I held my breath as I waited for what Jude might say to her comment.
“Sounds like he needs friends.” The comment itself was benign but I knew underneath it, Jude was chastising August for being a horrible friend.
Although I was going to Skips in an hour, I sat with Jude and Maya, my family, and had Crazy Cakes, as Maya called them. This was the life I wanted.
An hour later, leaving Maya with Jude, both of them quite content to play Go Fish, I showed up at Skips. August was already there, and our plates were served.
I huffed out a breath at his audacity, and pushed away the plate with the spinach egg white omelet, I’m sure he ordered for me because he thought I was carrying a few too many extra pounds to win whatever man he was going to arrange for me to be with.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“I know what’s going on, April, and it has to stop.”
I arched a brow. “What do you mean?”
“I held my tongue when you walked out on your job, on the family business because I know you’ll be back. But then you stopped coming home and never let me know where you were.” His tone was matter of fact as he used his toast to scoop up egg yolk.
“You’re not my parent, August.”
He looked up from his brunch. “I’m responsible for you and Maya.”
“No, you’re not. Not anymore.”
“Living in your friend’s guest bedroom isn’t being responsible for yourself, April. Maya needs her own room, her own home. A yard.”
I didn’t disagree. “It’s temporary, August.”
He wiped his mouth. “I know your new employer as well.”
My breath hitched as I waited for what he’d say.
“Is working for the man who betrayed us both some attempt to get back at me? Are you trying to prove some point? I would have thought you smarter than that. Did you forget that he left you pregnant and never looked back?”
I leaned forward as anger gathered in my belly and worked its way up. “You have some nerve, August.”
His eyes widened and he flinched.
“I know the truth. I know Jude didn’t walk away. I know you sent him a forged letter saying I was breaking things off. I know you intercepted the other letters I sent. Blocked his phone fro
m contacting mine.” I sat back, wondering about the man sitting across from me. “He never knew about Maya. How could you be so cruel, August?”
“He’s not good enough for you.”
“What about Maya. You kept her from knowing her father.”
He waved a hand. “He’s definitely not good enough for her. She has me for a father-figure.”
For a moment I could only gape. “In your research, did you see he became a Navy SEAL? You don’t think a man who serves his country honorably is good enough? What have you done for your country lately, August?”
“April—”
“No. I’m tired of living under your thumb.” I was about to express appreciation for all that he’d done to help me and Maya, but then I remembered that I’d needed help because he’d prevented Jude from coming home. “I’m living my own life. Maybe it’s a little late, and maybe I’ll make a few mistakes, but it’s time.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying,” he said, picking up his coffee. He truly believed he could bend me to his ways simply by sheer will. “Let me make you understand. I’m not going to sit idly by and watch you throw your life away on a man who isn’t worthy. I’m certainly not going to let you risk Maya’s life, her future, on your attempts to relive your teenage summer fling.”
“August!”
“If you keep behaving like this, like a child, I’m going to keep treating you like one. That includes continuing to control the trust.” He stood. “Stay away from Jude Mason. If you don’t, I will ruin him. You know I can. The Davidson family is well loved and respected. I’m well-respected, and regardless of what you think you know, I can turn this town against him.”