Turn Over:A Secret Baby Sports Romance(57)

"What happened?"

"He blamed her for getting pregnant and told her she did it to get money  from him. She was devastated. She ended up moving back in with my  parents. It was my senior year of high school. She had the baby at  Christmas. A little girl she named Gracie. That was the picture you saw  on my dresser."

I remembered how she had quickly yanked it from my hand.

"Anyway, it seemed like she and Brian were finished. He didn't even come  to the hospital when she had the baby. We all thought it was over. But  then he started showing up again, and he was threatening Hailey. He said  she owed him money. He threatened her saying he would get the money  from her."

"What about your parents? Did they get involved?" I could feel my pulse starting to pick up.

"Yes. My dad called the police. He confronted Brian. They filed a  restraining order. They did everything they could legally do. But Brian  seemed to find a way to Hailey, if she was at the park with the baby, or  if they were at the mall. It didn't matter-he was watching her  constantly. Until one day, she came home."

Sydney stopped. Her eyes fell. I couldn't tell if she was going to keep going.

"She came home, and her clothes were ripped, she was crying. She had a  black eye and a cut on her arm. He had attacked her when she was leaving  work. He said it would be worse the next time if she didn't pay him."         

     



 

"God. What did the police do?"

Sydney shook her head. "Nothing. The next morning she and the baby were  gone. They left in the middle of the night. We never heard her leave."

"She took off?"

"Yes. She left a letter saying it wasn't safe for anyone. She took Gracie and started over somewhere Brian couldn't find them."

I sat forward. "Tell me the guy went to jail."

"No. Without Hailey to press charges for the assault there wasn't much they could do."

"That is insane. The guy should be behind bars." I felt the heat rising in my neck.

"My parents tried. They filed harassment charges. He was out of jail  after thirty days. Nothing seemed to stick. It didn't help that Hailey  disappeared."

"But where is she?"

"I don't know. She called my parents tonight. That was what the phone call was about. My mom wanted to let me know."

"Do you ever talk to her?"

"Sometimes. She uses disposable phones. I don't get to call her. It's whenever she wants to check in."

I could hear it. The anger in her voice. The resentment. The hurt and confusion all of this had caused.

"When is the last time you two talked?"

"Almost three months ago."

"I don't really know what to say." I was dumbstruck. How was this beautiful, driven girl carrying this secret with her?

"There isn't anything you can say. It's been close to five years. This is how she wants things."

"And you? How do you deal with it?"

Her shoulders relaxed slightly. "I try to focus on my life. I can't  convince her to go home. I can't promise her she and Gracie will be  safe."

"So you moved to a different state and threw yourself headfirst into a  new career." It made sense. I doubted the painful memories of her sister  were in South Padre. Although I knew how memories could haunt no matter  where you were.

She nodded. Her body relaxed against mine as she slid against my frame. I  wrapped an arm around her, pulling her tight. I had this sudden urge to  protect her. Shield her from the hurt and the pain. Block it from  touching her.

"I couldn't stay there any longer. My parents live by their phones.  Every time one of them rings, my parents jump, hoping it's Hailey. I  couldn't stand it anymore. I had to get away."

Her voice sounded tired. Her hand rested against waist, and I laid my hand on top of hers.

"Until he's in jail for something stupid he does, she won't come back."

"What did your mom say tonight?"

Sydney yawned, her body growing heavier next to mine. "That Hailey said  to tell me hello. That Gracie is reading now. And then she started  crying. All the calls are the same. They never change." Her shoulders  slipped under my grip. "I wish it was different."

I reached toward the lamp and flipped the switch.

"I know you do, baby. I know," I whispered the words over her head. I  would hold her as long as she needed. I didn't know what else I could  do.

I held her close until we both fell asleep.





12





Sydney





I stretched my arms over my head and sat up. I was still wearing my  dress from last night. Mason wasn't in the room. I didn't mean to fall  asleep on him last night. I didn't mean for any of that to happen. I  spilled everything about Hailey and Gracie. I groaned. Way to keep it  light and fun, Sydney.

I closed the bathroom door behind me and brushed my teeth. Usually after  the calls about Hailey I slept restlessly. My dreams filled with  frantic scenes of trying to rescue her. I would search the rooms of an  empty house. Sometimes the house was on fire. I never found her. I  always woke up feeling sick and angry.

I was angry at Brian for ruining our family. I was angry at the police  for not protecting my sister. I was angry at my parents for not finding a  way to bring her back. But mostly I was angry at Hailey for choosing  him. She was the one who let him into her life. She destroyed our lives.  When those thoughts came, I pushed them out, telling myself I was  selfish. I felt guilty for even thinking it. Hailey was a victim. I  zipped my toothbrush back in my overnight bag and walked into the suite  to find Mason.         

     



 

He was standing in front of the window. The phone pressed to his ear.  The business channel was on mute, and there were spreadsheets scattered  on the coffee table.

I made a cup of coffee while he finished his call.

He turned and smiled. "Good morning." He tossed the phone on the table.

He had obviously showered. His hair looked dry, though. I wondered how long he had been awake.

"Good morning." I stirred in a teaspoon of sugar and tasted the coffee.

"How did you sleep?"

"I-uh-thank you." I was utterly embarrassed. My family secrets spilled  in a mess at my feet. I realized I didn't have one of those terrible  dreams about my sister last night. Mason's arms had been around me. I  might have dreamed it, but I thought he kept checking on me, running his  hands over me gently, drowning out the pain.

He stood in front of me. I looked puzzled when he pulled out his wallet,  fished out a credit card, and pushed it across the counter. "Here. Why  don't you do some shopping while I'm in my meetings?"

I blinked at the card. "Shopping?"

"Have lunch. Maybe try one of the spas. Whatever you want to do. I'm  going to be tied up for the next four hours before we can drive back."  He refilled his coffee mug.

I left the card on the table. "I have money. I can buy my own lunch." I walked out of the kitchen, back to the bedroom.

"Wait a minute." He followed me. "I'd like to do something for you."

I spun on my heels. "Why? You feel sorry for me because of last night?" I  was wrong when I thought I had felt embarrassed. This was complete  humiliation. I couldn't believe I had revealed all of it.

"Not at all." His blue gaze caught me off guard. "You're going to be  stuck here. And after our agreement yesterday, I can't have you hanging  around the suite. I need to keep these meetings confidential. It's best  for both of us."

"The meetings are here?"

He nodded. "I try to keep things private. Remember? I'm not going to  meet in the lobby where half of San Antonio can see who is bidding on  the deal."

"Right." I sat on the edge of the bed.

Whatever the connection was I thought we had shared last night must have  been my imagination. This man wasn't acting like we had bonded over  emotional family baggage. He was acting like a businessman waiting for a  board meeting to start. His white shirt was crisp. I wanted to reach up  and see if it was even possible to crease his collar. Nothing seemed to  throw him off.

He looked exactly like the smug, arrogant man I had met on the beach at  the trailer park. I balled my fists, angry at myself for ignoring my  first instincts.

He handed the card to me a second time. "Use it. Don't use it. But you  have about thirty minutes before I'm going to kick you out."

I looked at him. "You're serious? You're making me leave?"

"Dead serious."

I don't know what I was thinking. I hauled my suitcase in the bathroom  with me and slammed the door. I felt stripped and bare. I shared  feelings and secrets. I don't know if that was as upsetting as what we  had shared at dinner.

The Riverwalk was romantic. He was romantic. For a night, I had started  to think he wasn't only interested in the fun. He listened. We talked.  He flirted. He kissed me like I was the girl he had been searching for.  The courtyard. I closed my eyes. God, what I let him do to me in the  courtyard.