Always With You (The Connor Family 6)

“Right, so Reid told me a few things, but I’d like to hear everything from your perspective.”

I had meant the bullies at school. Instead I got a five-minute rant about how Marion was a heartless diva and nothing she said was true. I listened without interrupting. The girl clearly needed to get it off her chest. Once she was done, I gently steered the conversation to the situation at school. Bianca’s enthusiasm instantly plummeted. I imagined the girl shrinking into herself. I almost wanted to drive to the school myself and shake some sense into the bullies.

I had no idea how they unerringly picked up on your worst fears and insecurities. They made you feel small and insignificant, as if there was something fundamentally wrong with you.

“The secret is to show them strength. Not indifference, because that just drives them to push harder, to get a reaction out of you.” I recited a few general lines I’d prepared for her yesterday.

“That sounds straightforward enough,” Bianca said cautiously.

“Call me if you feel you need more advice.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“So, you’ve got a plan for my brother too?”

“Working on it.”

“Can I help?”

That was an interesting turn of events. “How would you like to help?”

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; “Well, I know that talking to my brother sometimes feels like drawing water from a rock... especially if you’ve just met him.”

“That’s a very good way of putting it.”

I could ask Bianca more about him. She was clearly dying to tell me. But I instinctively knew Reid wouldn’t appreciate it. He wanted to keep his family out of this as much as possible. But Bianca started talking without my prompting.

“Look, he kind of likes to keep to himself and has these strict rules about everything, but he’s a great brother. He takes me shopping, even though he hates it. He’s just generally an awesome guy, just takes a while until he doesn’t fight you on everything.”

I’d gotten a glimpse of the man Bianca was talking about but only barely.

“He just has terrible taste in women. Just awful. I am not sure what he saw in Marion. Then again, I also don’t get why anyone would date the mean girls at my school, and every guy is tripping over his own feet to score a date. I guess it’s just the way life works.”

“Bianca, I promise you life gets so much better after high school.”

I should know.

“I’m just glad Reid didn’t marry her.”

That was true, but the heart took betrayal equally deep, signed papers or not.

“Hmm, let’s see. Anything else you want to know?” Bianca went on.

“I think I’ve got enough for now,” I answered. “Thank you, Bianca. And I mean it, if you need to ask me anything, or just want to talk to anyone, call me anytime.”

“I will.”

After ending the call, I debated messaging Reid but still hadn’t made a game plan, so I turned my attention to the road. When I arrived at the restaurant where I was meeting my client, I noticed Reid had texted me.

Reid: Bianca called. Thanks for talking to her.

Hailey: No problem. She’s a lovely kid.

Reid: I know.