Susan Mallery - Lip Service

She smiled. “But I hope you’ll stay. I hope you’ll remember our mission statement, that we have a goal that no child in this country will spend a day hungry. That’s what matters. That’s what’s important. My half brother will do everything he can to destroy what we’ve built. I’m not going to let that happen, but I can’t do it alone.”

She paused for breath. Trisha stood.

“You’re not alone, Skye,” her CFO said.

One by one the other staff members rose to their feet. They began to clap. Skye sighed in relief. One problem down, sixteen hundred left to solve.

IT WAS THE SECOND TIME in as many months that Mitch started the morning with a killer hangover. He didn’t remember much about the previous night except he’d spent it with a bottle of Scotch and a burning need to forget.

A shower helped a little. He made his way downstairs where he shook off breakfast, grabbed coffee and started to leave.

“What’s wrong?” Fidela asked. “What happened?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

She came up to him and cupped his face. “You mourn your friend. I know. Time will heal the wound. It always does.”

Would time heal this wound?

“His wife is pregnant.”

“Her baby will bring her much comfort.”

“He’ll never know his kid.”

“He’s in heaven. He’ll know everything.” She glared at him. “Don’t you dare tell me you don’t believe in God. You’ve been to war, Mitch. You’ve seen the pain and the miracles.”

He kissed her on the cheek. “You’re right.”

“So believe in the possibilities.”

He nodded because it was easier than arguing. Yesterday he would have believed. Yesterday he would have known that whatever happened, there was still good because he and Skye loved each other and they’d finally found their way back to where they belonged. This morning, the world was a shitty place and he was sorry he’d come back.

He stepped outside and winced as the bright sun seemed to pierce his skull. He limped to the barn and stumbled into his office.

Forgetting seemed impossible, he thought grimly. At least while he was here. He would have to go somewhere that didn’t remind him of her. Assuming there was such a place in the world. If he’d had the faith Fidela had talked about, he would have offered God a bargain-his sorry self for Pete.

He sipped the coffee and thought about turning on his computer. Once he was online, he could pick a destination. Any one. Maybe Thailand. He could get lost in the jungle. He had money. Arturo would run the ranch. He didn’t need Mitch.

“Hi!”

Erin bounced into his office.

“I don’t have school today. It’s the summer.” She giggled, as if not knowing about her summer break was the funniest thing in the world. “Mommy said I could spend the day here and go riding.”

Her voice was high and made his head throb as if it were stuck in the middle of a church bell.

“Can you keep it down?”

Erin looked confused. “Keep what down?”

He slumped onto his chair. “Nothing. I don’t know where Arturo is.”

“He’s out riding the fence line. Fidela told me.” She moved closer, then plopped on the floor next to his chair and looked at him. “Want to go riding.”

“No.”

“But it’s nice out.”

“I don’t feel very good. My head hurts.”

She pressed her lips together. “You can take something. Mommy takes something when she gets a headache. You buy it at the store. Or do you want me to get you a cold cloth? That helps.” She sprang to her feet. “I’ll go get a cold cloth. That will be nice.”

He raised a hand to stop her. “Just go. I need quiet.”

She ignored the instruction to leave. “I can be quiet.”

“Not so far.”

She sank back down on the floor and eyed him. “Are you sad about something?”

“What? No.”

He would be sad one day. Right now he was beyond sad. Not beyond pain, though. The pain was right there, crouching in his gut, reminding him with every breath that he’d lost her.

Lost Erin, too, he thought, looking into her concerned face and wishing…what? That he could have been a part of her life? Sure. Why not? She was a great kid. He liked everything about her. Loved everything about her. He wanted to be a part of her world-helping her grow. Teaching her to drive and scaring off potential boyfriends. Who would do that now?

“Are you fighting with Mommy again?” Erin asked.

“Not in the way you mean.”

“Huh?”

“No. I’m not fighting with your mother.”

“She’s not scared of you. I’m not, either. Sometimes people fight.”

He rubbed his temple and wished he’d thought to swallow a half-dozen or so aspirin before leaving the house.

“Who told you that?” he asked.

“Izzy. She tells me lots of stuff. About my dad so I can try to remember him and what it’s like to climb a mountain. She says that when adults fight I shouldn’t get scared.”

That got his attention. “Why would you be scared?” Was Ray not the paragon Skye had claimed? Had he frightened his wife and child?”

Erin studied her shoe.

