Damon winced. “Aaaand there’s the little fact that his dad was probably the one who sent the goons to your apartment.”
“What?”
Nodding, Damon confirmed, “His dad is…Well, better if you don’t know. Suffice it to say, he’s got money and power, and he’s determined to keep both by whatever means necessary.”
“Jesus, Damon. But you brought Cain along anyway?”
“I did.” He shrugged. “It seemed like a good idea at the time.”
“Why, for God’s sake? Because you want to get together with him?”
“Not really.” He forced himself to be honest. “Or notentirely.I’m attracted to him, yeah, which is pretty fucked up for all the reasons I just gave you, but more than that I actuallylikehim. He hasn’t done anything wrong, so I have no reason to judge. I mean, none of us is our father, right?”
Chelsea snorted. “That’s true.”
“But I still don’t know if I trust him one hundred percent, even though I know that’s not fair.” He turned to look at the petite blonde woman at his shoulder, who was bundled up in a sweater and carrying a miniature pink sweatshirt for Molly. The sun had sunk low in the sky, and the air was chilly. “But I promise, I won’t let anything happen to you or Molly.”
Chelsea nodded, arms still crossed. “Well, to be honest, I don’t one hundred percent know if I trust you, either, even thoughthat’snot fair.” She sighed. “What I said before was uncalled-for. You didn’t know I existed when I was a kid, and my shitty childhood isn’t your fault. But even though I know that logically, it still doesn’t change the way I feel. Trusting someone who has the potential to hurt you is justhard. Especially when you’ve been screwed over by somebody in the past.” She gave him a look. “Orseveralsomebodies in your past.”
“Exactly. So it makes sense to be cautious.”
“Maybe. I don’t know.” She shook her head and her ponytail swayed. “I don’t know how you’re supposed to make yourself trust someone, but I guess I don’t think it’s fair to just go around treating everyone like a heartbreak waiting to happen, either. Sometimes you have to just trust your gut. Can’t go through life waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
Was that what he was doing? Was this one more way of distancing himself from Cain before Cain could hurt him?
“So, what’s the solution then?”
“Hmm. I think choosing to give someone that chance is probably the first step.” She gave him a wry look. “Which is how I’ve found myself somewhere in fucking Pennsylvania at a place that could be the Bates Motel but apparently serves great breakfast.”
Damon laughed and pulled on a strand of her hair - the same light color his had been, before it had all gone gray. “You’re pretty smart, you know?”
“Next you’ll tell me it’s genetic,” she teased, but then she grew serious. “If I can give you a shot, maybe you can give him one.”
“You’re gonna give me a shot?” he asked, trying not to sound too hopeful. “A chance to be in your life and Molly’s?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I will. I was thinking as I was walking over here that you’re putting yourself out there for me, for Molly, and I can’t let old fears and hurts weigh me down. Otherwise I’m letting all the shit I thought I got through just drag me back. You know?”
Yeah. Yeah, Damon knew exactly.
She took a deep breath, like she was shaking off the weight of their conversation and called up a genuine, warm smile, then stepped forward and clapped her hands. “Hey, Molly-mine! Guess what? The restaurant next door haschicken fingers.”
Molly’s face lit up as she hopped off the picnic bench. “Ilovechicken fingers!”
“I know you do, baby!”
Cain turned around to watch mother and daughter hug, and his eyes snagged on Damon. He looked away.
Damn. Damon had been an ass.
Chelsea picked up the crayons and art supplies, but Molly took a paper on the stack and handed it to Cain instead. “I made this for you. It’s atree.”
“Oh, that’s awesome! But it’s pink!” Cain sounded bemused.
“So?”
“Oh, nothing,” Cain told Molly, backtracking quickly. “No, it’sawesome. I’ve just never seen a pink tree before.”
“It’s a Molly-tree. Molly-trees are pink. Right, Momma?”
