hing like he'd imagined: Allison reclined on the couch, sipping water, her posture almost regal. A crisp property

understood what

rode toward her. "Allie, can't we handle

llison set her glass aside a

could I see your identification, please? Ms. Wade has reported that

is driver's license. "This is all a misunderstanding, offi

habits, but she raised a hand, stopping him cold. "If you've got s

and since it's closer to Haylee's work, we moved in for a bit. Now that you're back, we'll leave, no

r their wedding, but the property had been transfer

in the second she was gone. His family owned more than enough homes in Streley. Ther

maybe even push her into giving up the apartment. Perhaps they still believed sh

you look at the deed sitting right in front of you? My name is the only one on it. Not yours, not your mother's,

ied to tell you, but I couldn't r

f he had truly wanted to get in t

, every excuse, every wor

ison retorted, her patience worn thin. She wasn

ty of messy disputes like this, and none ever ended c

his record. If he hadn't listened to his mother and picked a different place, none o

never backed down from a fight with his mother. Reluctantly, he forced himself to beg. "Allie,

etachment, barely able to recal

the law and let the officers sort it out," s

e, hoping the two would work it

rough, can't you give me a chance to fix this? I'

ld memories now was almost laughable. "Isn't

head, searching for an

ilence. "Mr. Clark, you'll need to come wit

st resolve this here? She's my ex-wife; w

er eyes at his p

ne buzzed with an

mall voice rang through. "Mo

. "I'm finishing up, sweetheart. I'll be back soon. Did you eat

that his mom might vanish without warning. Holding Derek's phone in both hands, he pleaded, "Mo

him outside in the chill. She had to finish arguing wit

ice cut in, steady and cold. "

ression, Derek knew he couldn'

nerves. "No, things a

one unchanged, "Di

he didn't need anyone else meddling. "Everything's fine. I'll head back i

ave somewhere to be. If you have more to

. You've got your own child now, too. For the kids' sake, and whatever happened before,

hoping to make the Clark family finally respect her boundaries. She knew

ther would never let her go

n felt was disgust. She wanted

t market rate, cover the repairs for any damage, pack up your things, and move out by th

ate to put the mess behind

ed her head. "Sorry for the trouble,

leave, gave them a few parting

red the money and promised to

that had haunted her for years finally pushing to t

swers, even i

away on a trip for work, and I drank more than I should have. I honestly thought she was you. Things got out

, cutting him off. "Tha

he door after he left, he

othes, but it felt as if her whole life

ressing in from every side. The

llway, only to find Derek standing by the entrance.

age in sight. He remembered crossing paths with

any questions. "I'm he

igned, as if this whole erra

ad looked him straight in the ey

with neither of them

ng to discuss, and Allison didn't

finally spoke. "Could you pull o

hing you need, you'l

. She had no plans to stay at

ulled out her phone and sent a qu