Page 198 of Taeja

“Teddy was a side piece?” Taeja blurted, pursing her lips when Merissa’s glare settled on her.

“If that is what you want to call it,” Merissa said. “When I was a girl, she was our housekeeper. My mother was crippled from the waist down, and Teddy was always right there — with her legs open and obedient like a dog. She thought my father would have left my mother for her, but he never saw Teddy as more than a woman with feelings between her legs. Not even when she presented Jerry as his. Teddy was hurt, so she left Westmoreland, and I do not know where she went from there. I never kept track, but I happened to reconcile with Jerry in college.”

“That… puts a lot into perspective for me,” Taeja said. “But it doesn’t sound like you believe my father isn’t your brother.”

“Of course, he is my brother. He looks just like my father with a face only a mother could love.” Merissa glanced at Cassedi. “Love really is blind.”

Cassedi glared. “Don’t go there, Merissa. Just answer my daughter’s questions.”

“Do not tell me you are still hung up on him?” Merissa asked, her brows raising to her hairline. “I am the one who gave you a place to stay when your family kicked you out because you insisted on finding a way back to Jerry. He did not even try reaching out to you. Not once.”

Taeja glanced at her mother, a weight resting on her shoulder. She looked at Merissa. “Can I get a moment with my mom, please?”

“Sure.” Merissa grabbed her wineglass and left the table. “I will be on the balcony.”

Once Merissa was out of earshot, Taeja asked Cassedi, “Is it true?”

“About Teddy?”

“About you. Do you miss my father?”

Cassedi tensed, nibbling on her lower lip.

Taeja scooted her chair closer to her mother’s. “I have his number memorized. I can call him if you want to… talk to him.”

“I don’t know what I’d say to him.”

“It’ll come to you,” Taeja said, pulling her phone out. “It’s just like when we spoke on the phone. It’ll be awkward at first, but if you still feel the same way about each other, everything will move smoothly.”

Cassedi looked at the phone like she was afraid of it.

Taeja rested a hand on her mother’s lap. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” she reassured. “I know he put you through hell, but if it helps, you were happy with him before Teddy completely inserted herself into our lives.”

Cassedi smiled, resting her hand atop Taeja’s and squeezing it. “You’re so different than the person Teddy tried turning you into.”

“I know,” Taeja said, smiling as she thought of Miss Charm. “I’m going to get Zain to drop me back at the hotel. I think Damon’s going to stay with you.”

Cassedi chuckled. “He’s waiting for me to finish playing Sudoku with him. I’ll make the call to Jerry quickly. Are you sure you don’t want to stay?”

“Honestly? Mi fass and waa know wa unu a chat bout. But I feel you two have a lot to talk about. I don’t want to be here for that because you’re still my parents.”

Cassedi smiled again. “That lady who raised you did such a good job. I’m indebted to her.”

Taeja laughed while standing. “Miss Charm doesn’t believe in debts. Later, Cassedi.”

“Bye, baby girl.”

Taeja joined Merissa on the nearby balcony. “Merissa, I’m leaving. It was nice to meet you.”

Merissa nodded, tightening her grip around the stem of the wineglass. “I see you have two boyfriends. I am proud of you.”

“Why?”

“It means Teddy did not brainwash you into adapting to the family’s outdated traditional thinking. You have all my respect.”

Taeja smiled. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me all evening.”

Merissa hummed. “Safe flight tomorrow.”

---