Page 82 of The Summer that Changed Everything
“Because I’m not sure the police got it right.”
“They had DNA evidence, Ford!”
“That doesn’t amount to what they think it does.”
“As Chief Claxton just pointed out to me, the juries who heard all the evidence apparently thought so.”
“Because McBride didn’t have a decent attorney. The CA had full sway.”
“Whether they got it right or wrong doesn’t matter. It’s none of our business! This is nothing we should be wasting our resources on!”
He’d been the one to bring added value to Wagner Business Solutions. Because he’d been willing to spend more on research and development than his highly conservative father, and he’d done it at a critical time—well before his father died—the business was more profitable than ever. He’d made them all a lot of money. But he wasn’t paying the investigator through the business, anyway. Now he was glad, because she had no right to question him on it. “Ourresources? This is a personal expense, which I’m paying from my own pocket, Mom.”
She fell silent.
“Is there anything else?” he asked.
“I’m just jittery, what with Paris and her two brats trying to claw away everything that should be mine and Houston’s and yours.”
“Coastal Comfort is part of the estate. They will get their fair share when we sell it whether we like it or not.”
“What your father did—”
“Mom, I don’t want to talk about that anymore.”
“Fine. What about Christina?”
“What about her?” he asked.
“She called here the other day. Said she was sorry for her past behavior and wanted me to be part of the baby’s life. And that means so much. I was afraid... I was afraid she’d make things difficult the way she tends to do.”
“She will,” he said flatly. “The best indicator of future behavior is past behavior. She hasn’t changed overnight, you know.”
He could feel his mother’s surprise.
“She apologized—” she repeated, but he cut her off.
“Because she’s trying to get me back.”
“She is?”
“She’s never heard the wordnoin her life and doesn’t like hearing it now.”
“Are you considering trying to make the marriage work?”
He blew out a sigh as he raked his fingers through his hair. “I don’t see that I have any choice. Even if I only last a few years, it’ll put me in a much better place when it comes to my parental rights.”
“You’d essentially be doing it for the sake of your child.”
“That’s theonlyreason I’d do it.”
Silence. Then she said, “Maybe that would be best for everyone.”
“How can you say that? You hate Christina,” he reminded her.
“Maybe so. But I’m going to love my grandchild, and like you, I’m willing to make concessions for the sake of the baby.”
Not to mention that if he got back with Christina, he couldn’t be with Lucy, who Sara felt was beneath him. She didn’t want him to be connected, even remotely, to Mick McBride. That Chief Claxton had called her only gave her more reason to support a reconciliation.
