Page 47 of Perfect Composition

“My father.”

“Yes. I’m beginning to believe so” is the last thing I hear before I begin learning the truth about my own past from a complete stranger.

Two hours later, we still haven’t let Austyn and Angie back into the room. There’s no more files to read. Ward and David left the room some time ago. My heart is in pieces. Carys has come down to sit next to me to offer me moral support. After all, no one in this room is going to hurt me.

No, the person who deliberately hurt me is someone I have to face when I head back to Texas.

“When he overheard your father threatening his parents, Beckett made the decision the two of you had to leave if you were going to have half of a chance at the life you had planned together. His whole life in Kensington had been subject to the whims of two parents who became alcoholics when he was a young boy, but he never knew why. When he finally put the pieces together, he never wanted you tainted with that. Somehow, his parents figured it out. He’s still not sure if they found a bag, the money he siphoned away—he just doesn’t know. But after they found out he was intending on leaving with the one girl he shouldn’t be, the daughter of the woman whose life they ended, they threatened him—only after physically doing some harm.”

“He claimed he was in a fight,” I whisper.

“He wasn’t. It was his mother slapping him around while his father held him down. Then…they switched.”

“Oh, God.” I shove my face into my folded arms.

Carys runs her hand up and down my back. “That’s when he realized it was never going to work. He didn’t leave because of you, Paige. He left to protect you from what he endured.”

“What are you hiding from me?”

He smooths my hair away from my face. “Everything. But soon it won’t matter. I hope.”

“Why didn’t he tell me?” Faster and faster, tears leak from my eyes into the sleeves of my dress.

“Because he loved you. He wanted better for you than he could possibly give you.” It’s such a simple statement, but with it comes every memory of those months when I knew my heart.

I lift tormented eyes to meet Carys’s compassionate ones. “What? A life of ceaselessly loving him? Of being unable to stop because I love our child the exact same way? And now what am I supposed to do? Go home to a town where my life was built on lies to do what? Wither away in the sun?”

I push wearily to my feet. “Let’s bring the others back.”

Carys does the same. “Are you sure?”

“It’s time to settle this.”

Austyn storms into the room, her face set in lines of fury until she takes a good look at mine. “Mama.” She rushes forward and wraps me up tightly. “What did you do to her?”

Carys doesn’t say anything to defend herself. She waits for the others to file in and for the door to close. I smooth the hair away from my daughter’s face, cataloging each and every feature that’s mine, that’s Beckett’s. “From the moment I knew I was carrying you, the love I’ve had for you has been surreal. You were my reason for not giving up on life after your father left; that’s how much love I had for him.”

I hear a sniff behind me, but I focus only on Austyn’s damp eyes. “I was wrong, baby. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow, I can forgive myself for making the wrong decisions. All I can say to defend myself is I trusted. One day, I hope your father understands that.”

“Mama, what do you mean?” Austyn whispers, her hands coming up to grip my wrists.

“Your father was trying to protect me when he walked out of my life. And your grandfather…” I feel bile surge up, trying to take over. “For now, you just need to know your father will be overwhelmed to know you, Austyn. In a good way, I promise. Carys is going to help with that.”

“Where are you going to be?”

My jaw tightens. “Dealing with your grandfather.”

“Let me come with you,” she begs.

“No, baby. Stay. I…” Swallowing past the knot of pain, I push the words out. “…believe what they told me. Trust Carys. She only has your best interest at heart.” Whereas my father only had his.

“Paige, please, wait. There’s so much to discuss.” Ward’s voice is laced with urgency.

I ignore him, focusing only on Austyn. “You’re safe here. Don’t worry—I’ll handle everything back home. Just promise me you’re going to fly. Soar. Rain down magic with your music.” I glance over at Carys. “You’ll represent her legally?”

“It would be my honor.”

I nod at the evidence I brought with me. “Keep those. If something happens, you might need it to protect both of them.” Smoothing a hand over Austyn’s cheek, I pick up my now empty briefcase and leave the conference room without looking back.