Page 53 of Fatal Betrayal

"I really don't want to talk about my father."

"Just tell me what happened."

She sighed, knowing that Cooper could be as persistent as she was when it came to getting a question answered. "I was in LA for a work trip, and I agreed to meet him for dinner. He wanted me to get to know his new girlfriend, who was twenty-five years old, a year younger than me. But he showed up late for dinner, because he got tied up having sex with a paralegal in his office."

"He told you that?"

"Oh, no. He said he had a meeting. But halfway into dessert, his paralegal showed up at the restaurant and said exactly what had happened. All hell broke loose. My dad had lied to two more women, both of whom seemed to have feelings for him, and I just couldn't stand it anymore. I told him we were done, and I left. I haven't talked to him since."

"Sorry," he said, sympathy in his voice.

She shrugged. "I don't need a father."

"What happened with your mother? Did she remarry?"

"Five years ago. Greg is a decent guy. He's very different from my father, very quiet, kind of meek. They don't fight. It's all very calm. In fact, they do yoga together. I guess that's what she needed—some peace."

"I'm glad she found happiness."

"Me, too. Once she met Greg, she finally stopped ranting about how horrible my father was, how much he'd hurt her. She started looking forward instead of back."

"Why do you think your dad wants to see you now?"

"I have no idea, and I don't really care. He was a terrible father, husband, and family man. He's narcissistic and cold, and sometimes I worry that…" Her voice fell away as she realized how much she was revealing to Cooper.

"Worry about what?" Cooper prodded, sending her a sharp, questioning look.

"This isn't a session. I'm not laying on your couch."

"No one lies on the couch. What do you worry about?"

"That I might be a little too much like him," she said finally.

"No way. You're nothing like him."

She appreciated the defense, but argued, "You don't know me anymore, Cooper."

"Then tell me why you think you might be like him."

"I have tunnel vision on the job. I lose track of time. I work all night long when I have to. I'm not good at relationships. I don't trust anyone. And love…that seems like a bad idea. Sometimes I think I'm dead inside." When Cooper didn't say anything, she gave him a quick look. "Forget I said all that. I don't know why I did. But you always had a way of getting things out of me."

"Only because I was willing to listen when you wanted to talk," he said quietly. "I don't believe you're dead inside. I think you probably care too much. You want to fix everything that's broken, but you can't."

"I do like to fix things," she conceded.

"Then why don't you want to fix your relationship with your father?"

She thought about that for a moment. "I don't think he deserves it."

"He didn't cheat on you, Andi."

"It felt like he did. My mom cried on my shoulder so many times. She told me all the ways he'd hurt her. She wanted me to hate him, and I did. But there was a part of me that wanted him to show me he was better than I thought he was. Every time I gave him the chance to do that, he failed."

"Does that mean you're done? No more chances?"

"I don't know," she said with a sigh. "I'll probably have to talk to him at some point."

"Or not. You don't have to forgive him, Andi. But if hating him hurts you, then he's winning."