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“When Roman destroyed her life, do you know what he called her?” Darian looks at me. “Yes, selfish.”

“Dad, do you know what you called her today?”

Darian looks at him. “Jackson, you didn’t?” He puts his head down.

“Darian, do you know who was there for her after her father and Roman both destroyed her? It was Scott.”

She looks surprised. “My Scott?”

“Yes, your Scott. He consoled her when her father disappointed her for the last time. She didn’t want you to know. You were getting married and had just found out you were pregnant with Harley. She didn’t want to bring you down, so he helped her through it, and then she put on a happy face to get you down the aisle and welcome your baby girl.” Darian listens as tears flow down her cheeks.

“The night Roman destroyed her, do you know what she did once she left him? Where she went?”

Darian thinks for a moment. “She moved in the next day. I guess I assumed she stayed in a hotel that night.”

“That’s not what happened. Roman canceled her credit cards. She couldn’t get into a hotel. She came to your house during the night. Scott took care of her. He iced her physical wounds. He listened to her cry. He reassured her of her worth as he reminded her you guys were her family and you would all take care of her. She slept in your guestroom that night.”

“I don’t understand. Why didn’t she come to me?”

“Because you had the bar exam the next day. She didn’t want you to be distracted. She snuck out early in the morning so you didn’t see her before you left for the exam. She didn’t want you to worry about her until you were through the exam.”

“Oh god. Cassandra.” She’s sobbing now.

“Here’s where I’m headed with this, Darian. Until I came into her life, Scott was the only man she could ever count on. I’m not sure if their relationship was more fatherly or brotherly, but he was the most important man in her life. She views him as the only man who ever gave a shit about her. When he died, the only thing she cared about was helping you and helping the girls. I don’t think she ever came to terms with what his dying meant for her. I think she’s still a little bit of a mess over it.”

Darian gets up and comes to hug me. “Wow, Trevor. I don’t know what to say. Thank you for loving my best friend. Thank you for being there for her. I need to be a better friend to her. Like she is to me.”

I nod. I look at my dad. “Cassandra isn’t selfish Dad. She’s honestly the most selfless person I’ve ever met. It’s one of the many reasons I love her.”

He gets up and hugs me. “I was wrong. You’re not a child. You’re a man, Trevor. You’re a good man. A better man than I am.”

“That’s not true. Men learn how to behave from their fathers.” I smile at him. “I learned from the best.”

We’re silent for a bit with our emotions except Darian. She’s a sobbing mess. She looks at me. “What can I do for her? How can I help her?”

“I’ve thought a lot about this. There’s something I wanted to do with her, but I think it should be you.”

“Okay. I’ll do anything.”

“I assume you know she has a sister?”

She looks surprised that I know. “Yes. We haven’t seen her since she was a little kid. Probably their father’s funeral was the last time we saw her. Cassandra never mentions her family at all. She’s just become a part of ours. That’s how it’s been since college.”

“That’s right. I think she needs to dig into that, though. I’d like to see her talk to her father’s second wife. Maybe she’ll gain some perspective on her father, and then I think she needs to find her sister. Maybe they’ll have a relationship and maybe they won’t. But I think she needs to explore it. I think it could help her.”

She slowly nods in contemplation. “I think you’re right. It makes a lot of sense. Do you have any idea where they live?”

“I researched it before I came here. His wife still lives in Philly. I couldn’t find anything on the daughter, but maybe she can help with that.”

“Okay. I’ll do it.”

CHAPTERELEVEN

CASSANDRA

There’s a knock at my door. I open it to find Darian, in tears. She grabs me into a hug. “What’s wrong? Is it Jackson? Are you guys okay? I’m so sorry I did this to you. I promise I’ll fix it.”

She pulls back. “Cassandra, Jackson and I are fine. Stop always putting me first. This is about you. I’ve been a terrible friend to you. You’ve been so good to me, and I’ve been horrible to you. I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you. I love you so much. I hope you know that.”

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