But that wasn’t true, was it? It was easy enough to blame others but she’d played a part in everything that had happened. She was the one who had decided to speak to Cliff face-to-face. She was the one who had climbed into his car, and she was the one who had accepted Joanna’s offer of help. If she hadn’t come here, they probably would have tracked her down and left Joanna alone. But she had, and now there would be questions. The reporter would want to know why Joanna had brought Ashley here, and whether she’d known who she was all along. Whether Joanna had believed Ashley to be Cliff’s lover or his daughter, there was a juicy story there. And Joanna would pay the price. Again.

It was wrong. So wrong.

“Why do we have to hide? Why can’t we just stand up and tell them to mind their own business?” Could she make Joanna consider a different way? “We could make a statement of some sort. You wouldn’t be on your own this time. I’d be with you. We could do it together.”

Joanna stood up and scooped up the empty glasses. “No comment is better. Whatever you say, they have a way of twisting it. And they can make a story out of nothing. Your hair isn’t perfect, so you’ve obviously not been taking care of yourself. You’re wearing dark glasses, so you’ve obviously been crying.” The words rushed out of her and she paused and took a couple of breaths. “It goes on. Don’t worry. If we lie low and refuse to appear or answer their questions, then they will get bored eventually.”

Ashley felt an ache of sympathy for Joanna, but also a sense of despair and frustration.

She didn’t want to hide. She wanted to fight back. She didn’t know how she was going to rebuild her life, or what her future looked like, but she knew she didn’t want a bunch of nosy, news-hungry reporters to have a say in it.

She breathed slowly and ran through her options.

They were limited. Joanna didn’t want to expose herself to scrutiny, even with Ashley there to offer a layer of protection. And the two of them together would simply make the story all the juicier.

Everyone would want to know why Joanna was caring for her ex-husband’s child.

“Don’t look so sick. It’s going to be okay. I’ve dealt with this so many times, I’m an expert.” Joanna gave her a quick smile. “I promise that whatever happens, I’m here for you. You’re not on your own. I’m going to protect you.”

Ashley felt a solid lump form in her throat. She was going to protect Joanna, too.

And there was only one way to do that.

13

Joanna