“Just that I’m not allowed to see him in person. Only
through video chat, or I can call or text.”
“Yes. I won’t take away your phone. You’re an adult, and I
do trust you to hold up your end of this deal. Your father can’t
be trusted, but since you were raised by your grandparents, I
expect more from you. People can so easily go wrong, and I
don’t blame them for how your father turned out. They’re
good people, by all accounts.”
Haley was immediately defensive. She didn’t want to let
this cold woman bad mouth her father. She didn’t believe he
was a bad man. She didn’t believe that half of what this
woman thought had happened or was true was actually the
truth. She had it twisted in her mind. Maybe, if Haley could
just figure out what had actually happened, she could convince
Claire of that.
Instead of blurting out anything, she nodded. She’d have to
consider every word carefully from now on. She’d have to
learn to navigate the new parameters of her life.
Claire looked far from pleased. Her dark eyes bored through
Haley like she could read every thought and every emotion.
Haley wanted to hide, but not just her physical body. It was the
most unnerving feeling.
“Good,” Claire said. Her tone was bored, like Haley was the
nuisance part of her day and she was glad to have it over with.
“Jenny will show you to your room. You can get settled in. I
expect you to be in the dining room at six sharp. I employ a
chef and I don’t like to let his talents go to waste. You’ll learn
to be on time or there will be consequences.”
The sound of that word and the way Claire said it made a
chill ripple up Haley’s spine. But it wasn’t a terrible chill. Not