Andrew’s chuckle sounded bitter. “Is that the version your father told you? He kicked her out. Disowned her. Your brothers refused to talk to her. He told her there would be consequences if she reached out to you. He cut her off from the entire family.”
That wasn’t right. Dad would never. “He was so upset about her being gone.”
“Because her choice was to conform or leave, and she chose to leave. It’s the same choice he’s about to give you. She didn’t abandon her friends. She never lost contact with Liz, and I spent countless nights listening to her sob because she couldn’t go back home.”
Righteous indignation soured to doubt and churned inside with embarrassment, until Susan was sure she was going to be sick. “He welcomed her back. He’s been happy to have her around again. Once she accepted the olive branch he extended…” Was that true?
“I don’t know the man.” Andrew stared at his clasped hands. “He’s softened, or she exaggerated, or he thinks she’s respectable now that she’s with Ian. I can only tell you what she told me. But I trust her, and her pain at being cut out of your lives always seemed real.”
“Then he’s changed.” This wasn’t only about how upset Susan had been at Mercy for leaving. If this was true, it was possible Dad would do the same to her. She couldn’t believe that. “Losing her made him see he was wrong. He won’t make that mistake again.” He wouldn’t actually kick Susan out for pursuing dancing.
Andrew shrugged. “Like I said, I don’t know him. My opinion is you can’t assume he’s bluffing. You grew up with him, though.”
“So you’re saying I should quit?” How did they go from her wanting to lose her virginity to Andrew suggesting she give up her passion?
“No. Jesus Christ, nothing like that.” He met her gaze, intensity burning in his dark eyes. “You should pursue this for all you’re worth. I wouldn’t be helping you if I didn’t see a gift in you that deserves to be nurtured. You’re brilliant when you let go. I’m saying you can’t assume your dad is joking. I’m sorry.” He said the last bit so quietly, she wasn’t sure she heard right.
“I can’t give up my family.”
“If you really want to do this dancing thing—teaching, performing… If that’s what drives you? You can’t give that up either. If you walk away, you’ll always regret it, and regret makes people hateful and hard.”
Indecision built inside, threatening to tear her heart in half. Susan had never felt this kind of intensity before, and she wanted to rip it out and stomp on it, to make it go away. “If I walk away from the people I love, I’ll regret it.”
“Do you want to know how Mercy saved my life?” Andrew asked.
That was the last thing she needed. “I’m not up for a story that’s glamor and glitz, wrapped in the kind of sex you think I’m too fragile to handle. Especially if it involves Mercy.”
“This story is anything but glamorous. There’s no sex, and I promise it comes back to you.”