The Daughter In the Corner

Talking It Out

“You look upset. Want to talk about it?”

Amara sucked on her spoon as she looked down at her empty bowl of ice cream. Dillon tipped his bowl toward her.

“More?”

Amara smirked. “Don’t mind if I do.” She dug in without shame.

After polishing off his ice cream as well, Amara licked her lips and let out a deep satisfied sigh. Leaning back on the park bench she looked at the clouds above them, lost in a daze.

Dillon sat quietly, waiting for her to open up.

“I know I’m being unreasonable,” she finally confided. “I hate having to share my Dad with Jenny. I wish he would pay more attention to me.”

Dillon kept his mouth shut. The first lesson he learned as a Farley man was to never offer advice to a woman. They want someone to listen to them, not tell them what to do.

Amara sighed and looked sadly at Dillon. “Am I being too selfish?”

Dillon hummed to buy time. “I think everyone craves to be loved but you know you don’t have to always look to your parents for affirmation. You have friends, you have family, you can also find a lover.”

On cue, the wind picked up, touseling Amara’s hair to and fro. With a small squeak, she grabbed the sides of her head to pin her hair down.

Dillon chuckled and pulled her into his chest to shield her from the wind. Amara froze from the sudden embrace but soon relaxed. She didn’t know it until now but she just wanted to feel secure. Dillon was warm and smelled of sunshine. Without realizing it, she had snuggled into his chest to get a better whiff.

Dillon felt her relax in his arms and he shifted a little to better support her weight. Although this was his first time with a woman, Dillon was a natural. The Farley men were never shy when displaying their affection to their wives so he grew up gagging over their constant PDA.

They snuggled together long after the wind had subsided until Dillon spoke up.

“Feel better?”

Amara hummed, keeping her ear firmly planted over his sternum. She enjoyed listening to his low voice rumble within his chest.

“Just a bit longer,” she murmured.

Dillon’s lips lifted in a content smile; his one arm moved slowly, gently rubbing her shoulder and back.

When the sounds of people talking grew louder, Amara sighed and finally pulled away.

“Looks like everyone is getting out of work now.”

Dillon nodded.

Amara offered him a soft smile. “Thanks for the ice cream and for listening to me.”

Dillon chuckled. “Anytime you need me, just give me a call; I’ll lend you an ear and let you eat all my ice cream.”

Amara laughed. “I’ll take you up on that offer; give me your number.” Amara pulled her phone out and handed it to him.

Dillon glanced down and saw that she had 15 missed calls but didn’t comment on it. He punched in his number and called it only hanging up when he felt his phone vibrate in his back pocket.

“Here. Now you have my number.”

Amara took her phone back from his outstretched hand. Looking down, she finally noticed the ridiculous number of missed calls and texts from her mom.

With a sigh, she stood up.

“It’s getting late; I have to go. Thanks for everything.”

“Want me to walk you back?”

Amara shook her head. “I’m okay now, thanks. Bye, Dillon. See you around.”

Dillon smiled as he waved goodbye. Up till now, Amara had been a prickly porcupine; who knew all it took was two bowls of ice cream to turn her into a cute little chipmunk.

***

“You cannot ignore my calls like that! Do you hear me!?” Amanda roared as soon as Amara got home.

Amara murmured an apology hoping it was enough to get her mom off her back.

“I was so worried!” Amanda sighed heavily. “Your father called me and told me to talk to you…”

“Why didn’t he just talk to me?”

“…” Amanda was lost for words. “He’s… busy.”

Amara snorted. “Yeah, with his real family…”

“Amara! Enough! I know you think your dad cares for Jenny and Peter more than you but that simply isn’t true! There is a lot going on with Jenny right now and she needs our help,” Amanda scolded.

Amara rolled her eyes. “Fine. I’m going to my room.”

Amanda sighed and sat down on the couch. “Amara, honey, come sit next to me. We need to talk.”

“Mom, I’m tired. Can’t this wait?”

Amanda shook her head and patted the sofa cushion next to her.

“No, sweetheart; it really can’t. Come.”

Amara let out an exasperated groan but obediently plopped next to her mom.

Amanda scooted closer to her sulking daughter and patted her thigh.

“We didn’t tell you because it’s not something we want too many people to know. Nathan married your sister against her will while she was in a coma. Last I heard your father and Chris were trying to figure out where Nathan took her.”

Amara raised a brow in confusion. “How did they know it was against her will? She seemed adamant about marrying Nathan.”

“How are you so sure?”

Amara huffed. “Because I walked into her and Derrick while they… had an intimate moment.”

Amara cleared her throat and continued. “When I threatened her about Nathan finding out she slapped me and told me she would hurt me if I ruined her marriage with Nathan.”

Amanda frowned and touched her daughter’s face gently. “Does it still hurt? Don’t worry your dad and I will never let anything bad happen to you.”

Amara shook her head. “I’m fine. It just made me mad because she had Nathan but she… well never mind.”

Amanda chuckled. “Do you still like Derrick?”

Amara’s eyes widened like dinner saucers. “How did you know!?”

It was Amanda’s turn to roll her eyes as she chuckled. “Oh darling, you couldn’t be more obvious. Your dad and I used to laugh about it. You were so cute following that boy around as a kid. Then you would talk about him every now and then. I was hoping you would like the younger one though,” she trailed off with a sigh.

Amara frowned softly at the mention of Hunter. Her chest tightened as a feeling of conflict washed over her. She had conveniently forgotten about him when she was in Dillon’s arms.

“Anyway, your dad wanted me to talk to you. He was worried that you took it the wrong way. He was afraid of making it worse so he had me talk to you first.”

Amanda reached out and pulled her daughter into her arms. “Come here, my little pumpkin.”

Amara snorted softly in her arms.

“You are a chip off your father’s block. Both of you are so stubborn and hot-headed…”

Amara pouted and closed her eyes as her mother droned on.

Jenny felt awful. Although it was a small concussion, she still felt dizzy whenever she tried to focus or get up. Chris just came in to let her know he had reallocated her work for the time being so she could relax and focus on getting better.

“Did Nathan leave?”

Chris nodded. “He left not too long ago.”

Jenny hummed and closed her eyes.

Chris sighed as he looked at her tired face. “Don’t worry about anything. I told him we would all talk after you have fully recovered. Until then, he won’t bother you. Get some rest. Your mom and the maids will be around to care for you. I have to get to work but I am just a call away. If you need anything, call me and I will come running. Okay?”

Jenny opened her tired eyes and looked at the older man. “Thanks, Dad.”

“Anytime, jellybean. Go to sleep. I’ll come see you later today.”

Jenny hummed and leaned into her pillow. She didn’t want to think about it but she missed Nathan’s warm body pressed up against her own.

‘What a pity…’