No One Like You by Heather McGovern

Author:Heather McGovern
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2018-06-12T19:54:32+00:00

Chapter 18

When she glanced up, Trevor’s intent gaze stared right inside her, trying to see even the darkest parts of her life that she kept hidden. She didn’t want him to see.

He wouldn’t like what he saw.

He made no secret of his interest in her, but he’d mainly seen the woman she portrayed herself to be. If he knew the real her, the Brooke who couldn’t put her past behind her, a woman who’d allowed herself to be verbally and emotionally abused, the doubts and dark thoughts she’d entertained…

And she wasn’t finished with any of it yet. Her ex-husband was still around, trying to take from her what she held most dear.

Her stomach turned, a wave of nausea sweeping over her.

Who was that woman she’d become? A woman who’d been demeaned, yelled at, and now sued. She wished she could say she didn’t know this woman. Being a victim angered her in ways she never thought she’d feel.

Insecure, scared, and the furthest thing from heroic.

A hero would never allow herself to be treated that way. She’d fancied herself as independent, strong—and she was when it came to other people—but she’d let someone, who supposedly loved her, treat her in ways she’d never allow her sisters to be treated.

And to this day, she had no idea why.

Trevor shifted in his chair, leaning forward. Closer. “Your silence is answer enough.”

“What?”

“When my dad started drinking all the time and my mom was depressed, I claimed I knew it wasn’t my fault. But I guess I said that only to have something to say. Deep down, I blamed myself for their fighting, my parents’ hurt and anger, our family falling apart.”

Brooke clung to her napkin. “I knew your folks separated, but I didn’t know things were that bad.”

“Surprise. The Bradleys aren’t a perfect family. Never were. I told myself all the time that my parents’ misery wasn’t my fault. But deep down, I thought somehow my brothers and sister and I held blame.”

“What finally convinced you otherwise?”

“Talking to my mom.”

She flinched, the idea of ever hearing Nick’s voice again bringing on another wave of sickness.

“I am in no way advising you to talk to your ex.” Trevor put his free hand out for emphasis. “Absolutely not. But, for me and my situation, when I finally reached out to my mom last spring and slowly kind of opened up communications, I gained perspective. I realized she and my dad had their own issues long before us kids ever came along. It wasn’t until then that I finally knew, in my soul, their problems weren’t our fault.”

She shook her head. “I don’t think I’m there yet.”

“I don’t think you are either. But that’s okay. Takes time. Looking back, maybe that’s part of why I needed to go away for a while. I couldn’t see the bigger picture. I was still hurting, and so were my brothers and sister. We aren’t completely better now, but we’re getting there.”

She knew a little about the Bradleys’ hard times with their parents and the inn.

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