Dark Legacy by Jen Talty (reading books for 4 year olds .txt) 📗

on his shoulder. “Do you know she lives farther away than my mom?”

“I do.”

“Oh, thank God you’re okay.” Annette raced around to the other side of the bed and hugged them both. “I was so worried about the two of you.”

“You didn’t have to drive all the way up here,” Shannon said.

“Of course, I did.” She kissed Shannon’s forehead and then Jackson’s cheek. “Now, I’ll leave the two of you to continue your little kissy-kissy.”

Jackson laughed. “No reason for you to leave,” he said. “I think Shannon and I will have plenty of time for that later.”

Chapter Twelve

Shannon set her foot on the pillow. So much had happened in the last twenty-four hours, she wasn’t sure her head was on straight, and seeing her mother wouldn’t be easy.

“There, now. That should help,” Annette said. “Can I get you anything else?”

“My mom is going to freak when she sees you here.”

“I can leave if you want me to.”

Shannon shook her head. “If I can face down Alex, I can do this.”

The sound of Jackson’s feet stomping down the stairs made Shannon’s heart swell.

She smiled.

“How’s the patient?” he asked before bending over and giving her a kiss that should have been done in private—but who was she to complain?

“Better now,” she said.

“What’s the ETA on your mom?”

“About twenty,” Annette said. “Are you going to stay?”

“If Shannon wants me to, of course.”

“I could use all the moral support I can get. I mean, I am the morning news, and my mother didn’t sound too happy that our skeletons fell out of the closet, to quote her.”

“Too bad,” Jackson said. “Besides, all a story like this does is help other people.”

“Agreed.” Annette folded her arms as she glanced out the window. “She’s early.”

Shannon adjusted her bangs and smoothed the front of her slacks. She told herself that, no matter what happened, she would be kind to her mother, but she’d realign her boundaries, depending on what came out of her mouth.

Annette opened the door. “Melinda, it’s good to see you.”

“I can’t say the same,” Melinda said. “Why are you here?”

“I asked her to come.” Shannon waved her mother inside.

Melinda set her purse on the coffee table and glanced at Jackson. “I didn’t realize we were having a little party. I was hoping to talk to you in private.”

“I hoped you’d show more concern for my well-being.” Shannon couldn’t expect her mother to change her stripes in one day. And maybe she never would.

And that would have to be okay.

Melinda sat on the edge of the sofa, resting her hand on Shannon’s leg. “I’ve been worried sick about you all night.” She swiped at her cheeks. “This isn’t easy for us. I wasn’t even married to your father when…when…you got pregnant.”

“But you knew. And you’re my mother and did nothing.”

Melinda gasped. “That’s not true. I had no idea your father was into any of that stuff, and I have a hard time believing everything being reported now. Your dad might have cheated, but he wasn’t a monster.” She raised her chin. “If Alex hurt you when you were young, I’m sorry.”

“If? Mother, he raped me. As did many of Daddy’s friends. And if you’re not going—”

“I’m not going to have this conversation with her,”—she looked at Annette—“or him,”—a glare at Jackson—“in the room,” her mother said quietly.

“Then we’re not going to have it at all.” For the first time in Shannon’s life, she felt strong enough to do what she’d always thought was impossible. “I love you, Mom. I really do. But if you can’t acknowledge what happened to me, what you know deep down in your heart of hearts, then please leave.”

“You had me drive all the way here just to humiliate me? It’s bad enough you can’t go to your fitting for your sister’s wedding. Why are you so selfish?” Melinda stared at her with blank eyes.

“I think this discussion is over,” Jackson said. “Your daughter said it was time to go, so I’d appreciate it if you honored her wishes.”

“And who are you to my daughter?” Melinda stood with a scowl.

“The man who loves her and is willing to stand by her, no matter what. That’s who.” He pointed toward the door.

“If you ever want to really talk about what happened when I was a kid, Mom, I’m always willing. We could even go to therapy together. I don’t want to shut you out, but if this is how it’s going to be, then our relationship will be confined to family gatherings when my sisters have me over.”

“This is your doing, not mine.” Melinda, as graceful as ever, took her purse and left.

“You are an amazing woman. I wouldn’t have been so kind.” Annette closed the door.

“I’m with her on this one.”

Shannon wiped the tears that she couldn’t hold back. “I gave her a chance. The rest is up to her.”

Jackson lifted her feet, making himself comfortable at the end of the sofa, then resting her legs on his thighs. “Annette, could you give us a few minutes?”

“Absolutely. I need to call my husband anyway.” Annette stepped outside.

“What’s going on? You look so serious.” Shannon didn’t like when Jackson rubbed his temple.

“I wanted to talk to you about your daughter.”

Shannon’s heart jumped to her throat. “You found her?”

“I think you should put your name in the registry and let her decide if she wants to meet you or not.”

“You really did find her, didn’t you?”

He nodded.

“And?”

“I only know where she is. With everything that’s happened, I got sidetracked with making sure you didn’t die.”

Shannon clutched her pendant. “Why do you, of all people, want me to do that?”

“Because I know you. And I know you’d want it to be her call. But if you don’t give her the option, she’ll have a hard time finding you and might not go to the lengths I did to find her.” He pulled out his cell. “I have some information about her if you want it.”

She nodded. “I do. Please, tell me about