Page 109 of Shadow of Deceit
Ryan was right. These were her friends now. Well, maybe Eddie wasn’t a friend as he was a client, but they’d formed a special bond. He was far from a docile teen, but after forensics pointed to Pope, he confessed, and Eddie was released. He’d opened up and was working to change.
Just like she was.
Mia leaned closer to Ryan and tipped her head at Eddie. “We did good with that one.”
“We did, didn’t we?” He winked at her. “And this is just the beginning. There’ll be a lot more success stories in the year to come.” He met and held her gaze. “And longer if I have my way.”
Her heart rate kicked up. She loved this man. She hadn’t admitted that to him, but she would soon find the courage to tell him he was the perfect man for her. He’d proven she could trust him.
Not only that, but his compassion and skills as a counselor translated into his relationships. He didn’t let her get away with hiding from things she feared. And his smile, the one causing her stomach to flip-flop right now, was oh so sweet. She tuned everyone else out and returned a smile that she hoped conveyed her heart’s desire.
“Mia.” Gladys tugged on her arm and bent down to whisper, “I think it’s time you went somewhere private and told him how you feel.”
Instead of irritating Mia, Gladys had read her mind. Eyes locked on a flushed Ryan, Mia hastily made their excuses, and they ran to his truck together. Not wanting to talk and break the mood, Mia clutched his hand for the ride to the lodge.
As they approached the building, her heart fell. “Someone’s here.”
Ryan pulled the truck to a stop next to a large black SUV and turned to face her. His adoring eyes locked with hers. “I didn’t want to tell you about this surprise earlier because I thought it would keep you from enjoying the party.”
What in the world did he have planned?
“That sounds ominous,” she said, staring at the vehicle.
He laughed. “Not at all. When I heard your dad and David turned down the invitation to come to the party, I went to see them.”
“But you had—”
He held up his hand. “Wait before you say anything else. You know I want you to be happy living here. I don’t think you could ever really settle down here unless you reconciled with your family. So I talked to them. They didn’t come to the party because they wanted to meet with you in private.”
She looked through the window and contemplated an escape. What if she went inside and they turned away from her again? What if nothing had changed? For the second time that afternoon, she wanted to run. But what good would that do?
Her throat dry, she swallowed hard and opened her door. “Will you go in with me?”
“You know I will.” He got out and escorted her up the steps and to the large porch.
She prayed for strength until she stepped across the threshold and stopped. Perched on the long mantel was a large portrait of her mother that used to hang above their fireplace at home. As if in a dream, Mia entered the family room and searched the space, taking in her mother’s special items scattered throughout the room.
David stepped forward. “We thought you’d like to have these things from Wally’s storage unit.”
Tears threatened. “Thank you.”
“Mia.” Her father crossed the room and stood in front of her. He clutched his hands together. “I was wrong to try to erase the memory of your mother. The pain of her loss was,” his voice caught, “isstill almost too much to bear. I pushed you away when I should have reached out. Can you forgive me and give me another chance?”
Wow.The moment she’d waited years for had come. What did she do? She stared into the warm, loving eyes of a father whose gaze had only registered coldness for sixteen years. Sixteen long years of pain.
She couldn’t fall into his arms as if nothing happened. No way. But her renewed faith allowed her to forgive him and give him another chance. “You’re forgiven, and I’d like it if we got to know each other.”
His shoulders sagged, and he held out his hand. “How about we start by looking at your mom’s things together?”
Mia accepted her father’s hand. David joined them at the counter where her mother’s jewelry box sat open. Treasures Mia had played with as a child lay in the blue velvet-lined box, and her heart creased at the pain of loss.
She picked up the first item and fingered it. “Her pearls. She let me wear them for dress up.”
“She inherited them from her mother. They were her favorite thing to wear.” Her dad took the strand from her hand and put them around her neck. “She wore them for every special occasion, and this is a very special occasion.”
She looked up at him. At his happiness. Felt it in her heart, with just a hint of reserve lingering.
Help me let the last of my pain go.
