Jilted (16 page)

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Well, besides a crazy day at work, my son just asked me about his father.”

“Which one?”

“Tristan.”

“Aww, yes. Well you know how sensitive he is, honey.” Even though Tristan was the more boisterous between him and his siblings and often too the lead, it was more so because the other two let him. Harper to some extent was the most deferent to her brothers’ needs because out of the three Tristan was the most likely to have his feelings hurt if something didn’t go his way.

“He is. It took me by surprise that he asked about his father.”

“Honey, you knew this day would come.”

“True. I just didn’t expect any of the kids to ask about their father so soon.”

“Children are smart. They’re like little sponges that absorb everything around them. I’m sure they notice other kids at their school getting dropped off and picked up by their fathers, not to mention the cartoons they watch and the books you read to them. They were bound to notice something was missing in their lives. When you were a little girl, you asked about your father, remember?”

“Yes, I remember.” Priscilla had met her father when she was 16. Raised in a strict Pentecostal household, she hadn’t been allowed to wears pants or talk to boys outside of church, and even then it had to be under watchful eye of her parents.

So when Priscilla had met Craig Jackson, a 19 year old who sometimes visited her church, she was smitten. Skylar had heard the full story when she was a teenager and had committed it to memory. According to her mother, Priscilla would sneak out at night to meet Craig. She was completely and totally in love, having never had much experience with boys. Craig had ended up taking Priscilla’s virginity but when he found out she was pregnant he broke up with her, leaving Priscilla no choice but to turned to her parents for help.

Mr. and Mrs. Brown, however, were more concerned about what their congregation at church would say rather than their teenage daughter and kicked her out. Homeless and pregnant, Priscilla had lived in and out of shelters while she finished high school. Right before Skylar was born; Craig had a change of heart and decided that he wanted to take care of his family. He had a place of his own and had moved Priscilla into it. Little did Priscilla know, Craig made his money by selling drugs.

He was sent away to prison on drug and gun possession charges. He’d gotten out briefly but was then locked up again for armed robbery. He was still there from her understanding. Skylar had never met her father, and part of her grew up longing for that male role model in her life. Izzy’s father had filled that void for the short time that he and her mother were together but he was tragically struck down by a hit and run driver on the way home from work.

The last thing Skylar ever wanted for herself was to be a single mother. She hated the prospect of her children growing up without a father and wondering why he wasn’t in their lives. Yet here she was in that exact predicament. She should have punched Ashley in his face when she had the chance.

“When I told you he was in prison you wanted me to take you. But I didn’t think that was a good environment for a child to be in. You didn’t talk to me for days. I tortured myself wondering if I made the right decision.”

“Mom, don’t beat yourself up over that, now that I’m a mom, I understand where you were coming from. I would have done the same thing. And trust me, I could have easily looked my father up and gone to visit him when I was old enough to do it myself but I never did.”

“I always wondered why you didn’t,” Priscilla mused.

“I just thought it was best to leave well enough alone. Yes, I’m sure I’ll always have questions and maybe one day I’ll eventually go see him. Or if he ever gets out I may look him up. But for now, there’s just way too much going on in my life for any more disruptions. Seeing Ashley again is all the drama I need in my life right now.” She’d told her mom about her run in with her ex, leaving out the part about the bathroom confrontation.

“I’m sure Tristan’s question must have hit you hard coming on the tail end of you seeing Ashley again. I didn’t get to ask when you told me because at the time what you needed was for someone to listen to you, but are you going to be okay?”

Skylar released a heavy sigh. “I guess so. Seeing him again brought all those old feelings back.”

Priscilla pulled away to give her a questioning look. “Excuse me?”

“What I meant was it brought back the pain of what he did to me. I could never do to another human being what he did to me.”

“He probably got that nasty side of him from his Mama. That bitch is rude as hell.”

“Mom!” It was rare when her mother uttered a bad word so it was always surprising when one slipped out of her mouth.

