“And it’s safe?”
“I’d never let anythin’ happen to you, babe,” Hugh answers that question before Riggs can. “In a public place, at an event, you’ll be safe so long as you don’t go anywhere alone. All you have to do is find a way to pass on the small amount of information we need and then we’ll do the rest.”
Seems safe enough.
I nod. “Okay, I’ll do it. I do have one question, if Delilah’s family gets taken down, doesn’t that mean she will, too?”
Hugh’s eyes flash and his shoulders straighten. “I won’t let anything ruin her to the point she can’t take care of Star and get her life in order. I’m not a monster.”
“I never said you were,” I say softly. “I’m just asking a question.”
Hugh takes family protection very seriously. Delilah might not be his family, but she is the mother of his child and because of that, he won’t let anything happen to her. Still, I had to ask, because Delilah in the past few weeks has been good to me and I don’t want to see anything bad happen to her, not just for her sake but mostly for Star. She deserves her mom happy, safe, and stable.
“When is the next event?” Riggs asks, cutting through the tension that just suddenly exploded in the room.
“This weekend,” I answer. “They’re having a big luncheon for some charity event they’re using to cover their disgusting, lying asses.”
“Clever fucks,” Hank mutters.
“Indeed.” Riggs nods. “Okay, we’ll get the information to you before then. Appreciate it, Maggie.”
I nod, and they leave Hugh and me alone in the room.
I walk over to him, reaching up to cup his face in my hands. “I didn’t mean any offense, I really didn’t.”
“Know that, just wound up. Things are tense at the moment with all of this crap and knowing my daughter could get tangled up in it makes me fuckin’ sick.”
“Nothing will happen to Star, I’ll make sure of it.”
He looks down at me. “The way you love her makes me fuckin’ love you even more.”
Sweet Jesus.
Why did he say that?
Why did he have to go ahead and say that?
It feels like someone has punched me in the heart, I can’t even breathe.
I don’t want Hugh to love me.
I don’t want to love him.
Even as I think those things, I know I’m lying.
I know how I feel for him.
I know it’s going to crush me.
God dammit.
Why now, universe?
What are you trying to tell me?
18
“You’re letting me pick my own dress,” I say to Delilah as we walk into the store at the mall the day before the big event at the country club.
“Of course, after what I did to you last time, it’s the least I can do. I promised I’d let you be yourself, Maggie and I’m standing by that promise. I’m really trying to change.”
“I can see that, although dressing Star like a store mannequin is probably going a little far.”
Delilah looks at the clothes in her hands, the ones she took off the shelf the second we walked in here, the expensive outfits for Star that are so uncomfortable I don’t know how anyone can pass them off as baby clothes. “They’re so cute, though.”
“They make her look like she belongs on a shelf in the Titanic era.”
Delilah purses her lips. “Really?”
“Yes, really. Why don’t you just get her a really sweet little dress? She’s such a beautiful baby, let her looks make her shine.”
Delilah hesitates, I know she’s built to want to buy these clothes because they’re what feel normal to her, but she listens and places them back.
“Okay, I trust you. What do you think she should wear?”
I grin. “Nothing from this store. Let me take you shopping?”
Delilah looks nervous.
I laugh. “Come on, I swear you’ll look amazing and so will Star. You don’t have to be what they want you to be, you’re allowed to let yourself shine, Delilah. Have you ever actually stopped and asked yourself if you like these clothes, or if they’re just what you know and think you have to wear to match up with everyone else?”
She exhales. “You’re right. Fine, I’ll let you take me shopping but there is no promise I’ll wear it.”
I clap my hands. “This is going to be fun.”
She grumbles something, but she lets me drag her out of the expensive store and we go into the kind of stores I’d like to shop in. I don’t shop in them, because even on my wage they’re too expensive, but if I had the money, I most certainly would. Trendy, sophisticated, and super stylish, these clothes are epic.
I’m sure for her, they’re considered cheap, but for me they’re not and I know I can make her look incredible with what we can find in this shop.
“This place?” she asks when we walk in.
“Oh yes, this place. Trust me.”
I go around the shop as she stands with Star in her stroller, watching me. She looks uncomfortable and horrified, but she lets me do what I need and when I’ve picked an outfit, I hand it to her. For a minute, she stares at what I’ve chosen and then looks back up at me, nose scrunched. “Just try it,” I say. “I promise, once it’s on, you’re going to be shocked. Please?”
She exhales, and then takes the clothes and walks into the change rooms.
About five minutes later, she opens the door and steps out, her face slightly shocked.
She looks incredible. She’s beautiful in every single way it counts, gorgeous and fresh, her delicate features outstanding to anyone looking at her. This outfit only defines that. I’ve picked her a gorgeous flowy skirt that comes up around her waist and is paired with a simple but pretty tank and a waist belt. The shoes are closed in, not the sort you’d usually pick to go with a skirt, but my word, does she look trendy.
“I hate to say it, because I stared at this outfit for a good minute wondering how I was going to tell you that I would never put these on, but ... I look good.”
I laugh. “Of course you look good, you’re gorgeous and that outfit really brings out a personality you’ve long since hidden.”
“I mean ...” She runs her hands down her body. “I kind of look like I belong at some gorgeous outdoor concert, with a big hat, sunglasses, a drink in hand, laughing freely as I sway to the music. But, I actually like it. It makes me feel ...”
“Like yourself?”
She nods, almost as if this is the first time she has actually met the real Delilah.
“All the ladies are going to lose it if I show up in this. They’re all going to be wearing expensive dresses and heels, their hats so perfectly designed to cover the sun and make them look rich as hell at the same time. If I walk in wearing this ...”
“They’ll carry on, make up stories and wonder what happened, but do you really truly care what they think?”
She exhales. “Sadly, I do.”
“Well, here’s what we’re going to do then. We’re going to get you this outfit, and you’re going to wear it one night when you and I go out but I understand you have to be a certain way for the event, so I’ll let you pick for that, but only if you promise me to pick something that actually stands out to you, not something you think will make everyone else happy. Do we have a deal?”