Page 84 of Empowered
“Probably not, but I want you to know that, regardless of how this may complicate matters, I intend on sticking by you and helping you in any way I can.” His hand remained wrapped around her. “I love you, Sarah. I don’t say that lightly.”
“I know.” Sarah believed him, but how could he focus so much on her right now when there was other bullshit going on in their lives? “There’s something I need to tell you.”
“What?”
Sarah hadn’t planned on telling him about what happened a few days ago. She didn’t think it relevant, and she sure as hell hadn’t wanted to worry him. Well, those thoughts were out of the window now. “On Friday I had to run some files to the Monroes’ lawyer down in the old townhouse district. You know, where I first saw your son?”
“Yes? Go on.”
“As I was getting back in the car, he and his mother returned home in your car. Victor recognized me.”
Lucas did not otherwise react. “I see. What did he say?”
“He tried to say hello to me. That’s it.”
“But Jill saw you, didn’t she? Damnit.” Lucas leaned forward, finger pressed against his temple. “I told her I was seeing someone and that I wanted Victor to meet her. But I hadn’t yet told her who you were. I was waiting until this week, after I told Damon. You know, a checklist of this shit. Tell one person, then the next… I was going to tell my family this weekend when I conference call them for my father’s birthday.”
“Victor was happy to see me, at least.”
“And Jill probably had a hernia. That’s why I wanted to tell her on my own terms.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”
“You didn’t do anything wrong. I’ll talk to Jill.”
Sarah sighed.It’s clear what’s happened here.Jill must have had the money and connections to hire a private investigator the moment she realized Sarah was the ex’s new honey. A good investigator wouldn’t need much time to find that video, assuming the man in possession of it had shoddy security. Following Lucas and Sarah on their weekend getaway had to be even easier. The scandal wrote itself once Jill Blackbourne put it into motion.
For what purpose?Revenge. Insurance.Jealousy and a mother’s need to keep her child near her was all it took. Hell, even one of those things would be enough.
Lucas must have had the same thoughts, for he said, “I’m going to talk to Jill about this. I promise you.”
Sarah didn’t feel like eating the lunch brought into the room. “My mother’s in town. She saw the tape.” Elizabeth would claim otherwise until her dying day, but Sarah knew her mother saw at least a few seconds too many of her daughter doing things no good girls did.No wonder she came running.The old Sarah would have been flattered that her mother still cared so much.
“God…”
“She wants to meet you.”
“Excuse you?”
“After lunch.” Sarah stole her boyfriend’s iced tea. “Promise it won’t be weird.”
He gave her a dubious look. “This conversation has gone places even I can’t imagine. It’s that damned wig. Throwing me off.”
“Stick with me, Luke, and you’ll be asking mewhat?every two seconds.”
“I already do, Angel.” He took his iced tea back. “I already do.”
***
“Mum,” Sarah said the moment she entered her apartment an hour later. “This is Lucas. Lucas, this is my…”
Elizabeth wasn’t one for simple handshakes and other cozy introductions. She strutted up to the potential son-in-law and slapped him across the face.
“Pleasure’s all mine,” she said, turning back toward the kitchen to finish cooking her own lunch. “Oh, that’s also from my husband, by the way. Although he said punch, not slap.”
Lucas looked across his girlfriend’s apartment in utter amazement. “Hate to meet your father,” he muttered.
“Oh, he’s the rational one. Like me.”
Elizabeth pulled a chef’s knife out of its casing and sliced an apple in half. “Don’t know what you’re talking about, dear.”
At least the worst of it was over.