“What? She was. When we were planning the wedding that wench was a nightmare. You don’t know how hard it was for me not to rip her hair right from the roots. Uh. If I ever see that woman again it will be too soon. I suppose if you look on the bright side of things, you don’t have her for a mother-in-law.”

For the first time that day, a genuine smile crossed her lips. “You can say that again. She would have been my nightmare-in-law.”

Skylar and her mother looked at each other and burst into spontaneous laughter which was broken up by the startling sound of the doorbell.

Priscilla frowned. “Are you expecting company?”

“No. It’s probably Izzy. She’s always forgetting her keys.”

“I don’t think so. She said she was going out to a new club with her friends tonight. Usually when she stays out late she spends the night over a girlfriend’s.”

“Hmm. I’ll go check.”

The doorbell rang again before Skylar could get to it. Whoever it was, they were certainly persistent. When she looked through the peephole she stepped away from the door like it had caught on fire. “Go away,” she whispered more to herself than anyone else.

He pressed the doorbell again and then banged on the door. “I know you’re in there!”

Priscilla came into the hallway. “What’s going on? Why haven’t you answered the door, Skylar?”

Skylar began to shake. “It’s him. It’s Ashley.”

Chapter Thirteen

Ashley pounded on the door. He heard movement and the sound of muffled voices. He knew Skylar was home because he recognized the car Skylar had driven off in parked in the driveway. There was another vehicle next to it indicating she had company, probably a man. The other car in question was a late model SUV so he doubted it belonged to Jeremy. He could see she was up to her old ways.

“Open the goddamn door,” He roared, not caring if he drew the attention of her neighbors. He refused to be turned away. He wasn’t sure what it was about this woman that she could make him lose his temper like this. It would have been easier just to go about his life and not see her again for at least another five years but he simply couldn’t let it go.

He was about to ring the bell again when the door was suddenly snatched open. Instead of facing Skylar, he was confronted by a slightly older version of her. And she didn’t look very happy to see him.

“What the hell is your problem? Who do you think you are coming to my house ringing the bell and banging on my damn door like a jackass! If you don’t take your ass off my doorstep, I will call the police.”

Ashley was so wound up and prepared to face off with Skylar that he wasn’t expecting her mother. It took the wind out of his sails because he was at a loss for words. Despite what Skylar had done to him, he’d had a good relationship with her mother who’d always been warm and welcoming. In fact he used to envy Skylar for having such a warm and obviously good-hearted mother, unlike his own whose main concern was herself.

But now that he was here, there was no going back now. He knew Skylar was here. “I need to speak with Skylar. Please.”

Priscilla Brown’s expression went from angry to incredulous. “Didn’t you just hear me? Leave my house. You are not welcome here and after that stunt you pulled you’re lucky I don’t get my baseball bat and take out your kneecaps.”

“I like my knees the way they are so I would rather you didn’t. I apologize for causing a disturbance. I didn’t realize you were here as well.”

“So, if I didn’t live here as well you mean to tell me you would have showed up at my daughter’s home demanding she let you in? Aren’t you a lawyer? Don’t you think your bar association would frown on this kind of behavior? I’m sure it would be hard to maintain your license if you had a criminal record.”

When put like that, he did sound like an absolute lunatic. Ever since he’d run into Skylar again everything seemed to be going crazy in his life. He couldn’t concentrate at work, and the last time he was in court he’d lost control of his temper and nearly found himself in contempt. Colleen and, Owen were still acting out, and his mother blamed him for it all.

He raked his fingers through his hair in frustration. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have come here like this, but it’s very important that I speak with Skylar. Is she home?” he asked even though he already knew the answer.

“You have a large sense of entitlement, Ashley. What makes you think you have a right to talk to my daughter? From the way it sounded to me, you were coming here to cause some drama. She doesn’t need that. You’ve put her through enough.”

