I couldn’t stop smiling. “You’re leaving. He’s not going anywhere.”
“Clay, we have a home waiting for us in Calgary,” she said. “We made plans.”
“You made plans,” Dad said. “I was the sucker along for the ride. Not anymore. I’m done with this game. I’m done with you. You should probably know, all those credit cards in your purse are dead. They’re closed. My bank account is closed. You’ll need to find your own way to Calgary.”
Stacey’s mouth dropped open before she snapped it shut. Her lips were pressed into a thin line. “Clay, why don’t we go into the bedroom and talk?”
“There’s nothing to say,” he said. “This is over. I’d love to throw you out of my house, but you sold it.”
“You tried to steal it,” I corrected. “Your dumbass is not so good at being sneaky. Better luck next time.”
“Shut up!” she screeched. “Shut up! Clay, you are not going anywhere. We made plans. We’re moving to Calgary.”
“No.” Dad shook his head. “I’m not. My children are here. You did your best to cut them from my life, but it won’t work.”
“If you had children, or parents, or anyone that you actually loved, you would know it takes more than a bimbo to come between them,” I said.
“We’ll get the boxes,” Reese said. “Is there anything else?”
“No,” Dad answered with shame in his voice. “This woman took everything. She sold anything of value and gave away anything she didn’t like. I have nothing left.”
“You have us,” I said. “That’s what counts.”
Dad nodded and shook off the melancholy. “I’m going to grab my suitcase from the bedroom.”
I smiled at Stacey. The look on her face was beautiful. She was stunned, pissed, and crushed all at the same time. It was very satisfying after all the hell she’d put my family through. “I guess you didn’t win after all,” I said. “You think you caused a lot of damage, but you didn’t. We’re going to load up my father’s things and leave this house. We won’t remember you. We won’t think about you. You are going to be a bad memory.”
“This isn’t over,” she hissed.
“It is over,” I said. “Look around you. It’s over. Our father is coming home with us. This house is sold. You have nowhere to go. You have no money. Nothing. You actually thought you were going to win. You met your match with us, sweetheart. You’re going to want to think about this when you go searching for your next victim.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You know, I hate you, but I also feel sorry for you,” I said. “You’re pitiful. You’re not a good person, but there’s hope in that. You can change. You can choose to be a better person. You can stop fucking men over and stealing money from desperate, lonely men. I find you to be utterly unappealing, but clearly men think you have something. You’re not completely down and out. Just out of here. Out of our lives.”
“Do you really think this is over?” She cackled.
I stepped up to her with my nose nearly touching hers. The smell of cigarettes damn near overwhelmed me. “It is over,” I said in a low voice. “Because if you try and do anything to my father, me, or Rich, I’ll make sure you land in jail. We’ve got enough evidence to bury you for a long time. You forged my father’s name on more than one document. You withdrew money from his account. I have the receipts. You want to screw with me, bring it. I would love to take you down.”
Her face paled a bit. “He gave me permission.”
“Did he?” I smiled. “Are you sure about that? Are you willing to bet your freedom on that?”
She raised her chin. “I’m taking my things.”
“The things my father bought, sure. Take them. We don’t want your nasty shit. Take the car he bought for you and keep driving. Do not come back here. I am going to make damn sure everyone in this city knows who you are. You will not be preying on any more mourning fathers. If I hear even the slightest rumor you’re around, expect to find yourself in cuffs. I am that serious.”
We stared each other down. The tension was thick. I fully expected her to hit me. Pull my hair. Something. I craved it.
“I think we’ve got the last of the boxes,” Reese said and put his hand in the small of my back. “Your dad’s suitcase is in his car. I think we’re ready to go.”
I took a deep breath. Stacey turned away and stomped into the kitchen. I wanted to cry and rejoice at the same time. This was a bittersweet moment. We’d lost our home, but we regained our father.
“Are you okay?” Reese asked.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I am. I’m ready. There is nothing more here for us.”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “Do you need a minute?”
“No,” I said with a shake of my head. “This place stopped being my home the day she moved in. It carries the stench of her. I’m done. Let’s go.”