He put down his coffee and leaned toward her. “What is it? Who scares you?”

She looked up at him, her eyes wide. “Grandpa,” she whispered. “Sometimes when he yells, I hide in the closet.”

That bastard, he thought, reaching down to grab Erin and pulling her onto his lap.

“He’s a big guy,” he said as she snuggled close. “But he won’t hurt you.” If Jed tried, he would have to answer to him.

“Will he hurt Mommy?”

A reasonable question. Simple words, easily understood. Would Jed hurt Skye?

Mitch swore silently. Of course he would. Jed would do whatever it was he had to. If he thought there wasn’t a choice. If he felt trapped. He would destroy anyone who got in his way. Even his own daughter.

He remembered making love with Skye. What they’d shared, how she’d touched him. How they’d truly been one. She’d seen him naked, had accepted him-all of him. He knew it in his gut and in his heart. She hadn’t rejected him. She’d been afraid. Beyond afraid. Terrified. And there was only one thing that would frighten Skye into turning her back on him.

Erin.

“Mitch? Will Grandpa hurt my mommy?”

“No,” he said firmly, putting her on her feet and standing, as well. “Not ever again.”

“I don’t understand.”

He crouched in front of her and put his hands on her shoulders. “You’re great, you know that? I think you’re the most special girl I know.” There was more he wanted to say. That he loved Skye and he loved her. That he would protect them both with everything he had.

But this wasn’t the time. He wanted to get to Skye, to tell her that he’d figured it out and he was there for her. However Jed had threatened her, they would deal. Together. They would figure out a plan. She didn’t ever have to be afraid again.

“I’m going to take you to the house where you can help Fidela make cookies,” he said. “We’ll go riding later, okay?”

“Okay.”

They turned toward the door. She held out her hand, as if she wanted him to take it. He did. She was so small, he thought. Defenseless. But that didn’t matter. She had her mother and she had him. They would protect her.

They returned to the house. He took Fidela aside to tell her she needed to keep Erin, but before he could say anything, she spoke.

“When Skye dropped Erin off, she was upset. Something’s wrong. She said to keep her girl safe.” Fidela grabbed his arm. “Mitch, what’s happening?”

“I don’t know but it has to do with Jed.” He hugged her. “Don’t worry. I’m going to find out and I’m going to fix it. I’ll go get Skye and bring her back.”

“Jed Titan is a powerful man.”

Mitch smiled. “So am I. I didn’t fight for what I wanted last time. I let her walk away. I’m not going to do that again. I don’t know what hold he has on her, but I’m breaking it today and for good.” He glanced at Erin. “I said you’d let her help you make cookies.”

“Of course,” Fidela said. “Be careful.”

Mitch started for the door. “If you’re going to worry about someone, worry about Jed.”

THE BAR WAS OLD, paneled and catered to rich men with influence. Jed ordered his usual Scotch from the bartender. He was meeting his lawyer for lunch. While he didn’t usually enjoy sharing a meal with a lawyer, these days he didn’t have much choice. They were a reality in his life.

As he took his drink and carried it toward an empty table, he saw another man sitting in the corner. Their eyes met. Jed changed direction and headed toward him.

Garth Duncan stood as he approached. He said something to the person he was with and met Jed in the middle of the bar.

“Afternoon,” Garth said, looking confident. A faint smile pulled at his mouth, as if he had a secret.

There was power in knowledge, Jed thought, not intimidated by his bastard.

“You’re not going to win this,” he said, figuring there was no reason to waste time with niceties. “I’ve been playing this game longer than you’ve been alive and I always come out on top.”

Garth gave in to the smile. “You talk tough for an old man facing treason charges. It’s already over, Jed. You just haven’t figured that out yet. But please, try to defeat me. I enjoy a good fight.”

Jed saw the anger behind the smile, the rage and determination in his son’s eyes. Was that because of him or did it have another source?

“You crossed the line when you hurt my daughter,” Jed said. “Blowing up her oil rig was a big mistake.”

Garth studied him. “I agree. Whoever did it was a fool, but it wasn’t me.”

Jed dismissed him with a shake of his head. “You think I’m an idiot?”

“A question for another time,” Garth said. “I’ll take credit for all I’d done. Your girls have given me a run for my money. You should be proud of them. But Izzy? She doesn’t have anything I want, so I’ve left her alone. I didn’t have anything to do with the explosion. You’ll have to look elsewhere.”