LITMIR.BIZ

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had always been a female version of their father, hard and unforgiving, with pride to spare. Despite that, they had been close when Carmen was a little girl. When she began getting into trouble and angering Charles, Charlotte had turned off her love as easily as she might have switched off a light.

      Charles had demanded Carmen live up to his impossibly high standards of behavior. When she realized that nothing short of robotic obedience would satisfy him, she’d stopped trying. She’d started skipping school and running with a bunch of troublemakers. Although the phase hadn’t lasted long, it had a devastating effect on her life. Her father had been on the verge of launching a campaign for Congress when the accident occurred, quashing his dream. Apparently, he had yet to forgive her.

      Carmen realized now the hope she harbored that her sisters would welcome her back was completely irrational. That was never going to happen. Charlotte needed Charles’s approval and would never defy him. Charmaine was too afraid to go against her sister and father. More mouse than woman, she was happiest when invisible. She might love Carmen and might even be glad to see her, but she’d never act on those feelings as long as Charles forbade it.

      Carmen watched as her sisters joined their father in the limousine before it sped away. Once more she was alone, separated from a family that didn’t want her. Only this time, instead of being banished from her home by an angry father, she was left standing alone in a cemetery. The heartbreak, though, was no different.

      Forcing her legs to stop wobbling, Carmen strode closer to her mother’s grave. Her family had placed white roses on the casket before it was lowered into the ground. There were still several roses left in a tall vase beside the grave, so she removed the most beautiful one. Bringing it to her nose, she inhaled its sweet fragrance and then kissed it. She closed her eyes, prayed for strength she would need now more than ever and dropped the flower into the grave.

      “Goodbye, Mama. I loved you even when you stopped loving me.”

      Carmen stood there a moment longer, before finally turning and trudging to her rental car. She had just sat down when her cell phone vibrated. She reached for it gratefully, relieved that she had been saved from sinking into despair, or worse, self-pity.

      “Hello.”

      “How are you, Carmen?”

      Damon’s warm voice wrapped around her, providing her with the comfort her family had refused to give, and some of the tension slipped from her shoulders. He was more than her best friend. He was the supportive father figure she’d needed. She wouldn’t have survived these past years without him.

      She’d been homeless, desperate and alone in New York when he’d found her. He’d given her a job as a clerk in his plastics company and found her a place to live, paying six months’ rent in advance for her. He’d also paid for her education. In short, he’d saved her life. Later she’d learned that he’d helped many other girls, giving them what he hadn’t been able to give his own daughter.

      “I’m okay,” she replied automatically, and then sniffed, fighting back the tears.

      There was only silence over the line, and Carmen knew he didn’t believe her. He had the uncanny knack of knowing when she wasn’t being honest with him or herself. In the seven years she’d known him, he’d never used that ability to take advantage of her, though.

      “Well, maybe okay is stretching the truth a bit,” she admitted, and gave a watery laugh.

      “Did you see your father?” Damon’s question, though quietly asked, blasted through the emotions she’d been trying to keep under control. Fresh tears filled her eyes.

      “Yes. And he made it clear he wants nothing to do with me. He truly meant what he said when he threw me out of the house. I’m not his daughter anymore.” The last words were swallowed up by sobs. She’d lost her family years ago. So why was the pain still so fresh?

      She dragged her arm across her eyes, using the sleeve of her jacket to mop up her tears.

      “Did he say that?”

      Swallowing hard, she dug a tissue from her purse and wiped her nose. “No. He didn’t say anything.” She tossed the damp tissue back into her purse and grabbed another one. “And don’t tell me he’s hurting because he lost his wife. I lost my mother and I’m hurting, too.”

      “I wasn’t going to say that. I’m not going to make excuses for someone I haven’t met and don’t think I would like.”

      “Good.” She sniffed again. “Are you back in the States?”

      “Yes. I arrived home early this morning. I only wish I could have been there with you so you wouldn’t have to face this alone.”

      Carmen wished so, too. But when he’d offered to return home early from his business trip abroad to accompany her to Sweet Briar, she’d told him it wasn’t necessary. She’d naively believed that her family would welcome home their prodigal child. Fool that she was, she’d actually thought they could comfort each other at this sad time and become a family again.

      “Can you pick me up at the airport?” she asked.

      “I already told you I would.”

      “I don’t mean in a couple of days. I mean tonight. As soon as I can get a flight home.”

      “Tonight?”

      “Yes.”

      Damon sighed. “What happened, baby?”

      “Daddy’s not like you. He doesn’t care about second chances. He doesn’t want to have one more day with me. Not like you do with Kimberly.”

      Damon’s daughter, Kimberly, had died nearly twelve years ago in a swimming accident. If she had lived, she would be a few years younger than Carmen.

      “Carmen, he’s grieving,” Damon said gently, his voice calm and soothing. It was that tone that had convinced her that she could trust him all those years ago. “And he’s in shock. Give him time.”

      “I thought you weren’t going to take his side.”

      “I’m not. I’m on your side as always. But didn’t you tell me you wanted your family in your life again? How do you expect to accomplish that if you don’t give them a chance?”

      “But what if they still don’t want me?” Her voice was small as she admitted her greatest fear. She’d almost convinced herself her worry was baseless and that they would greet her warmly. Now she knew they might never forgive her.

      “Then they’re fools. But you’ll never know if reconciliation is possible if you run away. Try to work things out. Remember, I’m only a phone call away. If you need me, I’ll be on the first plane. Okay?”

      She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “Okay. I’ll stay. For now.”

      “Good. I’m sure you’re making the right decision.”

      “There’s more,” she said, forcing out the words.

      “What?”

      “Remember the accident I told you about?”

      “Of course I do.”

      She closed her eyes on the wave of pain and guilt that shot through her. “The driver of the other car died.”

      “Oh, Carmen. Are you sure?”

      “Yes. I met her husband today.” Unbidden, the image of Trenton Knight flashed in her mind. His sorrow had been a tangible part of his being. Even though he wore a wedding band, she would bet it had been put there by the poor woman who’d died in the accident. His pain was too raw and his anger too hot for Carmen to believe he’d found happiness with another woman. “She had two little girls.”

      Her heart ached for him and for his motherless children. She couldn’t stand knowing she’d played a role in their tragedy. She should have tried harder to convince Donny to let

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