"Did he not take the news well?" James’s questioning indicated that he thought Max was the reason for my tears, and that was partially true.
"Just before he was to show up, Dad arrived."
The minute I mentioned that our father, James’s expression darkened. "Why?"
"Max and I had agreed that we weren't going to tell anybody we got drunk-married. We were embarrassed by it. Since we were getting an annulment, it would be like it never happened. But when Dad showed up, he told me that he'd arranged the whole thing.”
“What?” James looked at me like I was speaking Greek.
“He told me I couldn’t get an annulment unless I asked for money because he’d arranged for the marriage. I know it was true because I had tried to hunt down the driver to fill in the gaps of that night and the hotel said they hadn't sent one."
James shot up. "That motherfucker." His hands clenched, and I knew that if my father were there, James would punch him. I doubted I’d do anything to stop it.
"When Max didn’t show up that night or call to let me know what was going on, I had a strong suspicion that he’d overheard Dad. I hadn’t talked to or seen him until tonight when I served him the annulment papers I filed the other day. He confirmed that he’d heard what Dad had done."
James took a deep breath and sat on the couch next to me, taking my hand again. "Did you explain to Max about Dad?"
"I tried to, but he believes I was part of Dad’s scam."
My brother's face morphed into sympathy. He tugged me close, holding me.
I rested my head against his shoulder, glad that he was here for me. "It's even worse than that."
He leaned his head back slightly to look down at me. "What could possibly be worse than that?"
I took a deep breath. "I'm pregnant. And Max says that if Dad and I do anything to make a move on him, he will make sure that we’re both put in jail and that he’ll take full custody of the baby."
James stared at me, his mouth agape, his eyes wide. Finally, he came to his senses. "I won’t let that happen, Amelia. I promise, no one will take your baby."
"James, I don't know what's going to happen. I told Dad that we were getting an annulment, and he got mad. He told me the best I could do is get a divorce because he wanted me to get a settlement and alimony."
James shook his head. "Even if that happened, that would be your money, not his."
I gave him my you-know-how-Dad-is expression. "I'm sure he thought of some way of getting his hands on it. I'm going to defy him, because he's wrong and I have to, but I don't know what he's going to do to me. He’ll probably still go after Max. I have no problem with Dad going to jail, but I don't want to go with him. I had no part in it, but I don't know how to prove my innocence."
He wiped tears from my face. "You don't have to prove you’re innocent. They would have to prove you’re guilty."
"Dad is going to ruin me when he finds out I'm not going to be a part of his scheme. When I realized that, before I talked to Max, I'd been thinking I'd leave Las Vegas and move to New York."
I could see from James’s expression that he didn't like the idea of my leaving, and yet he nodded because he understood the situation I was in. "Well, if you love Max, maybe you will be able to prove to him that you weren't a part of Dad’s scam and you two can have a future with your baby."
I looked down, pressing my lips together, trying not to start weeping again. "I'm not going to hold my breath for that." I turned to look at James. "You should've seen him. He was so angry. I mean, I don't blame him, but I could see in his eyes that anything we had before was gone. And even then, I'm not sure what he felt for me except perhaps a little bit of affection. I'm terrified he might follow through his threat to take my child. Then again, maybe that would be best. I don’t want Dad using my baby as a pawn.”
James shook his head. “You can’t give your baby away—”
“I would if it kept him safe. If it meant he’d have a happy life. Max’s family is like a Norman Rockwell painting.”
“No one’s life is that perfect. And you’re going to be a great mom.”
I sighed, feeling so tired. “I had thought if I went to New York, it would be easier to coparent with Max. If the annulment goes through and if I move to New York, Dad has a whole lot less to use against me and Max."
James nodded. "Seems like you have it all figured out."
"Except it could be up to three months before a judge signs the annulment, assuming he does sign. Dad can wreak all kinds of havoc between now and then. I don't know what to do with my business. I have no doubt that he'll try to ruin me. I'm supposed to be making my clients look good, but they’re not going to work with a company with scandal or a bad reputation or whatever Dad will do to destroy my business.”
"Maybe you should go to New York sooner rather than later. Dad has a lot of power here, but not necessarily elsewhere. He’s a giant fish in a tiny pond. He can’t go up against the Clarkes in their own backyard."
"I don't know how I could do that. I'd have to sell this place and at the same time try to ward off anything that Dad does to ruin my reputation or hurt my business. New York isn't cheap. I can’t afford to lose business."