Taking a Gamble on Three of a Kind (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read Online Free PDF Page B

mean to say that. I’m just not myself.”
    “You sounded like you knew exactly what you were saying. I want the truth, something we need more of around here.”
    Her mother sighed. “Okay. You already know that we all grew up here in Brilliance, your father, Jack, and me Your father was a few years older. Jack and I dated before he went away to medical school. When he came back I thought we’d get back together, although he hadn’t asked me to wait. When he did come back, he brought Abigail with him, and that was the end of the romance I thought he and I had. Your father and I started dating soon after, and we got married.”
    “You didn’t love Dad? All these years I thought you had the most wonderful marriage. I don’t know how much more I can take.”
    “I loved your father. Not the way I did Jack. But in time I came to love the man he was, and he loved me so much. I never regretted marrying him, and he never knew that I still had feelings for Jack. I want you to believe me. It’s the truth.”
    “I don’t know what the truth is anymore.” Jenny pushed herself away from the table and ran up to her room, slamming the door like she was eight years old. She couldn’t help it. She thought she had found a way to solve one problem, and then her mother told her she had always been in love with Jack Rowan and her father had been her second choice. This was more than any daughter should have to endure.
    She knew it was wrong to assume she knew things she didn’t, but looking back, she had always sensed that her father had an issue with the Rowans. How could he not have known? How it must have hurt him to know that his wife was in love with another man. And yet he stayed. He was such a good man. He would never turn his back on his family, especially his only child.
    Her mother opened her bedroom door without knocking. “Please, don’t shut me out. I know I’m a terrible mother, but I love you and I loved your father. I should have never told you about Jack. He doesn’t even know how I felt. These past few years with him have been wonderful, but I would give them all back if I could have one more day with your father.”
    “When did you start seeing Jack?”
    “It’s been three years now. I think it was right after Thanksgiving.”
    Jenny brushed past her mother and ran down the stairs and back to the kitchen where she left her notes concerning her mother’s accounts.
    She turned to see her mother had followed her.
    “I want you to stop seeing Jack Rowan.”
    “Why would you want me to do that? I just told you how I feel about him. None of this has anything to do with him.”
    “It just occurred to me that you started seeing him right around the time you started going to the casino a lot. There’s a direct correlation between him and the escalation of your gambling problem.”
    “No. That can’t be.”
    “Do the math. It’s true. He’s no good for you. He never was. I don’t know the psychological reason for your irrational need to have him in your life, but there is one. You can’t deny the facts. He’s done nothing but hurt this family.”
    Her mother sat down at the table. “It just doesn’t seem possible. He’s been nothing but good to me. You have to be wrong.”
    “I’m not. If you want, go back over your statements, you’ll see I’m right.” Jenny shook her head. “You have to stop seeing him. If you don’t, you’re not going to get better, and if you don’t get better, you’re going to have to declare bankruptcy. And if that happens, everyone in Brilliance is going to know about your addictions, including Jack Rowan. Think he’ll still want you then?”
    “He won’t want me. Who would?”
    “Mom,” Jenny said softly. “I shouldn’t have said that. That was cruel. I’m not myself either.”
    “I deserved it. The truth hurts, but for once I’m going to do the right thing. You needn’t worry. I’ll break it off with him.”
    “I know it won’t be easy. You have to be