Emily's Daughter (23 page)

“You stupid bitch,” the man growled, and tried to kick her again, but Becca attacked him. She punched him and kicked him, all the while screaming, “Don’t hurt my mother! Don’t hurt my mother!”

Through the pain and horror, Emily heard that one word
mother.
Becca had called her
mother.

The man swung Becca up in the air and laughed at her puny struggles. Emily tried to move. He was not going to harm Becca.

“Put the girl down.” Emily heard the strong voice and thought maybe she’d imagined it. The next words proved she hadn’t.

“Put my daughter down,” Jackson repeated. He saw Emily lying on the dirty floor, so still, and his heart split open in pain. Was he too late? Oh, God, he prayed he wasn’t too late. He wanted to run to her, but he couldn’t.
The man held Becca and he had to free her. He was torn between his daughter and Emily, and in that instant he knew just how Emily had felt weeks ago. Becca had to be their top priority. For the first time he understood instinctively what it was like to be a father—loving unselfishly without regard for personal feelings.

“The girl’s gonna dance,” the man sneered.

“On your grave,” Jackson spit out.

“Says who?”

“I say, and so does the Houston police department who are right behind me. So if any of you don’t want to spend time in jail, I suggest you get the hell out of here.”

People scurried from the room, and the big man released Becca just as the police burst through the door.

Jackson and Becca dropped down beside Emily at the same time. “Emily,” Jackson cried, lifting her head.

She moaned and he let out a grateful sigh. She was alive. Now he had to get them out of this dreadful place.

“That man slapped and kicked her,” Becca said. “I think he hurt her. Em, are you okay? Please be okay.”

Becca was calling her Em again. That was worth all the pain. Becca wasn’t mad at her anymore. Emily could tell by her tone.

When she didn’t respond, Jackson got to his feet. “I’d better get an ambulance.”

“No,” Emily shouted, then winced. Jackson was immediately at her side again. “Take me home. Please, take Becca and me home.”

He gathered her into his arms and did just that.

J
ACKSON DROVE
E
MILY’S CAR
back to the condo. She didn’t know how he’d gotten here so fast and she didn’t have the breath to ask. She was just grateful, so grateful. She couldn’t bear to think what would have happened if he hadn’t appeared.

When they got to the condo, Jackson wanted to carry her inside, but she refused. She walked gingerly into the living room and sat carefully on the sofa. Becca hovered beside her. They hadn’t spoken much on the way home. Jackson was angry, Becca was upset, and she was hurting like hell. She probably had a cracked rib. She’d get it x-rayed later. Right now, she needed to talk to Jackson and Becca. She had to find out if those men had drugged Becca, but this time her concern for Becca would not overshadow her deep love for Jackson. She had to tell him how wrong she’d been, but that scowl on his handsome face stopped her.

“What the hell happened here?” Jackson asked, glancing around at the trashed living room.

Becca hung her head.

“I’ll explain later.” Emily looked at Becca. “I—”

“No,” Jackson interrupted. He had reached his limit. They weren’t going to mollycoddle Becca anymore. She needed a strong hand, and right now Jackson was in a mood to give her one. His eyes fastened on her. “Go upstairs. Get out of those clothes and wipe that stuff off your
face. I want you back down here in ten minutes, then you’re going to clean this place up and do some heavy-duty apologizing and mean every word of it.”

“Yes, sir,” Becca replied, and ran for the stairs.

“Jackson,” Emily appealed, not wanting him to be so angry with Becca.

“No, Emily.” Jackson held up a hand. “I’ve let you handle her for weeks and it hasn’t worked. Now we’re going to do it my way. She’s out of control and she’s hurting you. I’m not standing for that.”

She knew he was right—and, oh, it felt so good to have him help her with Becca. “Don’t be too hard on her,” she said. “I think she might’ve been drugged or it could have been fear. I’m not sure, but we need to find out.”

“You’re damn right we will,” he snapped. “I’ll inform the police.”

“No,” Emily said as he reached for the phone. “Why don’t we talk to her first?”

The word
we
worked wonders. Emily was including him. On the phone she’d said she needed him and couldn’t handle Becca alone anymore. He hoped that meant exactly what it implied—that they would now raise their daughter together. Even when he’d been so upset with her, he’d never stopped loving her. But he had to know how she felt.

She patted the spot beside her; even that small movement seemed to hurt “Come sit with me,” she whispered. “I have to say something to you.”

That look in her eyes sent his libido into overdrive and he knew he’d do anything she asked, so he had to keep his distance. He couldn’t give in to her—not this time.

As he hesitated, she asked, “Don’t you want to sit by me?”

“More than you’ll ever know,” he admitted openly.
“But if I get near you, you’ll talk me into changing my mind about Becca and I can’t do that. We have to be firm with her.”

“This isn’t about Becca. It’s about you and me.”

“Oh,” he murmured guardedly.

