Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 72028 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72028 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
“Your father has some blinders on when it comes to you, sweetie. Like I said, it was inevitable they would come off at some point. The way he treats you has a lot to do with his past.” Her mom sat back, considering her. “Your father’s family was complicated. His mother, from what I can tell, was a hard woman. He didn’t have a sister growing up. He only had a brother and a mom. His mother was bitter, to say the least, and so he took care of his brother.”
“The one we don’t talk about?” She’d always thought it odd since there were pictures of her mother’s family—including her first husband and Daisy’s half-sister, Madison. They were all gone now, but there was a place for Mom’s family in their home. But nothing for her da’s family. He’d taken them to Ireland, shown them around Dublin, and every now and then he would mention his brother. He would show them a building and say this was where he and Rory used to hide when the bullies would come for them. Or that’s the church where his mum took them every single Sunday. But no real information beyond what they’d passed, and that was that.
Her mom nodded. “Because he betrayed your father in the worst way. Your dad put a lot of his soul into Rory, and it turned out so badly. He watched him die, would have been the one to pull the trigger if he’d been given the chance. He was trying to save me at the time.”
Daisy felt her eyes go wide. Her parents seemed to have perfect lives. “Da’s brother tried to hurt you?”
“Yes,” her mother agreed. “You know your father and I met during an investigation, but what we don’t talk about is the mission itself. He was investigating a man who turned out to be his own brother. It’s a very long story. Serena did a good job with it. A Soldier is Forever.”
Now she felt her jaw drop. “The one where Amy works for the dude who stole a billionaire philanthropist’s identity, and Leo has to romance her to get close only to discover it’s his long-lost brother who is using the charity as a front for an arms dealership?”
Her mom winced. “Yup.”
Daisy felt her stomach roll because she’d read the book. Several times. And not merely for the plot. “But that’s the kinkiest one.”
She’d never seen that shit-eating grin on her mother’s face before. “Like I said, she did an excellent job with it.”
“I know I said I thought it was awesome you and Da still do those things, but I’m a little disturbed right now.”
Her mother pointed her way like Daisy had made her point. “Exactly how your father is feeling. All I’m trying to say is that your father loves you, and he’s doing the best he can.”
“My father doesn’t know me, and I’m not sure he wants to.” Daisy sat back. “I’m very tired of pretending to be something I’m not. I hide a lot of myself because I know I can never compete with Aidan.”
Her mother leaned in. “You don’t have to compete with your brother. There’s no competition. This is a family not a race. I need you to understand I see you, Daisy. I see who you are, and I’m very proud of the young woman you’ve become. You don’t have to be a doctor to be a good person. And I’m happy you’ve explored the world. Your father is worried the world will hurt you. I happen to know it will happen whether we protect you or not. That’s the way life is, my baby. It’s how we react to the hurt that matters, and you get up every single time. That’s what your dad isn’t taking into account. He’s so busy trying to pretend you’re perfect he doesn’t see how gloriously beautiful your imperfections are. Perfect is boring and it’s not real. I’m going to tell you something I won’t admit to anyone else. I’m worried about Aidan. I’m worried if this thing with Tristan doesn’t work out it will break him because he’s never had a damn doubt in his life. But you, my sweet girl, have had all of them, and you keep going. Don’t ever let anyone tell you you’re not the strong one. You’re more than strong. You sway. It’s the most important thing you can learn to do. To not let the bad times break you. You bend in the storm and you survive, and when the sun shines again, you are stronger than you were before.” Her mother reached out and put a hand over hers. “I don’t worry about you because you are a tree that sways. One day when you have children those magnificent branches you’re growing will protect them from the worst of the storms until they’ve learned how to be like their mother.”