Page 78 of Unexpected Love
“No, let me finish. I want to tell you everything, but I need you to promise that you’ll give me a chance to finish before you jump in and derail the conversation.”
She waits until I agree with a nod.
“I’m not sure if you realized how bad it was at home after you left. Mom was mad—well, even madder—all the time. Cussing your name up one side and down the other. I was really mad until that day you came back and left me your new phone number. I figured there was a reason that you shared it with me and not Mom.”
Dani had been all of thirteen when I’d done that. These feelings she’s sharing are old wounds. Ones I’d caused.
“Anyway, I never told you that I was mad. But I was, until I got pregnant, and then Ritchie went to jail.” Tears glimmer in her eyes. “I’ll never be able to thank you for being there when I called and told you I was pregnant. I was so scared. And you were living this awesome new life, and it looked so shiny. And without all the bullshit of living with Tabby.”
I nod, remembering the exact phone call she’s talking about.
“I should’ve done more for you.”
“You took care of me when no one else would. That’s more than anyone has ever done for me.”
Charlie runs by, and Dani catches her in a flyby hug, making Charlie squeal in delight.
“But it all got to be too much. I couldn’t take care of Charlie, not the way I knew she deserved to be taken care of. Plus, I was tired. So damn tired.”
She pauses, and there are a million and one things I want to say, but I hold my tongue, even though it’s killing me. Still, I can’t help but say, “Dani, you can’t just walk out on your child because you’re tired. Come on. That’s a Tabby move, and you know it.”
Dani sighs and closes her eyes. “Believe me, I had a good, long think while I was locked up.”
“And?”
“And I decided that if you could get out and start over, then I could too. If you could make something of your life, I could too. I didn’t want to go down for something I really had no business with. I didn’t want to lose Charlie permanently. So I made a deal with the prosecutor.”
Oh fuck.
“That’s why Tabby and Ritchie were able to get out before I did. I agreed to tell them everything I know about Ritchie and his guys in exchange for a clean record, all charges dropped, and no threat of losing my baby. When I got out, I was already headed to pack my bags and come here. But walking in on him with her…” She crumbles into tears, and I’m done.
I can’t hold back anymore. I slide to the floor beside her and wrap her in my arms. “Jesus, Danielle.I’m so sorry.”
All the ways I’ve failed my baby sister run through my head. “I never should’ve left you.”
She shakes her head against my chest. “You had to. If you hadn’t, there’s no telling where we’d be. We certainly wouldn’t be sitting in a posh apartment in this cute little town. You’d still be my hero, but you wouldn’t have become one for everyone else.”
“I’m no hero.”
“Sure you are. To me. To Charlie. To Jules, even. I’m betting you’ve saved a few lives this year too.”
I recall the mom from weeks ago that I wasn’t able to save. “Trust me. I’m no hero. I’m just a guy doing the best he can.”
“Anyway.” She pulls back, wiping the tears from her face. “I came here for Charlie. I was planning on taking her back with me, maybe hide out for a little while until Ritchie’s case goes to court, and then start over somewhere.”
My stomach heads south. Just drops right out. I knew it was a possibility, but I wasn’t prepared to hear the actual words come from Dani’s lips.
“But I see how happy Charlie is, and I can’t do it.” Her chin trembles as tears threaten again.
The relief I feel is immediately overshadowed by what my sister hasn’t said.
“Dani, are you in danger? Do you think Ritchie is going to come after you?”
She scoffs. “No. He doesn’t give a damn about me or Charlie, for that matter. Plus, it’s not like I told them anything they probably didn’t already have on him.”
I’m not equipped to handle this conversation anymore. To put an end to the discussion, I slide an arm around her shoulders and hold her close. “I think you made the right call to bring Charlie to me. I hate the wayyou did it. If you’d just called me, maybe I could’ve helped you too.”
I press a kiss to the top of her head. “I don’t want you to leave. I want you and Charlie to be here.”
