Page 53 of Cass

Barbara takes a few deep, labored breaths. “He tried hard to be the father you deserved, but his mental health was suffering. Eventually, he left her. Understand, that at the time, he was hanging on by a thread. He spent years in therapy trying to get himself together. He was admitted into psychiatric hospitals on multiple occasions. That’s why you didn’t hear from him for extended periods of time.”

She coughs a bunch of times. “I suffered a similar type of abuse, and that’s how we found each other. We spent years helping one another heal. Once we felt we were both in a good place, we got married and I had your sister. Your father saw her as a way to do things properly, knowing how much he irretrievably damaged his relationship with you.”

She rubs my hands. “Cassandra, know that he was proud of you. He talked about you constantly. Your being so smart, so independent, thriving in law school. All of it. You may not have known it, but he followed everything in your life.”

I find it so hard to believe. “He certainly never let on.”

“He was ashamed of abandoning you. You were incredibly angry with him. You stopped taking his calls. You wouldn’t spend time with us. He didn’t blame you for having those feelings, but he didn’t know how to make it right. He thought you might be better off without him in your life. But I know he genuinely thought you two would reconcile one day. You’d find your way back to one another.”

“And then he died.”

She gives me a sad smile. “Yes, and then he died.”

She pulls me so she can rub her hands on my face. “I’m glad you found me. I’m going to be gone soon. You’re the only family your sister has left. Please connect with her. I’m begging you. You need each other. She’s wonderful and dynamic, just like you. I think you would like her.”

I let out a breath, and eventually I nod. “Okay. I’ll look her up. I’ll at least agree to meet her. I don’t know that I can promise more than that.”

“That’s all I can ask of you. I think you’ll like her though.”

“Does Lizzie live nearby?”

“Oh, wow, we haven’t called her Lizzie in years.”

“What do you mean? Isn’t that her name?”

“Her full name is Elizabeth, but she’s gone by Beth since she was a preteen. She never liked Lizzie. She said it was for babies.”

“Is she local?”

“Yes. She’s a lawyer just like her big sister.” She smiles with pride. “She always wanted to be like you. She studied like mad so she could go to law school like you did. She has a son. He’s the spitting image of your father. She’s the spitting image of you. Such pretty girls, both of you. You all have your father’s gorgeous blue eyes.”

“A lawyer in Philadelphia? Where does she work?”

“I forget the name. I think it’s Copper something.”

My world spins. I turn white. Darian notices. “Cassandra, what’s wrong?

I turn back to Barbara. “Cooper and Kronfeld?”

“Yes, that’s it.”

Darian looks at me with wide eyes. “Cass, do you know her?”

I put my hand over my mouth. “She…she… works for me. Like in my office every day, works for me.”

Darian and I stare at each other. We’re both shocked.

I’m at a loss for words. I look back to Barbara. “She said her last name is O’Connell.”

“Yes, that’s her married name. She divorced that good-for-nothing, but she kept his name for her son’s sake.”

CHAPTERTWELVE

TREVOR

“Mom, are you home?” I open the door to her condo and walk in.

I hear her shout, “Yes, Trevor. I’m in the kitchen.”

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