Her brows knit together. “Whatever do you mean, Ash?”
I can hear Dylan and Marcy laughing next door. “Ryder and I broke up because Mr. Rothwell threatened me, my scholarship and you.”
Felicity presses her hands to her chest. “Oh, Ash. No.”
I scoff. “The man can be pretty convincing. He said you’d be out of a job if I didn’t push Ryder away. Look, Aunt City, you don’t have to tell me what your secret is, but you do have to tell Marcy. Otherwise, that monster will always have something over you.”
At the mention of that, she looks down at her hands, pulling off her gloves. “That man doesn’t threaten my family and get away with it.”
My aunt stands and I watch as she retreats into the house. I fall back on the grass and watch the clouds float in the clear blue sky.
Later that evening the sound of raised voices has me removing my headphones and setting my guitar back on the stand. Marcy and Felicity are arguing, and that is a rare occurrence in this house. I draw my knees up to my chest feeling like whatever it is, I’m to blame. Coming here was a mistake. Maybe Uncle Graham could still take me in. I could get a job or something.
A door slams and I let out a breath. Climbing out of bed, I pull my door open and make my way downstairs. My aunt is crouched over the dining room table, her head in her hands. Her small shoulder trembles.
She doesn’t look up when I place my hand on her shoulder, instead, she cries harder.
“This…this is all my fault.”
“Hey, Aunty City. No. None of it is your fault.”
“When Coben offered the scholarship, I never thought he’d use it against you like this. But I knew the kind of man he was when I accepted his help.”
I sit beside her, and she meets my gaze with her bloodshot eyes. “Why him?”
She sighs, then looks down at her clasped hands. “Marcy never knew her father. She never needed to. He wasn’t someone I wanted in her life.” She smiles at me sadly.
“Coben is Marcy’s father, isn’t he?”
She scoffs. “He doesn’t deserve that title. I was young, naive and utterly taken by this young, successful man who said all the right things. I knew he was married, had a little kid, but I fell under his spell.” She says with a pained expression.
I place my hand on hers, squeezing gently. “I am so sorry.” My chest aches at the thought of what my aunt might be going through.
“Marcy didn’t take it so well. I didn’t expect her to.” She swipes away at a tear. “I lied to her all these years.”
“I’m sure you had your reasons.”
“You don’t have to say that to make me feel better, Ash. Coben Rothwell never wanted anything to do with me when he found out I was pregnant. He was and still is a wretched man. But I’m her mother and she trusted me.”
“I should see how she is. She’s probably with Dylan.”
My aunt nods and after making her a cup of tea, I walk over to Dylan’s.
“What do you want?” He asks when he opens the door.
“Can I see Marcella? I just want to know that she’s okay.”
He lets out a sigh. “She’s hurt, and she needs time.”
“Can I just talk to her for a minute?”
“Ash, I know you care about Marcy, but she’s asked to be alone.”
“Fine. Just tell her I was here and that we need to talk.”
I pull out my phone and text Will.
Me: Care for a drink? I could use some company.