“Why didn’t he tell me?” she sobs. “Why save that money for our baby and not tell me about it? There were months that I had to ask my parents for help because I just couldn’t make ends meet. And all this time…”

She breaks down again, and all I can do is rub her back. Cam passes us a box of tissues.

“Okay, I’m okay.” She wipes at her face and sits back, dabbing at her eyes some more. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t expecting that. I didn’t know he was rich.”

“He wasn’t,” I reply simply. “I don’t know how he got the money. But it’s yours. I’ll get you the information so you can claim it.”

She blows out a breath, and I return to my seat next to Cam.

“How are you so calm?” she asks me.

“I’ve had two years to get used to this,” I remind her. “Two years to heal. You only recently found out about it all.”

“Did he hit you, too?” she asks me and then looks at the floor.

“Did Joey Lemon hit you, Heather?”

She bites her lip and then nods, turning her blue gaze back to me. “Yeah. Yeah, he did. But when he did it in front of Constance, I stood up for myself and told him I wouldn’t put up with that from him.” She shrugs. “We never saw him again. My baby lost her father because of me.”

“Bullshit.” I say it hard and firm. “Her father was an abusive prick, and she’s better off without him, no matter if he was still alive or not. And I’m not sorry for saying that.”

“I know.” She sighs again. “I know it. But I still feel guilty. And I know that’s stupid, too. If my best friend told me any of this, I’d tell her the same thing. So, why does it feel different when it happens to you?”

“Because the abuser makes you feel like it’s your fault. Joey was a master manipulator. He could be a complete jerk and then turn around and charm you.”

“That’s true.” She checks her watch. “I took up longer than fifteen minutes.”

“It’s okay. Now that I’m calm, it’s okay. I’m just anxious not to have reminders of that man popping up every single day of my life.”

“I live with one,” she says kindly. “And while I wouldn’t trade her for anything in the world, she is a daily reminder. She looks just like him. And, speaking of, I have to get home to her. I’ve been here on the island for three days. I just mustered up the courage to come by this morning, and it’s a good thing I did because my flight to Dallas leaves later this afternoon.”