“If you won’t come over here, I can still talk.” She paused. “I was wrong in asking you for time. Becca and I didn’t need time alone. What we needed was time together. Time as a family, all three of us. I can see that now. I’m sorry if I hurt you, but I was as confused and mixed up as Becca.” She paused again. “I’ve missed you so much. Please don’t stand there forever.”

Jackson didn’t move. He stared into her dark eyes, seeing the future and everything else he wanted to see, but he had to be sure. “I can’t,” he said quietly. “I can’t hold you and kiss you and then leave. I can’t go through that again. The last time almost killed me.”

Her eyes didn’t waver from his. “I love you. I’ve loved you since I was seventeen and I’ll never ask you to leave again. That’s my promise to you.”

Jackson’s heart jolted at her sincerity. It was exactly what he needed to hear, but still he hesitated.

“Jackson…”

He raked both hands through his hair. “I have to know if you forgive me for not coming back all those years ago.”

Her eyes still held his. “Yes, I forgive you,” she replied, and she knew it was the truth.

He had to restrain himself. “Then you want the same thing I want—love, family, a future.”

“Yes.” She smiled. “I want that, too.”

“Emily…” He was by her side in an instant and gazing into her warm, dark eyes. He drew back when he saw the side of her face. “My God, what did that man do to you?”

“Why? Is my face turning blue?”

“Yes,” he answered honestly. “Let me take you to the emergency room.”

“No, I’m just bruised. Nothing’s broken. Maybe a cracked rib—I’ll tape it later. Just kiss me. That’s all I need right now.”

Ever so gently he kissed her swollen cheek.

She leaned into the kiss, needing his touch, his caress, more than she needed anything. She turned her head and their lips met, softly, sweetly, then it became a kiss that swept them away with burning need. “Oh, Emily,” he breathed against her lips. “How did everything go so wrong when we feel like this?”

“I don’t know, but I hope it’s something we can fix.” She ran a hand through his hair, loving the texture of it.

“We sure can, and we begin when Becca comes down. We have to be stern with her and we have to be in agreement on that.”

“I know.”

They heard a door slam upstairs.

“Let me do the talking,” he murmured.

“Okay,” she said simply.

Jackson gave her a quick kiss and got to his feet. As soon as Becca entered the room, she began to pick up pizza boxes and beer cans. She wore jeans and a T-shirt and she looked more like the Becca Emily loved. Jackson helped her. When they’d finished, he pointed to the sofa. “Sit by your mother. I have a few things to say.”

Becca meekly sat beside Emily.

“What possessed you to go to that place?” Jackson asked with as much calm as he could muster.

Becca shrugged her shoulders. “Dylan called and said he was bored and he wanted me to stay home and hang out with him today. I said I couldn’t. I had to go to work.
He started calling me names like staid and Goody Two-shoes and I said I could have fun like anyone else. He came over and we listened to CDs and he called some friends. They brought beer and pizza. I didn’t know they were going to do that. The girls said I needed a makeover and they did my face and lent me some of their clothes. Then the guys decided to go out and we went from bar to bar. I was scared, and I wanted to come home, but they laughed at me.” She stopped for a second. “Finally we ran out of money and one guy said he knew how to get some fast cash and have fun at the same time. Dylan said to do what I was told and I’d better not make a fool out of him or he’d…he’d hurt me.”

Jackson tried to suppress the rage inside him, without success. “I’ll have a talk with that young man and his parents. No one’s threatening my daughter. No one.”

“Jackson,” Emily said quietly, and that soothing voice calmed his anger.

He took a quick breath. “Did he or anyone give you drugs?”

Becca shook her head. “No, but they kept trying to get me to drink. I just took sips and pretended I was.”

“Do you have any idea what those guys had in mind for you?”

“Yes, and I was so scared.”

“That’s good, because we learn from fear and I hope to God you’ve learned something.” He took another breath, trying to maintain his cool, but the thought of what could have happened to her drove him on.

“Look at your mother’s face. If your goal was to hurt her, you’ve succeeded. How does it feel to hurt the person who loves you most in the world?”

A sob erupted from Becca’s throat. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, Em. I really didn’t. I don’t know why I say and
do these awful things. I don’t even know who I am—am I your sister or your daughter? Some days I know, but other days I get so confused I—I lash out. I’m sorry. I just don’t know who I am.” Tears rolled down her cheeks and Emily caught her face and held it.

“You’re my daughter,” she told her softly. “You’ve always been my daughter.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really, and in time it will get easier, but we have to be able to talk and we have to be able to deal with the anger and resentment.”

“But it feels like it’s all my fault.”

Emily frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“When I was small and I said my prayers—” She hiccuped. “I used to pray that I’d wake up and you’d be my real mother and you’d take me to live with you and I’d be your little girl. Now it’s come true and it’s all my fault.”

“Becca, Becca.” Emily wiped tears from her face. “It’s not your fault. Besides, I did the same thing.”

“What?” Becca blinked.