As much as Ashley respected this woman she was making him sound like the villain here and that Skylar was innocent of any wrongdoing. Granted, he understood that most parents would stick up for their children, but this was ridiculous. “I wouldn’t be here if your daughter would have met with me when I came by her office.”

Priscilla shrugged. “It sounds a lot like stalking to me.”

A retort was on the tip of his tongue when the woman of topic herself joined them by the doorway. Skylar was wearing a pair of baggy gray sweats and an oversized t-shirt. She clearly wasn’t wearing a bra because he could see the outline of her breasts through her top. Heat spread throughout his body and his cock stirred at the sight of her. Even with this casual get-up and her face bare of makeup, she did something to him and he hated it.

Ashley schooled his features, hoping he gave nothing away. “Skylar.”

“Ashley, what are you doing here? I would have thought you’d get the hint when I left the office without seeing you.”

“As you already know, I rarely take no for an answer. I need to speak with you.”

“What could you possibly have to say to me that wasn’t said five years ago? You wanted nothing to do with me, remember? Yet here you are, in my house, demanding that I listen to whatever bullshit you have to tell me.”

He grinded his teeth in frustration. “What I have to say is brief.”

“Didn’t you hear my daughter? She doesn’t want to talk to you,” Priscilla chimed in.

“Mom, I’ll talk to him. Go back in the living room. I’ll join you shortly.”

Priscilla looked at her daughter in surprise. “Are you sure, honey? I can go get my baseball bat if you need it.”

Skylar smiled at her mom. “It’s okay. I can handle him without committing assault…I think.”

“Okay, I’ll be in the living room.” She then glared at Ashley. “If you try anything, I swear to God, you’re going to be seeing the business end of a Louisville Slugger,” Priscilla threatened before turning to Skylar.

“I got this, Mom.”

“Okay, baby. Holler if you need me.” Priscilla walked off slowly, throwing a glare in Ashley’s direction.

Skylar nodded. “Will do.” Then she returned her attention to Ashley. “What do you want?”

“Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

“Considering I never asked you to be here in the first place the answer is no.”

“What I have to say won’t take long and it’s a bit chilly out here.”

“Considering you’re cold-blooded I didn’t know cool weather affected you.”

“Skylar.”

She let out a heavy breath. “Fine, come in but we’ll stay out here in the hallway.” She opened the door just enough to let him in.

Ashley didn’t know what possessed him to do it, but he brushed up against her.

She jumped away from him as if she’d been burned.

Skylar leaned against the wall with a sigh. “Whatever scathing thing you have to say to me go ahead and get it over with. I’ve had a long enough day as it is.”

Before he’d come over, Ashley had gone over what he’d say to her in his head. But now seeing her look so small, shoulders hunched and bags under her eyes, the words were stuck in his throat.

When he didn’t speak, Skylar rolled her eyes. “Surely you’re not going to just stand there after the big production you made.”

And then he remembered. This vulnerable act of hers was just that. An act. She’d fooled him before but not again. “Nice house. I thought someone like you would do better for herself by now instead of living with their mother. I’m surprised you haven’t latched on to another wealthy benefactor. Oh yeah, that’s right you have. But you chose the wrong one again, Skylar. Jeremy is off limits. I warned you what would happen to you if you didn’t stop seeing him but according to him, it doesn’t sound like you listened.”

She let out a frustrated groan. “This again?”

“Yes, this again. He seems to believe your version of the way things happened.”

“My version of what? Of how you humiliated me on our wedding day? Broke my heart? Made me not want to live after what you did?”

Now it was Ashley’s turn to roll his eyes. “Dramatic much? You’re the one who made a fool of me. The role of victim doesn’t look good on you, Skylar.”

“You know what Ashley? Fuck you. You’re coming to my house making threats? Then do your worse. There’s nothing you can do to me that’s nearly as bad as what you’ve already done.”

“What I’ve done? You’re the one who couldn’t keep her legs closed long enough to say your vows.”