Page 47 of Unsure in Love

Although she'd cheered up a bit, sadness still lingered in her eyes. They were slightly red and puffy. Of course, they were. She’d cried for two hours straight. I said nothing the entire time because I suspected she was embarrassed to show such raw emotion in front of me—in front of anyone.

Seeing her like that, listening to her sobs, made me want to plant my fist in Henry Bennet’s—Walker, now—face. The prick changed his name and started a whole new life. It was unimaginable how hurt Cass must have been by that.

I didn’t know the man, yet I hated him for every one of his daughter’s tears. A part of me was frightened by the intensity of my anger over Cass’ obvious pain. It wasn’t just because she was carrying my child. I wanted to protect her in any way I could.

Cass was almost through with her sandwich when she glanced at me. “Just a moment ago you were making me laugh and now you’re brooding intensely. What’s wrong?”

My lips twisted wryly. I couldn’t tell her I was thinking about kicking her father’s ass. “I should have apologized for my behavior earlier.”

She took a sip of her fruit juice. “I don’t follow.”

“I inserted myself into your private business with your father. I’m sorry if I overstepped.” It was just hard watching her struggle to keep her composure.

“No.” She swept her hair behind her ear. “I was relieved that you stepped in. Honestly, I was barely holding it together.” Her cheeks flushed a pretty pink when she admitted, “I’m glad you were there.”

I searched her face and spotted a vulnerability that she didn’t try to hide this time. Cass and I hadn’t known each other long, but I knew she didn’t show anyone else as much of herself as she’d shown me. I stayed quiet because I didn’t want to say anything to ruin the little trust she seemed to have developed in me.

“May I tell you a secret?”

I smiled slightly. “Of course.”

Her eyelashes lowered to hide her eyes, and she pushed her almost empty plate aside.

“Seeing as how you got a front-row seat to my disaster of a reunion with my old man, I feel like I can share this with you.” She blew out a long breath. “My sisters don’t know about Henry. I didn’t tell them when I began my search, and I didn’t tell them when Keneti found him.”

“Oh.” I stared at her with raised eyebrows. I’d wondered why she was on this reconnecting-with-her-father mission alone, but I didn’t feel it was my place to ask why her sisters hadn’t come along.

Her lower lip quivered, and she pulled it between her teeth. “I wasn’t sure if any of them had the desire for answers from our father like I did. Since childhood, I’d always wondered about him, wondered why he left. I even entertained the thought that maybe he left because of me.”

“Cass, that’s not likely.”

She shrugged. “I know that now but these things go through a child’s mind. I mean, I was a handful as a kid. A little rascal.”

I smiled. “I can imagine.”

Her little snort was followed by a long, wistful sigh. “As I got older and saw how insane my mother was, I blamed her. Maybe she ran him off with her antics.” She shook her head. “I just wanted to stop wondering and get the truth.” Her eyes met mine. “You know?”

“I get it.” I didn’t even realize that my hand had slipped across the table to rest on hers. She stared down at our hands but didn’t pull away.

“I spent a long time and a ton of money trying to find Henry. After a while, I told myself I wouldn't say anything to my sisters until I found him. I wanted to be sure he was alive first. Then, when I got in touch with Keneti and actually got somewhere with the search, I was too downright scared to say anything.”

My hand tightened on hers. “Why?”

“I think my sisters hate him, especially Tessa and Lucy. They were old enough to see everything unfolding with our parents.” She shrugged. “I’ve never hated him. I barely knew the guy, so how could I? I was afraid to hurt them with my desire to find him. I’m still afraid, which is why I’ve kept it a secret for almost a year.”

Her eyes watered. “And now Lucy is pregnant and everyone else is doing so well. I don’t want to drop this bomb on their lives. I feel like I’m betraying them by wanting to know the man who abandoned us.” She sniffed. “Then I come face to face with him and he basically tells me to get lost because his other family can’t find out about me. I feel so stupid.”

Cass raked one hand through her hair. With my hand still on top of the other, I could practically feel her agitation.

“I wish you wouldn’t,” I said, sliding my hand beneath hers so I could hold on to it.

“It’s all on me. I shouldn’t have shown up like that. I didn’t think about the trouble it might cause for his family.” Her lips twisted mockingly. “His new one. As much as he ruined our lives, I don’t want to ruin his.”

Giving her hand a little squeeze, I said, “You deserve answers. Henry owes them to you. Don’t feel bad for wanting to confront him.”

Teary eyes locked with mine, and I felt my heart constrict. I recalled once thinking about getting to see the multiple layers of Cassandra Bennet. There I was, getting what I wanted. Underneath her tough-girl exterior was a sweet, funny, and compassionate woman who put the feelings of others above her own.

“Thanks,” she whispered. “I don’t think I’ll be getting those answers though. I appreciate you stepping in and telling Henry you’d arrange a meeting, but I have to go home. I can’t afford to change my flight and stay in a hotel for longer than planned. I got scammed a few times during my search for Henry, but I kept going anyway which drained my bank account.” She rubbed her eyes. “I thought it would be worth it, but I was wrong.”

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