The Good Girl's Second Chance (The Bravos Of Justice Creek 2) by Christine Rimmer Page B

actually seemed worried. Was it possible she’d finally realized she’d gone too far? She said, more softly than before, with a hint of appeasement, “It’s only that I don’t want you to throw your life away. It’s only that you’re special. You deserve the best life has to offer. I want that for you. I want
everything
for you.”
    “I really do want you to go now.” Chloe gentled her tone, but didn’t waver. “Please.”
    Linda didn’t get up. She only talked faster. “Oh, sweetheart. I know. I understand. You had it all. And you threw it away. But the good news is, if you’ll only make a little effort, you and Ted can work through this rough patch and—”
    Chloe put up a hand. “Get back with Ted? You can’t be serious. I don’t believe you, Mother. How many times have I told you I never want to hear his name? How many times have I told you that he hit me and he cheated on me and there is no going back from that? I don’t
want
to go back. All I want is never to have to look in his evil, lying face again.”
    “You’re overwrought.”
    “Oh, you bet I am.” She stepped back and pointed at the door. “Please leave my house. Now.”
    Finally, her mother stood—and kept on talking. “Can’t you see? That new wife of his? She’s a pale imitation. She can’t hold a candle to you. Ted realizes that now. And you know that you’re exaggerating about his behavior, making a big drama out of a little marital spat or two.”
    “Wait.” Chloe really, truly could not believe her ears. “What did you say?”
    “I said, you’re making a big drama of—”
    “‘He
realizes
that now’? How could you know what Ted Davies realizes?”
    “Well, sweetheart, now listen. You really need to settle down, so that we can speak of this reasonably.”
    “Reasonably?” Chloe echoed in a near whisper. The awful truth had hit her like a boot to the head. Her ears were ringing. “You’ve been in touch with him, haven’t you? You’ve been
encouraging
him.”
    Linda got right to work blowing her off. “Well, I... You know I only want what’s best for you and I—”
    “You’ve given him my address, haven’t you?”
    “Oh, don’t be foolish. It’s not as if you’re in hiding.”
    “So you did give him my address.”
    Linda just wouldn’t give it up and answer the question. She let out a low sound of complete disdain. “Don’t make such an issue of it. Anyone could find out where you live with a minimum of effort.”
    “But Ted didn’t have to make
any
effort, right? Because you’ll tell him whatever he wants to know.” She grabbed her mother’s arm. “That does it. You’re leaving.”
    Linda squealed. “What are you doing?” She slapped at Chloe. “Let go of me. You’re
hurting
me...” The tears started then.
    Chloe ignored them. She pulled her mother to the door, yanked it open and shoved her over the threshold.
    Linda sobbed, “How can you do this to me? You’re breaking my heart.”
    Chloe’s answer was to firmly shut the door in her face.

Chapter Seven
    T hat night, it took Quinn an extra half hour to chase off all the monsters and get Annabelle settled in bed. He performed his monster-removing duties happily. Partly because he was a total pushover for his little girl. And partly because he knew she needed the extra attention on her first night in her temporary bedroom in the log house across the street from Chloe.
    After Annabelle finally went to sleep, he and Manny took beers out to the back deck, where they touched base on the usual household stuff, finances and the move.
    They were just wrapping up when his cell chimed. A text. From Chloe. The first, he realized, that he’d ever gotten from her.
    That made him smile—initially. And then he had to deal with the words in the little conversation bubble. At least it was only one sentence: Can you come over now?
    Unease curled through him. Something in the starkness of the question didn’t sit right. Chloe was generally so gracious