“Forgive me, I just…” He pauses, voice trailing off. Clearing it, he starts again. “I just haven’t been in this room in some time.”
I nodded, inhaling. “So, you know about this place.”
A stricken look passes his eyes. “Among others, I like to think I used to.” He chuckles then but it’s haunted.
What did that mean?
“I thought this room was abandoned.”
No one came in here. I’d been the only one until tonight, or so I thought.
His mouth pinches, arching his head in quiet curiosity. Wrist folding behind his back.
“It was—is…” He looks at the ground, shaking his head. “Was,” he finally decides. “You’ve found it, so it’s yours.”
I set my book down, rising slowly from my spot. “You’re giving it to me?”
“This room used to once be cared for, and I think you finding it was no mistake.”
I felt weightless but at the same time, I couldn’t move. Was Abram being serious?
“Why would you do that?”
His shoulders swell, almost like he was offended. “Am I not allowed to give something to my daughter?”
You hadn’t tried most of my life.
Abram drags out a sigh, temper cooling. “What I meant to say is, this room suits you, and I would like for you to have it,” he expresses. “That is, if you want it, Rory.”
My mouth parts, taken aback. Why hadn’t he tried more like this in the past? He’d so easily thrown me away and made me feel like I was nothing for years.
His gesture angers me. That deeply rooted tear I thought I’d repaired, splintering back open.
My nostrils flare. “For years, I wondered why you didn’t want to be in my life. Then out of nowhere, you called, wanting to see me for a summer, I was elated, and then I was disappointed. Lillian, she blamed me.” My voice cracks, but I keep going. Pushing past the thumping in my heart. “Foreverything.My life is the reason hers fell apart.”
Abram stands taller, at the mention of my mother. A muscle in his jaw twitching. By the twist in his lips, I knew he wanted to say something but doesn’t.
I level my gaze, unflinching. Even as his face slips, I don’t care. It’s my turn to toss some of the burden back on him.
“So, you can throw your money around, Abram, buy me whatever you think will fix the neglect you left me to deal with.” I huff, the sound as dead as my insides. “But know it willneverreplace the years taken from my life.” My tone goes guttural. “You lost me before you even had me.”
His eyes round, silently pleading something, but his time for excuses past due. I would never feel remorse for this man standing before me.
I release a ragged breath, staring down his shocked expression, unfeeling. My nerves jump beneath my skin. Rage and anger deeply rooted inside.
“The day I turn eighteen, I’m gone,” I grit out through clenched teeth.
My breathing is erratic but controlled. A strain of tenseness I had held in my chest, for years, loosening a fraction.
The timbre of his voice so low it makes my skin prickle. The words simple but not anything I ever expected to come from him. “You’re not wrong, Rory. I have failed you.”
I nod once.
The surprise I feel doesn’t show. I already knew both of those things. I hadn’t asked for his agreement. Being frank with the truth.
Now he knew. I no longer needed anything from him. Our relationship as dead as my mother.
sixteen