Page 31 of Deliver Me

He looked up at her from over the top of the book he was reading, nothing more than vague curiosity in his eyes. He had no idea how much she had kept from him, and she suddenly hated herself for not having the courage to speak up sooner.

“I need to tell you something.”

“Oh?” He set his glass on the table and turned in his chair so that he could face her directly. He had always been good about that, about listening with his full attention. She’d never felt like what she had to say was less important to him than anything else he might be doing.

She looked down at her knee. “I changed my major.”

“You did?” His brows drew together in concern. “You didn’t talk to me about it?”

“I wanted to have at least one semester of my grades to show you before I told you. It’s a very competitive and demanding field, I wanted you to know I could handle it.”

“What did you change it to?”

“Political science.” She winced when it came out sounding more like a question than an answer. “I want to go to law school.”

“Law school is expensive,” he said slowly. “And as you said, very competitive. Have you thought about what your life would look like if you do this? How would you manage a home and a family with that kind of schedule?”

“Maybe I’m not worried about having a family,” she asked. She wanted it to sound bold, revolutionary, but they both knew her better than that.

“Mia …”

“I know,” she sighed. “I want a family, but I can do both. It might be challenging but it’s possible.”

“Does this have something to do with a boy?”

“Dad …”

“I thought you had a thing with James but then he stopped coming around, so—”

“It’s not James.”

“But there is a boy?”

“Not really,” she hedged. She’d never lied to him when his eyes narrowed on her face, and she squirmed uncomfortably. “It’s just …you know the pen pal program? Remember? Mrs. Newberry threw a fit about it?”

“I remember,” he said. “She was convinced that putting young and impressionable minds in contact with criminals would lead to nothing but bad things.”

‘Well, I think it’s led to something really amazing instead.” She rushed ahead as he opened his mouth to speak, praying she could make him understand that she understood the futility but couldn’t change her feelings. “He’s so good to me, so sweet.”

Her father shook his head and buried his face in his hands. She’d never seen him look so confused and disappointed. “Didn’t you tell me that this man was in prison for something terrible? Murder? You said he was never getting out.”

“He probably isn’t,” she admitted. “I know there’s probably no future for us but it doesn’t matter to me.”

“Well, it should, Mia.” She flinched as he raised his voice, something he’d never done before. “It should matter to you. First you decide out of nowhere you want to be a lawyer and now this? As long as you’re wasting time on him you won’t have a family or a real home. He can’t give you a life. You’d be throwing it all away, for what?”

“I don’t know.” She clutched her knees, curled into herself as her hands began to shake. “I just know he makes me happy.”

“I wanted a good life for you, not this empty shell that you’re trying to create. Your mother—”

“Was an amazing person, but I’m not Mom.”

“No, I can see that.”

Mia recoiled, his words hitting directly in her chest and stealing her breath.

He sighed and rubbed the tension in his temples with his fingers. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. I know how much you loved her and how proud she was of you. I just don’t think she would support what you’re doing, and I don’t see how I possibly can.”

“Dad—”

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