“It’s a girl. And you know how Cam said I brought sunshine back into his life? Lana means sunshine.”

Her chit-chat made me think something was really fucking wrong.

“Tor—”

“I think Cam’s brother might have the hots for Ruby. Wouldn’t that be awesome?”

Finally, I lost my thin patience. “What the fuck!”

“I’m pretty sure Holst freaked on your mom and dad…”

I didn’t let her finish. “I love you for what you did back there, but I gotta go, Tor.”

I ran to the front door of Bear Claw, but a tattooed arm shot out and stopped me.

“Kath,” Frodo said..

“I…I gotta go. I’m sorry, Frodo, but—”

“He’s gone.”

“Gone?”

“He said he needed to clear his head. When you left, you left behind a man who looked as if the smallest thing could force him to detonate. He’s my friend, Katherine.”

“Where is he now?” I asked, but Frodo seemed…not very cooperative since he didn’t answer me. Therefore, I had to yell in his face. “Where in the fuck is he, Frodo?”

And as calm as can be, he asked, “What are your intentions, Katherine?”

“What are my…intentions? Are you fucking insane? My intentions are to live happily-ever-after and get married in a golden dress and make babies and fuck that man until I die doing it! Happy?” I yelled.

But when I yanked my arm free and walked into Bear Claw, I was right back into the drama. And that was when my father, waiting in one of the big chairs, rose and said to me, “We have a few things to discuss, Katherine.”

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t have time for you, you fucking, misogynistic psycho. Where’s Holst?” I dialed his number and put the phone to my ear. When it went to voicemail, I practically screamed into it, “Where are you?”

“You seem to have a proclivity for choosing men who leave you behind, Katherine.”

“Fuck. You. Where is Holst, Dad?”

“Probably as far away from my toxic daughter as possible.”

I put my hands out and said, “Stop.”

I asked Leo, who was standing a few feet from me, “Cover the shop. Call Gloria. She’ll be happy for extra hours. You have everything you need to take care of the banking, and if you run into a problem, ask Frodo first, then call me. Make sure you get the pastry order in early on Friday, or we won’t get enough for the weekend. We’re getting busier, so better to do a bigger order. And Dad…” I turned back to him. “Get the fuck out of here. You have no hold over me, my finances, or what I do with my fucking life. You’re an abusive asshole bully. Sorry, ladies,” I said to a woman and her friend who were seated in the corner. “Family.” I shrugged.

They both gave me understanding nods and inconspicuously went back to their lattes.

“Dad, I’m going now. If I find you here again, I’ll call the police and have you removed. They like me. I flashed my tits for the department to show my appreciation for their stellar community service at a parade two years ago, and they haven’t forgotten me. They won’t like a man who, not one hour ago, slapped his wife in front of witnesses, and I might also have to tell them your second-in-command has a habit of fucking underage teens. You come back after that, I’ll file a restraining order. And Dad?  Mom’s a beautiful woman. I hope she leaves you for a younger man who doesn’t need a pill to get his dick up.”

I grabbed my purse from under the counter and asked Leo quietly, “Do you know where he is?”

He shook his head. “Sorry, babe.”

Then the first pang of fear hit me when I realized he might not understand. He might not get why I walked out that door.

I only had one thing left to say to my dad.

“I was fourteen. The night he had me, he lit candles and poured us red wine, which I don’t drink to this day because of the association. He said I was a woman, his woman, wise beyond my years. He told me I was beautiful, that I’d be his forever. And then he was gone. He broke me, and Holst put me back together again. And you can spin this any way you want, but I was underage. He knew better, and you’re taking the side of my abuser. Never, ever contact me again. Not when you’re old and feeling guilty and regretful, because I will never forgive you. Not ever.”

“You done?” he asked.

With nothing else to lose, I asked. “Why have you always hated me?”

He stared at me for a long moment and finally replied. “I wanted a son. But even as a woman, you could’ve been a part of my business…but you never wanted it, Katherine.”

“Yeah. Did you ever wonder why?” I said, sarcasm dripping from my words. “We’re done, Dad.”

Then I stormed out and headed toward the apartment.

I didn’t run. I took my time, because when I checked my phone, there wasn’t a single missed call or message from Holst. I kept checking in hopes that something would change from the five seconds before.

Less than a block away, I tried to call again.

“Listen, when you get this, come home, H.”

I was trying to figure out all his thoughts when all this could be alieved with one phone call.

When I reached the apartment, my heart dropped when I didn’t see his car in the driveway. That was when the doubt really began to sink in. Considering the closest thing I’d had to a relationship was with Mark, I had no idea what to expect. But tomorrow was Christmas, and if Holst wasn’t waiting inside the apartment with eggnog and carols…

I didn’t know what to think.

Now, I needed to figure out what was next. I assumed, wherever Holst was, he needed space since he hadn’t called. So, I went into the bedroom and grabbed my Roxy duffle bag and matching roller suitcase. It was brown with big, pink Hibiscus flowers, and I loved it. It was brand new, tags still on, ready for that big adventure I’d never taken. I hadn’t even started packing for the trip to meet Holst’s mom, but I needed to keep busy.

This day…it was all too much. I began to throw random bits and pieces in the suitcase and let the tears fall. My dad…confirmation that he was an unrepentant asshole was witnessed by all. Max…I almost wish I’d had more time to tell him exactly what he’d taken from me, all those year wasted, but he would never get anything else from me. Not my words, not my accusations, and not my tears. All of that led me to Holst.

Then, there was my mom...

My mom.

To think that my mother knew…I wouldn’t have listened. Back then, I would’ve done anything to protect Max. But I knew in my heart, if I had a daughter, I’d do whatever it took to protect her. Even if she hated me for it. Because that’s what you do as a parent. You have to make the hard choices for your children when they can’t. I heard my parents argue, mostly my dad yelling at her, berating her, but I thought that was just their screwed up relationship. Whenever I saw her, she was chipper, well put together, a smile plastered on her face. But it was all an act, and I knew that act well…like mother, like daughter. Though I understood she’d suffered mental and probably physical abuse at the hand of her husband, it wasn’t enough for me to forgive her. I needed time to sort out my feelings, not just about her, about everything.

The only person I wanted to talk to was Holst. Since he still hadn’t called me back, I went to the one place I thought he might be. I had to call Tori and tell her where I was going. The guilt of worrying my pregnant best friend would kill me if I didn’t.

Then I called a cab, and, thirty minutes later, I was sitting on a bench, watching the ocean, wondering when the next train was coming, and waiting....

For my man.

Holst

I had to let Katherine go with him. It was the kind of scenario I’d never faced and hoped to fucking God I’d never have to again.