“I’m sorry.”
He frowned, and pulled the car over to the side of the road leading to her father’s house.
Turning to face her, he cupped her face and brought her in for a loving kiss. “I’m the one who should be apologizing. It was my fault everything happened. Your father didn’t like me. I was married and I wasn’t good enough for you.”
Saige shook her head. “I love you, Quinten. He should have accepted that.” She sighed, heavily. “I’m not even sure I want to confront him now, or even talk to him.”
He kissed each eyelid and lingered over her brow. “As much as I hate to say this, I think we should go and see him now. It will get it all over and done with and we can move on. You need to hear it from your father’s mouth...I also want him to apologize to you.”
Saige offered a sad smile. “I don’t know what I’d even want him to say or do, and I’m not sure an apology is going to cut it. What happened is too disgusting and I hate him for doing that to me—to us. We’re both victims, Quinten.”
He closed his eyes and, not for the first time, he wished that he could go back eight years to when his life was somewhat on the right track.
* * *
6:15pm
* * *
Walking toward her father, Saige held tightly to Quinten’s hand for support and wondered when the whole nightmare that had started eight years ago would end. She was afraid that once she’d spoken to her father, she wouldn’t step foot in his home again. Having Quinten beside her helped more than he could possibly know and it was his strength that currently held her together.
He’d been right, she did need to hear her father’s reasoning, even though she knew it had everything to do with her father’s refusal to accept Quinten as the man she loved. She hated that she’d let him direct her life for so long without knowing that he did. Why had she never seen him as being manipulative? He’d always let her think that it was her idea when, in fact, she’d been living the life he’d wanted her to.
They approached his chair, where he sat by the water with a bottle of beer in his hand. Only the slight turn of his head indicated he knew they were there.
“He called me,” her father started. “I didn’t think you’d come after what he told you.”
Quinten ushered her closer and pulled her down onto his lap as he sat on one of the three vacant chairs. His arms around her waist kept her anchored.
“Why?”
Her father was silent for a long time and just when Saige thought he wouldn’t say anything, he started talking. “Peterson had been arrested for murder and your abduction. I couldn’t let you have his child. I kept you drugged because I didn’t want you to remember him and possibly remember that it had been someone else who took you. I wanted you away from him, and your abduction and his arrest gave me the opportunity for that to happen.”
Quinten wiped the tears from her eyes with trembling hands. She knew that he blamed himself for what happened to her, but she didn’t. She didn’t blame him for any of it. It was all out of their control, and she wasn’t blaming him for falling in love with her.
“Did you know the real killer was Paul?” she asked, the thought just crossing her mind. “Because if you thought I’d remember someone else taking me, that tells me you knew it wasn’t Quinten.”
Her father turned and looked at them, his eyes red-rimmed. “I didn’t know it was Paul.” His voice shook. “I didn’t know who it was. I knew that I could protect you and keep you safe, so I let the investigation run its course. During the course of the trial, I realized that he was probably innocent. I honestly thought that the jury would come to that decision. I was surprised when he was sentenced to death because of how little evidence they actually had.” Her father dropped his chin to his chest.
“Was your inclination to punish me really because of Saige or because of my brother sleeping with your wife?” Quinten asked, barely controlled anger behind his words.
Her father shook his head. “I won’t discuss Christina with you,” he hissed.
Saige had had enough and stood, tugging Quinten up with her. “I’m leaving Florida with Quinten.” Her father flinched at her words. “We want a life together and I want to help him rebuild his carpentry business.” She couldn’t help the tears that ran unchecked down her face as she looked at her father—the man who was supposed to protect her from evil. “That’s what love is all about, and I love him, Dad...I love you, too, and that’s why my heart is breaking.”
She fought back the sob and her dad stared at her, his eyes filled with anguish but she didn’t care. He couldn’t understand how much his actions had hurt her. “I love you, but I don’t love who you’ve become. You have destroyed so much and you nearly destroyed my happiness and my love. Quinten is both of those and you would have let him go to the execution chamber to protect your pride. I’m leaving Florida, but I can’t have a life with you in it and after today, I never want to see you again.”
Saige tightened her grip around Quinten’s hand and turned to head toward the car.
“Saige?”
She ignored her father’s call.
“Please...Saige...Quinten!”
She closed her eyes and turned to face him. Her father had stood, looking unsteady beside the chair.
“I...I know it’s probably too late, but I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything.” He looked at Saige. “I love you, honey.” He held Quinten’s gaze. “Saige is precious, please look after her and keep her safe.”