Choosing Hope -Moss Bluff Series Book Two

Chapter 31

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Chapter 31

Georgia

It's a big day for this family. A bigger day for Quinn. When she came downstairs the other day with Leo and Hope, there was no hiding the happiness in that girl's heart. She shared her wonderful news with me and Beckett, making us agree to not tell anyone else until after the court date to close the book with Fitz.

If only it was that simple.

I agreed, as did Beckett, to not tell anyone, only because I didn't feel it was time to celebrate an engagement with this trial over our heads. As happy as I am for those two, I'm twice as worried. Lindsey hasn't been found and Charlie has been pushed by the powers that be around here to pull back the search for her.

The Mayor has certainly tugged on those chains.

Of course, her father would want to protect his only child. I don't fault him for his love for her. I do, however, believe he has made a tremendous mistake. Lindsey isn't stable and from everything that the boys have told me about that night in the cabin, I would say she isn't done with us yet.

Paige and Will were good enough to watch Hope at my house for us, while the family all gathered together to support Quinn in this trial. Unfortunately, that includes Breyden and Laney, as they are Jim's family. I can't imagine how difficult this must be for Breyden to watch one of his best friends go down this slippery slope.

By the time I got to the courthouse most of the family had already arrived. I took my time just to be sure the security I hired was in place and there was no way anyone would kidnap my granddaughter again. If anyone even attempts to enter my home they are in for a very rude awakening.

"Where is Adam and Chloe? I spoke to him last night and was explicit about the situation. He swore he would be here!" My oldest son is turning out to be more and more irresponsible when it comes to this family's needs and his responsibility to protect it.

"Did you really think he was going to show up?" The question was as sarcastic as it was honest. Blake has abandoned all hope in his brother's accountability.

He has even gone so far as to take over raising Aiden, since neither Adam or Chloe seem to have any interest in their only child. It's a shame really. Aiden is a wonderful child who is going to lead this family someday. I know that in my bones.

"I spoke to him last night and he..." I didn't finish my sentence. There's no point. Requesting his presence is like asking for the sky to snow. I'm talking to the wrong person.

Pulling out my phone, I began to send my MIA boy a text when Blake covered my hand with his."Ma, don't.
He isn't even in town. When I talked to his assistant earlier, she said he was on a "prospecting" trip in Italy."

"Italy? We don't have any..." I knew instantly what his "prospecting" trip truly was. He's taken his latest mistress on a trip. "He's as bad as your father."

I don't like to talk ill of the dead. But when it comes to my first husband, I make an exception. Especially now that I have learned some very important details about his death and his connection to the building he died in. I didn't know anything about the family owned business or the other victims from that night several years ago. The more I dig, the more those details are becoming clear.

Details I haven't shared with the family and I'm not completely sure I should. They have suffered enough by his actions. Telling the family how his presence killed two others, how he is responsible for two young men losing their parents and the family business in a single blow. It won't bring them back or fix anything.