Scott stiffened beside her, clearly not happy with her replaying of her past.
“It’s not your fault,” Walter said. “My son is good at manipulative behavior and getting what he wants from people.” He met his wife’s gaze with a sad nod.
“This is all well and good, but we need to figure out how to get Mike to back off and leave Meg alone. He’s threatened to help her get rid of the baby, and he just sent a beheaded doll as a warning in the mail,” Scott said, his angry tone reflecting his frustration.
“Oh my. I’m so sorry.” Lydia shook her head, unable to meet Meg’s gaze. “What can we do?”
“From what Mike has said, this is all about money. Just assure him that if he signs the papers relinquishing his rights to the baby, you won’t cut him off. That will take the edge off his anger and get him to back off and leave Meg alone.”
Meg knew it wasn’t a guarantee, but she agreed with Scott it might be a start.
“I’m sorry but we can’t,” Walter said.
Chapter Eleven
“Can’t? Or won’t?” Scott asked the older man, disappointed for Meg’s sake that the last twenty minutes of understanding and kindness had still led to disappointment.
“Scott—” Meg said in warning.
“No, he’s entitled to his opinion. We’ve heard it all before,” Walter said.
“Have you ever dealt with an addict?” Lydia asked.
Meg shook her head.
“Well, it’s simple. We can’t enable Mike in order to ensure good behavior. It doesn’t work, it won’t last, and in the end, more trouble will come down the road. You’re asking me to keep paying him, which will only feed his addiction. And I promise you, it won’t keep you safe,” Walter explained, and in that moment, he appeared older than he had on first meeting. When speaking of his son’s problems, the lines in his face, the extreme sadness, were more pronounced.
“Meg, it’s not that we don’t want to help, it’s that we’ve had almost thirty years of experience raising him, the last I don’t know how many years being taught how to deal with addictive behavior,” Lydia said, her imploring stare on Meg’s as she spoke.
“Then what do you suggest?” Scott asked, well and truly pissed off.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have a suggestion, and I know that’s not what you want to hear.” Walter met Scott’s gaze. “If you need money to help keep the mother of my grandchild safe, just say the word—”
“Thanks but I’ve got this,” he said too harshly.
Meg squeezed his leg beneath the table. Scott took the hint, but he didn’t need it. He wanted to be offended by the offer … but he wasn’t. He also wanted to dislike these people because of who their son was … and couldn’t. He wouldn’t want to be judged by his father. He couldn’t do the same to this couple.
“Meg, I meant what I said when I came to see you at school. I’d like to be part of the baby’s life. But I’d like to get to know you too. We have time before the baby is born. You can get to know me … us,” Lydia said. “You can decide for yourself once you know us more.”
Scott felt Meg’s shock in the stiffness of her body. “I’d like that,” she said softly.
He understood. She had nobody in the way of family. Not like he did. These people were offering her and, by extension, her child a bond she was lacking. Scott wanted that for her. Just like he wanted her to think of his mother and siblings as her family too. But first he had to get her to accept him as a permanent part of her life.
With the difficult discussions behind them, they ate and talked about neutral subjects. They asked Meg about her childhood, where she’d gone to college, and learned more about her in general. He watched as she slowly opened up to them, something he knew from personal experience she didn’t do easily.
By the time the meal ended, Meg had relaxed, and Scott had a better handle on the Ashtons. He could honestly say he was comfortable with Meg spending time in their company, not that she needed his permission, he thought wryly.
They walked out the front entrance into the warm sunshine. Scott glanced around, seeing only two valets in green jackets and a taxicab idling not far from where the men would bring his truck.
“Thank you so much for coming. It was a pleasure getting to know you,” Lydia said to Meg, pulling her into an embrace.
Meg hugged the woman, patting her back awkwardly, but in her expression, Scott could see the hope of acceptance, of family. It was everything Scott wanted for her, and he, too, prayed the couple lived up to the promise.
Walter stepped closer, grasping Meg’s hand in his. “You’re a lovely young woman.”
She blushed, that pink flush Scott liked seeing on her cheeks. “Thank you.”
“Traitors!”