“If you expect Leanne to fall in line with some asshole’s plan for money, you don’t know her at all. And if you don’t tell her why you kept her dad’s identity a secret in the first place because you’re hoping for a payout…” He couldn’t bring himself to finish that sentence.

Junie’s gaze snapped up, as she choked on a swig of lime tea. “What are you saying? I don’t want anything from that rat bastard. But she is his child, which means she’s entitled to anything he wants to give her. It might come in handy later. They say it takes money to get anywhere in politics.”

He clenched a fist, trying to keep hold of the fraying reins of his temper. “I doubt Leanne will want anything from this man. But…you should tell her. Not because she might get something, but because she has a right to decide.”

“Do you have any advice as to how I should put it?” Vulnerable eyes stared across the table, begging for guidance.

Somehow this woman still isn’t a grown-up. It was like time stopped when she met the wrong person as a kid, and she never ceased looking for someone to take care of her. An unsettling realization to have about his mother-in-law.

“I wouldn’t tell her that he asked you to have an abortion. That’s too hurtful even if it’s true. I guess I’d just say you were ashamed because he was married.”

Her shoulders rounded slightly. “Maybe it doesn’t matter, but in the beginning, I didn’t know. I call it an affair now because that’s what it was, but at the time, I thought I was so cool, dating an older guy. I got pregnant thinking it would make him stay. But there were too many restrictions, times I couldn’t get in touch with him, and then…”

“You found out.”

“Yeah.” Junie sighed and lowered her head, the perfect picture of injured innocence. “I think you’re right. I’ll lay it out, bare bones, and she can take it from there.”

Yeah, I definitely did the right thing, even if Leanne gets mad. She didn’t need to hear the unfiltered version. It’s bullshit for Junie to expect Leanne to comfort her in a situation like this.

“Can I give you one more piece of advice?” Trev asked.

Leanne’s mom nodded. “Please do.”

“I know you want a better relationship with her, but you can’t just…insist on it. You weren’t around when she needed you most, and now that she’s grown, she gets to choose how often she sees you.”

“Whew. No punches pulled.” Junie stood abruptly. “I appreciate your time. I’ll give you a heads-up before I talk to LeLe. I’m really, truly glad she has someone like you watching her back. I wish I’d been that lucky.”