“When I came home that first Thanksgiving, you had on a pink nightie, and when you saw me you kicked out with your feet and waved your hands as if to say, ‘I knew you’d come. I’ve been waiting,’ and I wished you were my little girl. I’ve wished it every time I held you and every time I saw you. There was a bond there, and subconsciously we must have sensed it. That’s why we’ve always been so close.”

“Yeah,” Becca agreed. “You’re my mother.”

“Yes, I’m your mother,” Emily said with a catch in her voice.

“And Jackson is my father,” Becca said.

Jackson had been standing apart, letting them talk, but
now he moved to sit near Becca. “Yes, I am,” he said, taking her hand and holding it.

“You both must hate me for the way I’ve been behaving,” she mumbled, her hair falling across her face.

Jackson pulled her hair back. “We could never hate you. We’re your parents and that comes with unconditional love.”

“I’m sorry, so sorry,” Becca cried, and threw her arms around Emily. Jackson saw Emily wince, but he knew she didn’t mind the pain. “I’m sorry I hurt you. I’ll never act like that again. I promise. I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Emily kissed the side of her face. “Everything’s going to be all right.”

Becca reached out an arm and pulled Jackson close to them. “Yeah,” she murmured happily. “Everything’s going to be all right.”

This was what Jackson had been waiting for, but it wasn’t complete, not yet, and he hoped he wasn’t moving too fast for Emily. He just couldn’t be patient any longer. Looking into Emily’s eyes, he spoke to Becca. “I was planning on changing Emily’s last name to Talbert, and I was hoping you might like to do the same thing.”

Emily was taken aback, but only for a second. She wanted them to be a family, but a small part of her wanted Jackson to ask her in a romantic setting. Then she asked herself what could be more romantic than this, holding their daughter between them? Nothing, absolutely nothing. Her heart filled with love and she waited for Becca’s answer.

“Change my name to Talbert?” Becca asked cautiously.

“Yes,” Jackson replied.

“I’d be Rebecca Ann Talbert.”

“That’s who you are,” Jackson reminded her.

Becca’s face brightened. “Yes, I am. I’m Rebecca Ann
Talbert.” She glanced at Emily. “I think I’d like to have my real name.”

“That would make your father and me very happy.” Emily smiled, and stroked her hair. “Go upstairs and get some sleep. We’ll talk again in the morning.”

Becca hesitated. “Em…?”

“Hmm?”

“I really am sorry for the way I’ve been acting. I understood why you did what you did, but I just kept getting so confused. Even though I knew I was your daughter, I was afraid you loved her more than me. That doesn’t make any sense, but I couldn’t shake the feeling.”

“I know, angel, and it’s okay,” Emily reassured her. “We’ve all been a little confused.”

Becca smiled a genuine smile. “Are you going to call me that?”

“What?” Emily asked, not realizing she’d called her anything different.

“Angel. You called me angel. Jackson does, too.”

“That’s because you are our angel,” Jackson answered before Emily could. “Now off to bed so I can talk to your mother.”

“Will you be here in the morning?” Becca asked him.

Jackson glanced at Emily. “Yes, he will, and every morning from now on,” Emily answered with a smile.

“Great,” Becca said, and kissed them both. She bounced up the stairs and Emily felt the noose around her heart give way and break free.

The smile lingered on her face as she looked at Jackson. “You want to run that by me again?”

“What?” He moved close to her.

“You know.”

He picked up her hand and kissed it. “Emily Ann Cooper, will you marry me?”

“In a heartbeat.” She kissed his lips again and again until he captured them in a passionate vow. When he drew back, they were both breathless. She took his hand and got to her feet with a grimace.

“Emily, you need to go to a doctor.”

“I am a doctor and all I need is a hot bath—and you. I want to lie in your arms and—”

“Wait.” He quirked an eyebrow. “Remember we have a teenager in the house.”

“That teenager will be asleep in ten minutes and a bomb wouldn’t wake her.”

He held an arm around her waist and they slowly made their way to her bedroom. He undressed her slowly and moaned when he saw the dark bruise on her side. “That bastard,” he growled.

She kissed his chest and started to unbutton his shirt.

“Oh, Emily.” He sighed with longing. “I don’t think you’re in any condition for this.”

“I’ll be the judge of that,” she said lightly. In the bathroom, she turned on the tap for the Jacuzzi, then added bath salts to the water, and when it was steaming hot she stepped inside and eased down into its depths.

Jackson quickly removed his shirt, socks and shoes. He grabbed a washcloth and knelt at the edge of the tub. He stroked her body with long, sensuous movements. She closed her eyes with a wondrous sigh as Jackson’s hands and the water took her away. He touched every inch of her and it was the most delicious feeling she’d ever experienced.

He lifted her from the water and toweled her dry with the same caressing motions. Sitting on the edge of the tub, he pulled her between his legs and rubbed lotion into every tantalizing, aching inch. She opened a drawer and handed him an Ace bandage. He carefully wrapped her midsection.
They didn’t say a word. They didn’t have to. Love was guiding their every movement.