“Why should I believe any of this bullshit?”
“The worst thing I ever did was let her go, not because I wanted her, but because it left Apollo without a mother. I should have tried harder to get her to stay for him, but she wouldn’t bend. All she said was she wanted a check and the title to her car.” I shake my head. “I didn’t know what else to do, so I gave it to her.”
“You’re lying.” His brows furrow, and he’s fighting to hear the truth.
“What do I stand to gain by lying?” My question causes him to pause. Reaching down to the briefcase on the floor beside me, I pull out a file with the documents inside. “You don’t know me, so I can’t expect you to take my word for it. I don’t know if I’d believe me if I was in your position, but it’s the truth.”
I place the file in front of him, and he hesitates for a moment before curiosity gets the better of him. Slowly he scans the document and then looks up at me through his lashes before he goes back and turns the page. For a long time there’s only silence between us as he flips the pages. Once he reads the last page, he snaps the file shut and leans back in his chair. His eyes are red at the edges as he looks out over the water.
Part of the reason I chose this table is because it’s private and because it’s peaceful. I knew that if Shy wanted to walk out of here, he could easily get up and leave without causing a scene. But if he wanted to stay, this would give him the space to do so without forcing conversation. He’s quiet for so long, but eventually he looks at me.
“Why would she lie to me?”
“I can’t answer that, but I can make assumptions.” I nod at the file lying between us. “My legal team reached out to her every year until Apollo was eighteen. Every year she refused to see him. I didn’t have any contact with her, and I asked that I not be informed on where she was or what she was doing. Just that my attorney would offer her the ability to be in his life if she changed her mind.” I pause as I wait for his eyes to meet mine. “She never did.”
“My aunt raised me from a baby,” he admits as he looks out on the water again. “I only saw my mom a handful of times, but she always said she couldn’t stay in Craven Cove because of you.” He turns to face me and his eyes are red again. “Because of the Crews.”
“I gave her the money she asked for, and she didn’t come back.” I lean forward again and give him a sympathetic smile. “From what I learned, your birthday is ten months after Apollo.”
His jaw tightens, and I realize this isn’t news to him.
“You knew that Apollo was your half-brother all this time?”
He nods sharply but doesn’t meet my eyes.
“How alone you must have felt.”
“I don’t need your pity,” he snaps.
“It’s not pity. You seem to have done well for yourself. You’re captain of the swim team and have a full ride next year.”
“What’s your point?”
“I’m sad that all this time I never got to know you.” This sentence might surprise him the most as he looks at me with wide eyes. “No matter what your mother did, you’re part of my family.”
“I don’t need any more family.” He pushes his chair back and stands abruptly. “Listen—”
“You don’t have to say anything,” I cut him off, not ready to end this conversation, but knowing it has to stop for now. “My number is in the file, and that’s yours to keep. You can call me anytime.” I want to tell him that if he needs anything I can help, but it feels like that might be insulting him and pushing things too far.
His jaw ticks once more before he gently picks up the folder like it might burn him. “Thank you,” he says quietly, and I stand.
Holding out my hand, I wait until he eventually puts his hand in mine. “Shy,” I say softly and we’re almost eye to eye. “I won’t say a word to anyone about this, okay? Your secrets are not mine to tell.”
He lets out a breath and nods as he turns to leave the restaurant.
I watch him leave, and my heart aches to go after him, to put my arms around him and tell him it will be all right. Maybe one day I can, but that’s not today. The kind of truth he’s just received is a heavy rock to swallow.
“Did you get all that?” I ask as I turn around.
“Yes,” Anna says as she wipes the tears from her eyes.
Without speaking, I pull her into my arms and close my eyes. It’s awful seeing a child being hurt by their parent’s actions and not being able to do anything for them.
We made a plan the other night, and this was step one. I wanted to lay all the cards out on the table for Shy before we went after Heather. Even now I don’t know what she’s capable of, as if hurting her child to get back at me wasn’t low enough.
Once Anna has stopped crying, I take her by the hand and we exit The Blue Marlin.
Now it’s time for the second part of our plan.
Chapter Fifteen
Rory
The party on the yacht is being thrown by one of the prominent families in Craven Cove. It’s a benefit for the school and their art department, so the turnout will probably be quite large. Good thing the yacht is the biggest in the marina.
Turning to Anna, I kiss the back of her hand, and she nods at me. “I’ll see you soon,” I say as I let her go. The plan is to arrive separately tonight, so I’m giving her extra time to board the boat. After enough time has passed, I begin the long walk down the dock and to the waiting yacht.
I’m greeted by the staff and crew and welcomed aboard. Once inside, I take a glass of champagne off a waiting tray and circle to the back. In the distance, I see my Anna, looking beautiful in an emerald-green gown that’s practically glowing in the moonlight. Then I look beside her, and there’s Heather.
It’s been over eighteen years since I’ve seen her, and I still feel nothing when looking at her. Well, I guess now there’s anger and hurt because of what she’s done to Shy. At least I was able to protect Apollo from her, but I didn’t know about Shy or I would have done my best to protect him too. How can a mother be so cruel?
When Anna gives me the signal, I begin to walk over. I’m almost by her side before Heather turns and sees me. Slowly I slide my arm around Anna, and she leans into me, a united front against this horrible human that doesn’t deserve the title of mother.
Just as she realizes what’s happening, the boat begins to pull away from the marina. Good, now there’s no place for her to go.
“Good evening, Heather,” I say.
“Rory, hi, um…I, uh, didn’t know you were with Anna.”
“Sure you did.” I tilt my head to the side and wait for the bullshit explanation she’s going to give next.
“I’ll just be going.” She tries to retreat, but we anticipated this. There’s security waiting behind her, and she pauses when she sees them.
“What was your plan, Heather?” Anna asks. “Did you really think you could befriend me and go to the estate? Then what?”
“I think she was planning on getting to Apollo,” I say to Anna and then look up. “Am I close, Heather?”