Page 68 of The I Do Over

“It was a spur of the moment thing, Madalyn,” he interrupted. “I kept thinking about our last conversation and thought I should come and see for myself how things were going. I’m having a hard time believing your mother’s health has deteriorated to the point you’re telling me.”

“You think I’m lying?” she asked incredulously. “Why would I do that?”

Jeff bristled slightly. “I know you would never lie to me. I guess maybe I’m having a hard time accepting that your mom isn’t…you know…your mom anymore.”

“She’s still my mom,” Maddie said with a slight snap in her voice, but as soon as Jeff glanced at her, she shrunk back slightly.

Son of a bitch…

Knox walked over and sat down beside Maddie, silently offering his support to her. Was it possible that there were things going on in her life back when they were in high school that she didn’t share with him? Was it possible that her home life was less than idyllic? Did this man lay a hand on Maddie? Her mother?

Rage filled him.

With his hands clenched at his side, he continued to observe.

“Of course she’s still your mother. Physically. But you have to come to grips that the woman you knew isn’t coming back,” Jeff said casually. “But you don’t have to worry. I’m still here.” His smile was tight and not the least bit comforting. “You don’t need…him. I’ll be here as long as you need me.”

“Dad,” she began after a moment. “I want Knox here. We’ve reconnected and…we’re involved again. You need to accept that.”

Jeff shook his head.

“And…you need to apologize to him for the way you treated him all those years ago,” she said with a little more strength in her voice.

“I’ll do no such thing! This little punk took advantage of you! He forced you across state lines! You were a minor!”

As much as Knox wanted to jump in, he needed to let Maddie do this. She needed to be the one to stand up for them—to admit that she lied and make things right. He knew they had talked about this exact thing just last month. In his wildest imagination, he never thought they’d find themselves in the position for her to do this.

He held his breath and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

“Maddie?” he nudged quietly, hating that he even had to.

“Dad, do we really need to rehash this? It’s all in the past,” she said lamely. “I appreciate you wanting to come here and check on me, but…you should have called. Knox and I have plans for this weekend. So…hopefully you’ll be able to go and visit some friends or family because I’m not free again until Monday night. Maybe we can have dinner then.”

Jeff’s expression hardened.

Then he stood up and walked out without a word.

And Knox slowly put some distance between himself and Maddie before standing and moving to sit on the loveseat on the other side of the room.

All he could do was stare at her. He knew she was sick and obviously tired, but…

“Why didn’t you correct him?” he asked gruffly, trying to hide his disappointment.

“Knox, please,” she said with a sigh, rubbing her head. “There’s no way I could have argued with him right now.”

“Right now or ever?”

She straightened. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means…was he…abusive to you when you were growing up? Did he used to beat you?”

“What?!Where did that even come from? He never laid a hand on me!”

He wasn’t so sure he believed her. “Maddie, you shrink away from him when he comes near you, you tense up and look completely uncomfortable. That’s not a normal way for a daughter to react to her father.”

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