Page 44 of Landry
His father started to speak, but she shook her head. "I was involved with him when we were very young."
"What?" A frown touched Landry's brow as he stared at her.
"I met him first. He was the one who introduced me to your dad."
Landry rose from his chair slowly, a look of blank shock on his face. "You... he... you were involved with Massey?" Before she could respond, he swung his gaze to his father. "You took her away from him?"
For the first time in his life, Landry saw a flush staining his father's face.
"It wasn't like that. I-"
"Joel and I were not-" Jessica cleared her throat and shifted on the sofa. "We were not intimate. I liked him well enough, but I wasn't attracted."
"I bet he thought differently." Landry sat back down, his movements mechanical. "Let me guess, father had the money."
"Don't you dare speak to your mother like that!" his father snapped.
He kept his eyes trained on the woman who refused to meet his gaze. "Isn't that true, Mother?"
"I love your father."
"Plus he had the money." Landry felt the weariness pulling at him. "How did he take it?"
"Not well," Lincoln clipped. "He stopped talking to us for a number of years."
"Then he came back around," Landry surmised. "Why?"
"When you were born, he showed up a few months later and was quite taken with you. He said he was willing to let bygones be bygones and he stuck around, even after Kathy was born."
Understanding dawned and had Landry's eyes popping wide. "He was always saying to me that he thinks of me as a son. Christ Jesus! It's not for the money, is it? He thinks you both robbed him of his children. He was always giving us expensive gifts and spending time with Kathy and me."
Leaning his head back, he closed his eyes briefly. "He wants what he thinks belongs to him." Sitting upright, he gave them a contemptuous glance. "You started something all those years ago, Mother. He's out for revenge."
She started to deny it, but stopped, her expression one of defeat. "I was young and foolish. He was always lavishing attention on me, and I suppose I played with his emotions. Led him on."
"And then dumped him for a richer man."
"Don't!"
To his surprise, his father walked over to the sofa and sat next to his mother, reaching for her hand. "I will not allow you to speak to her like that. She's still your mother."
Jessica turned to him with a vulnerable smile. Landry felt a jolt as he stared at them. He had never seen them like this before. He was beginning to think they really loved each other in their own way.
"What now?" he asked tightly.
"Now we double up on our efforts to find him."
"And then what?"
His father shrugged. "Then we take action."
***
"You're awfully quiet. What's wrong?"
Forcing a smile to his lips, he reached over to trail a finger down her cheek. He had called and told her that he would be cutting out early and had instructed his housekeeper to keep supper warm for them. The meal was finished and they were sitting out on the balcony.
"Just thinking that I love this, us together. Any thoughts on what I asked the other day?"
