Page 80 of Everlasting Love

Once the drinks are ready, she calls out to William. “Are you going to join us today?”

There’s no response and I study Shane. There’s no outward sign he’s disappointed that his father isn’t joining us but he’s clenching his teeth, something he’s been doing since we arrived. Fiona hands out plates like nothing’s amiss and tells us to help ourselves. Shane helps Jas choose some food and places it on her plate and she happily digs in, oblivious to the tension in the room.

Once Fiona’s happy that we each have enough food, she sits. “So, Violet, how long have you been working at the park?”

I chew quickly and swallow my food. “Ever since I finished my bachelor’s degree in environmental science, so about eight years now. I love working there. I couldn’t imagine working in an office, and they’ve been flexible with maternity leave as well as allowing me to work part-time.”

We chat about the environment and some of the issues we’re facing as we eat our party food. She tells me that she tries to take nature walks every few weeks but she doesn’t like to go alone since the incident.

“And how old are you, Jasmine?”

Jas grins. “I’m five! I go to school and everything.”

Fiona widens her eyes and lays her hand on her chest as if surprised. “No! Are you the teacher?”

Jas laughs loudly. “Of course not. I’m onl?—”

“Can you all shut the fuck up? I’m trying to watch my movie.”

My blood freezes in my veins at the all-too-familiar phrase and Jasmine jolts in her seat, her bottom lip trembling. Her eyes grow glassy, and I collect her from her seat and bring her to my lap to keep her safe. Not that I think Shane would allow anything to happen to her or me. But those words bring back oneof the worst days of my life and I have to concentrate on holding steady; I don’t want to feed into Jas’s already frightened state.

Fiona covers her mouth with her hand and Shane shoots to his feet, pushing his chair back with a loud scrape, the tic in his jaw working overtime.

“Mom, how about you show Jas and Vi your garden out back? They like to grow vegetables, too.”

Fiona gives him a tremulous smile and stands. “Sure,” she says brightly. “I can’t wait to show you my squash. Maybe you could help me pick some?” she says directly to Jasmine with a forced bright tone.

I climb to my feet with Jas in my arms and we follow Fiona outside. I glance back at Shane over my shoulder and he lifts his chin and sends a wink my way but I can’t stop my worry for him.

As soon as the back door closes behind me, Jas wriggles her way down my body until her feet touch the ground. “Mommy, look at the tomatoes. They’re bigger than ours.”

Fiona stops me with her hand on my wrist. “I’m so sorry. William sometimes forgets his manners.”

I smile at her. She shouldn’t have to apologize for her husband’s behavior. “You don’t need to apologize to me, Fiona.”

She nods. “I hope you won’t take what he said to heart. I don’t want my husband’s bad manners to reflect poorly on Shane. I would be devastated if you distanced yourself from my boy because of his father.”

I rest my hand over hers. “There’s nothing, and I mean nothing, that will make me distance myself from Shane. He’s the best man I’ve ever known, and I consider myself extremely lucky that he’s opening his heart and his life to me and my daughter. I promise you have nothing to worry about.”

A tear slips over the edge of her lash and she nods at me, a shaky smile touching her lips. “Thank you.”

I smile back. “No … thankyoufor raising an amazing son.”

28

SHANE

I see fucking red.I didn’t think my respect for my father could sink any lower, but I see that it can. Once the girls are outside and the back door closes behind them, my first instinct is to storm into the living room and have an all-out brawl with the old man but I drag in a long breath, then tuck my chair into the table in a controlled manner in a bid to calm down.

Striding to the opening that leads to the living room, I stand and watch my father as he drinks his beer without taking his eyes off the television screen. “Don’t ever speak to my girls like that again,” I grit.

MY girls.

That’s exactly who they are. They’re important to me and I won’t tolerate anyone treating them poorly. Especially the man who made me feel unimportant and unwanted for most of my life.

He ignores me and takes another pull of his beer. My barely-tamped fury returns, and I step in front of the TV so he has no choice but to acknowledge me. Something he hasn’t done inlonger than I care to remember. My body vibrates with anger, and I’m doing my best not to explode at him—a courtesy he didn’t offer my girls.

“What the fuck?” His eyes finally make their way to my face. “Get out of the way.” He points at the screen behind me. “I’m watching that.”

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