Page 35 of Too Close To Call

And Ihave the paperwork to prove it.

Olivia doesn’t even look abashed for asking such a leading question. “Of course, dear,” she says with a bless-your-heart smile before she excuses herself.

“I can’t believe that woman,” Hannah says with a nasty bite to her tone. “I’m so sorry, Tori. She’s usually not so…rude. She’s always had a soft spot for Case.”

I shrug. “It’s okay. I’m sure everyone is thinking the same thing.”

“They’re all upset because you hurt my boy. He was broken when he stopped driving. He wouldn’t even let anyone in his house to care for him the first month he was home and he had his leg in a cast. It was as if he wanted to wallow in the pain, like he deserved what he was going through. Then we found out Dale was killed in a practice run and we put the pieces together. Just not all the pieces, until recently.”

Tears fill my eyes as Hannah speaks of that time. I have no idea how to tell her I was so out of it I never noticed Case had been injured. How messed up was I? Hannah puts her arm around me and leads me to a bench overlooking the beach.

“I… I was so horrible to Case. The things I said to him I don’t know if we can ever come back from, but I’m trying.” I turn so I’m facing her. Case is right. The truth is the only thing that’s going to mend what I’ve broken.

“I love Case. I always have, but I lost my mind when my dad died. I blamed Case for his death and told him we were over and that I never wanted to see him again. I even accused him of using me and my dad to further his career.”

Hannah pats my arm. “Oh, honey, that was your grief talking.”

How can she be so kind? I sniffle and wish I had a tissue. “I know that now. We could probably have come back from that, but then...”

“You were with Daisy’s father?”

I’m glad she filled in the blank because I didn’t want to admit to Case’s mom that I cheated on him. “I don’t know how I could have done that. Ryan was never more than an annoying big brother type of friend. I never had any attraction to him in that way. There was only ever Case. And then he was gone and he wouldn’t talk to me. I felt so… lost.”

“I’m not condoning what you did, but I can understand grief. Ryan offered you support and comfort during a very trying time in your life. Don’t be so hard on yourself and just look at that happy, well-adjusted sweetheart working her wiles on Blake.”

“Thank you, Hannah. Thank you for seeing the light shining from so much hurt and pain.”

“I’ve heard you talk about your father, but what about your mother?”

How could this kind woman understand someone like my mom? “She didn’t want to be a mother. She divorced my dad and moved to California. I’ve only seen her a handful of times in my life, that I can remember. I’ve never held out hope for a relationship with her. My dad was more than enough.”

“I imagine it was hard for you to grow up without a mother.”

How can you miss something you’ve never had? “I never knew any different. I knew my dad loved me and if there was something he didn’t know how to do, he either hired someone or learned. Then I met Carina and she became my best friend and the sister I never had.”

“Well, you now have us. Whether you and Case work out or not, we will still be here for you whenever you need us.”

People don’t surprise me anymore, but Hannah’s generosity stuns me. I clear my suddenly raspy throat. “Thank you, Hannah. I can’t tell you how much that means to me.”

“Hey,” Case says cautiously as he approaches. He takes in my teary eyes and flushed face. “What’s going on?”

I smile at him. “I’m okay. Really, I’m fine, and your mom is wonderful. I hope you realize how special she is.”

Hannah laughs as she gets to her feet and hugs her son. “You should listen to this one, honey. She’s a keeper.”

Case kisses his mom’s cheek and then takes her place on the bench beside me. He picks up my hand and threads his fingers through mine. “Did Mom upset you?”

I smile again and sigh when I look into his eyes. “No, she didn’t. It was good to have someone to talk to without worrying about keeping secrets. Why did we listen to my dad, Case?”

Case looks away and out over the ocean. “I’ve asked myself that more than once.”

I lean over and rest my head on his shoulder. “What was so important about nobody knowing we were together? We never got to experience a normal relationship. We never dated. You weren’t my prom date. We never held hands in public or kissed goodnight at my door.”

We had special times, but only the two of us. Either at the guest house or if we could sneak away to a hotel or find a hideaway in some out-of-the-way place.

Case kisses the top of my head and my heart flutters. “I’m sorry, Tori. I wish I knew why it was so important to your dad. It had to be more than my career. You know I couldn’t have cared less about what the media reported about me. You should have had those things. And more.”

Once when I asked my dad why, he wouldn’t give me a clear answer. Just that it would be hard and that someday I’d be thankful for waiting. Had being married with a child been too hard for him? Was he projecting his life onto us? “I wonder if it had something to do with my mother.”

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