“There are rumors Dad is a dirty lawyer,” Lily interrupted in an even voice. “I’ve heard a few things here and there over the years, but obviously, I didn’t want to believe any of it. But in light of everything I’ve learned since coming here…”
Amy sniffed and withdrew her hands from Liam’s. “You think I was a part of this?”
Lily’s expression fell. “What? No, of course not. I knew you wouldn’t do something like that. To be honest, I’m still having a hard time wrapping my head around it myself, but I can’t deny that it might be true.”
Amy opened and closed her mouth several times.
Over the years, there had been times when she herself had wondered about the exact same thing. All those late-night international phone calls and all of the side looks she got whenever she interrupted. At the time, Amy had tried to dismiss it all as paranoia, the men in Eric’s life being dismissive and cruel like Eric himself.
In her wildest nightmares, she’d never imagined this.
But as she considered Liam and Lily’s words, a few things began to click into place.
All of the connections Eric had, all of those times he’d skirt too close to trouble, and how nervous it made everyone.
And all of the money.
Amy wasn’t a lawyer, but she was sure lawyers weren’t meant to be making the kind of money her husband was.
Like an idiot, she hadn’t thought to question any of it, not wanting to invite any more trouble into her home.
Amy swallowed a few more times, and her voice was hoarse when she spoke. “I’m sorry, but I…I don’t know. If there was anything happening, I wouldn’t have noticed. I was too busy trying to avoid making him angry. I know that’s not an excuse…”
Lily drew Amy in for a hug and lingered. “It’s not your responsibility or your fault. You did what you had to do in order to survive. No one can blame you for that.”
When Liam’s phone rang, slicing through the air, it brought them all back to the present with a jolt. He offered them both an apologetic look and rose to his feet. Then, he pressed the phone to his ear and spoke in low, measured tones as he stepped out into the garden and slid the door shut behind him. As soon as he did, Amy turned to Lily, her heart thudding painfully against her chest.
“It is my fault,” Amy replied, studiously avoiding her stepdaughter’s gaze. “I knew Eric was a cruel and manipulative man, and I should’ve seen the bigger picture.”
“Amy, please—”
Amy swung her gaze back to Lily’s and released a deep breath. “Thank you for trying to make me feel better about all of this and for opening up your home to me. You and the rest of your family have been so kind and generous, but I don’t deserve it. I don’t deserve any of this.”
A furrow appeared between Lily’s brows. “What are you talking about?”
“I should’ve stood up for you more,” Amy said, the words tumbling out of her in a rush. “I did try, but over the years, it got harder and harder to dissuade your father. You know how difficult he can be. That’s not an excuse; I know. You deserved better because you were counting on me to protect you like a mother would—”
“Youdidprotect me like a mother would,” Lily interrupted hotly. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “There were times when it felt like I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole, but you were the one who kept me from falling in. If it weren’t for you, I never would’ve survived.”
Amy shook her head. “It wasn’t enough.”
And she was going to spend the rest of her life trying to make it up to Lily—to prove she was worthy of the second chance her stepdaughter had given her.
Because while she was too busy trying to put one foot in front of the other and keep her head down, Lily had been forced to endure so much.
Far more than any little girl should’ve had to.
“Amy, I don’t blame you for any of it,” Lily whispered, her voice catching toward the end. “I know you did the best you could. The fact that you were there… It meant the whole world to me. You have nothing to make up for.”
Amy searched her stepdaughter’s face, some of the tightness in her chest abating. “Even so, I know I have a lot to make up for, and I’m going to do whatever I can to show you how sorry I am.”
Lily’s eyes still shone with emotion. “I don’t need you to make anything up to me. All I want you to do is be happy. Take some online classes, do yoga, go for walks. Do whatever you want to do to find yourself again. That’s all I want.”
Amy threw her arms around Lily and burst into tears. “Thank you for not giving up on me, Lily. Even when I gave up on myself.”
“It’s what family does. Whatever comes next, we’ll face it together; I promise.”
Chapter Six
