you again, too,” he lies. “Don’t be shy. Come on in. The last time I saw you, our family reunion got rudely interrupted.” Clint leans back and twists on the couch to peer through the drapes. “That friend of yours isn’t with you now, is he? He and I didn’t get to finish our conversation either.”

Anger and dread and anxiety flood my body, rushing to my feet like concrete anchors, preventing me from moving. I look to Sam, and mouth, “What’s going on?”

She shrugs. “Clint was actually just leaving. Right?” Sam glares at Clint while pointing toward the door (and me).

Clint stands. “Jesus, what the hell happened to the two of you while I was away? I thought you were both big on family.”

Hearing him throw the word family in my face—after everything he and his father have done to destroy our family over the years—lights a fire inside me, helping me find the strength to move and to stand up for myself. “Don’t you do that. Don’t you dare try to use something so sacred as a weapon.” I step inside and stand shoulder to shoulder with Sam. “If you cared about family, you wouldn’t have used us as cover for all the awful things you were involved with. Time and time again. You wouldn’t have brought shady characters into our home and police to our door in the middle of the night. And…” Tears begin to fall.

Seizing the opportunity, Sam interjects, “And you wouldn’t have been so damn quick to give up your rights to that angel sitting out in the driveway just because you didn’t want to be weighed down. She’s probably terrified out of her mind right now. And for good reason. But do you care? Did you stop to consider what showing up out of the blue and proclaiming yourself to be her dad might do to her?”

Clint looks out the window again, but this time is different. His typical, cocky expression is gone. If I didn’t know him the way I do, I might think he looks regretful. “Alright. I’m going. I don’t want to cause any trouble. But consider this your warning, I have every intention of getting to know my daughter. And I won’t let anyone get in the way of that. Even family.” He steps forward. “You two want to figure out the best way to explain me to her, you go right ahead. But I’m back, and I’ve got some irons in the fire that are going to set me up real nice. So, you better get used to the idea.”

Clint takes another step forward and I find myself wishing Hank was here. The way he stood his ground against Clint that night at the bar. The confidence behind his words as he confronted a total stranger. And an intimidating one at that. I hadn’t truly appreciated how strong he seemed until this moment.

Sam and I both step back.

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