Page 175 of Where Broken Wings Fly

“Willow,” she croaks. “Oh my God.”

“I’m your daughter.”

CHAPTER 32

WILLOW

ANOTHER LIFE - MOTIONLESS IN WHITE

Closing the door to the cabin, I rest my head against the slab of wood. The rest of the guests made a hasty exit after Lola and Katie started screaming at each other. Albie quickly dragged them apart before they actually began fighting too.

I left Arianna outside with the guys to keep her out of earshot. Ryder and Ethan are handling clean-up duty to give us some time to sort through this mess in the privacy of my cabin.

“Willow?” Lola says softly. “Come sit down, poppet.”

“Give me a sec,” I mutter.

Rummaging in the back of the kitchen cabinet, I find Zach’s secret bottle of whiskey. He’s been saving it for strip poker. Gathering three glasses, I walk into the living room with my eyes on my feet, unable to look at the two seething women.

“Drink?”

“Please,” Lola answers.

Pouring us all a generous measure, I hand out the drinks and lean against the wall in the furthermost corner of the room. I need as much space between us as possible.

“Is it true?” Katie snaps at Lola.

She clears her throat. “Yes, it’s true. Willow is my granddaughter.”

“This is… it’s… what the fuck?” she splutters. “How could you keep this from me? We speak every single week, and you didn’t think to mention that you found my daughter?”

“She was protecting me,” I interrupt. “I wasn’t ready for you to know who I really am. Lola gave me time to come to terms with the truth.”

“What truth?” Katie exclaims angrily.

Pain lances through my broken heart.

“Well… I thought you abandoned me.”

Tears stream down her cheeks. “You thought I left you behind?”

“Something like that.”

She moves to stand up and approach me, but I hold her back with a raised hand. If she tries to hug me, I won’t be able to hold my broken pieces together for a second longer.

“That’s what Jack told her,” Lola explains gently. “He lied and said that you left willingly. She was raised to believe that you wanted nothing to do with her.”

“This is ridiculous!” Katie shouts.

My hands ball into fists. “One day you were there, the next you were gone. I was just a kid. What was I supposed to think? I was a scared little girl who missed her mum.”

“I never left you. Jack took you from me.”

“I didn’t know that, Katie. He lied to me.”

“Don’t call me that,” she snaps through her coursing tears. “I’m your mum, for Christ’s sake. I’ve always been your mum.”

“You’re not,” I say sadly.

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