Spending most of the day curled up in the brown chair with her laptop, she’d found court documents for appeals that had been filed by the man’s defense attorney, Daniel Sterling, but she hadn’t been able to find any quotes from her statement. She’d found quotes from newspaper archives and couldn’t believe what Jocelyn Peterson, the man’s ex-wife, had said.
He’s a violent man…
He loved to use his fists on me…
He was cruel and unrelenting…
I’m glad he’s finally somewhere he can’t get to me.
It had certainly contradicted the comment from his brother, Alexander Peterson.
He is an amazing and loyal brother. I’ll never believe that he’s guilty of the charges he’s facing.
His brother loved him and believed in his innocence, and when Saige looked at photographs of the brothers, she could feel a memory teasing her senses.
But of what?
Saige felt more confused than ever as she stepped into the foyer of the Renaissance Hotel, her thoughts distracted with how to gather more information and from where. She’d start with her father. She’d ask him if he could get her a copy of the statement she gave, and maybe a copy of the trial itself. Because her reaction to the man she saw on the television bothered her—it bothered her a lot.
So with those thoughts heavily on her mind, she entered the restaurant, and found her father pacing five feet in front of her.
When he lifted his head, his eyes softened with relief as he tugged her against him. “Princess,” he whispered against the top of her head, “I was worried.”
“I’m sorry.” She returned his embrace and pulled away when a server appeared in her peripheral vision. “I got lost in some research.”
She winced when her father raised a brow in question. “Research?”
“We’ll talk about it over coffee.”
Saige turned and followed after her father who was being led by the waitress. They were well known here since it was her father’s favorite place and he had a reserved table whenever he stayed at the hotel. It was outside, in the shade, and set a bit away from the other tables. She had to be around people, usually when she was out alone, but she loved this time with her father and loved that he was concerned enough to make small concessions for her. He hated eating outdoors.
“So,” he said, as they were seated. “I’m not sure I can wait until coffee to discover what research you’ve been doing.”
She squirmed under her father’s scrutiny. Sometimes she thought he’d have done well as a lawyer with the way he’d look at her. It was the, I love you, but you better start talking, look.
“I don’t want to ruin dinner. We only get a chance to see each other a few times a month.”
He raised a brow and waited for her to answer his original question. He wouldn’t be ignored.
Saige took a sip of water from the crystal wine glass, wondering how to answer without giving her father a heart attack, because he needed some sort of answer. “If I ask you something, will you be honest with me? And promise not to mention anything to Christina. I really don’t want to deal with her right now.”
Her father leaned back in his chair and sighed. “Saige, she’s your stepmother,” he chided softly.
“You know my relationship with her isn’t the best, and it never will be. She’s only ever been concerned about herself.” Saige had his full attention so she continued, “I often wonder why you’re both still married to each other.”
The only sign that she surprised him was the slight lift of both brows.
She hadn’t lied and wondered what her father still saw in the woman. Saige would never come out and say it, but she had a love-hate relationship with her stepmother, and couldn’t stand being around her, which was one of the reasons she finally got the courage to move out. She could have stayed in Port Jude, but then Christina would know every tiny detail of her life. Saige stayed within driving distance for her father when she moved to Tampa, which was about two and a half hours away from Port Jude.
“I don’t know what to say to that.” Her father looked so sad that she reached out and took both his hands into hers and held tightly.
“I love you, Dad, and I’m not blind. You’re too sweet and need a woman who—”
“Loves me,” he finished for her. He shook his head. “I’m not getting into that with you, but I’d love for you to tell me that you finally met a young man.”
“Dad,” she moaned, realizing that as per usual, when the topic of his marriage was brought into the conversation, he deflected. “I’ll let you off this time, but only because I still need to talk to you about something. I don’t think you’re going to like it, either.”
“That’s why you don’t want Christina to know?” He squeezed Saige’s fingers and, letting go, tasted the red wine that had been poured.