Dark Legacy by Jen Talty (best non fiction books to read .TXT) 📕

Shannon closed her eyes, sucked in a deep breath, and counted to ten.

“I hate it when you do that. It’s as if you’re ignoring me,” her mother said under her breath.

“Because I am.” Shannon blinked, letting the air out of her lungs. “So, Tara and Kevin eloped?” The corners of her mouth tugged upward. She couldn’t be happier—or prouder—of her little sister for finally standing up for what she wanted. “Good for them.”

“Did you put that little idea in her head?” Her mother tossed her purse onto the chair and slapped her hands on her thighs. “Not only is she upstaging Bonnie’s upcoming nuptials, but Kevin left a note telling his father that he quit the firm. Can you believe that? He just up and quit a perfectly good job.”

“Did you ever think maybe he has a better one lined up?”

Her mother stomped her foot and planted her hands on her hips. “So, you did know? And you probably made their travel arrangements. I should have known you’d sabotage my plans.”

“You’re the one who wanted them back together.” Why Shannon even chose to engage her mother at this point was beyond her, especially with the day she’d had and what was on the horizon.

Maybe it was a good distraction.

“Of course, I do. Kevin and Tara are a power couple.”

“Jesus, Mother. Do you hear yourself?”

“Don’t use God’s name in vain.”

Shannon laughed. As if her mother really believed in God. She used religion as a way to cleanse her soul. To keep her good standing in the community. Part of Shannon wished she could find comfort in the arms of the church, but all it did was remind her of the hypocrisy of her entire childhood. “Can’t you just be happy for Tara and Kevin? This is what they want. It might not be how you wanted it to happen, but can’t you see how your meddling might have pushed them into it?”

“Seriously? You’re going to blame me for this when I trusted you with Tara? I dropped her off there so you could help her and Kevin see their future, not push them away.” Her mother dabbed her eyes. “Now, they are going to move to Newburgh. Who the hell lives in that godawful place?”

Wonderful. Here comes the waterworks.

“Mom. It’s going to be okay. They will only be a few hours away, and it’s not going to upstage Bonnie’s wedding.” Nothing could ever take center stage from that woman.

“You’re not a mother. You don’t understand.”

Shannon gasped, clutching her gut. Never in her life had she considered herself a mom.

But she had given birth to a little girl.

“Oh, stop,” her mother chided. “We are not going down that road.” She tilted her chin. “Now, I expect you to get ahold of Tara and tell her to get her ass back here. And if she and Kevin managed to get married last night, then tell them they’d better get it annulled and not breathe a word of it. We can plan a big wedding for them next year.”

“Mom, they don’t want that. Do you ever listen to anything your children want or don’t want?”

“That’s no way to speak to your mother.” She fanned her face. “Why do you always do this to me? What did I do to deserve this?”

There was no reasoning with her mother, and it was pointless to continue the conversation. Besides, Lilly’s father and his wife should be in her office in the next ten minutes. The last thing she needed was her mother, the train wreck, there when Lilly and her father and stepmother showed up.

“I’ll call Tara.”

“Thank you,” her mother said. “I’m glad you’ve come to your senses.”

Shannon bit down on the inside of her cheek. She had no intention of trying to talk Tara into coming home, but she would congratulate her, that was for damn sure.

“I’d better run. I’ll see you later in the week.” Her mother grabbed her purse, turned on her heel, and strolled out the door like she was the Queen of England.

Talk about exhausting.

Shannon rubbed the back of her neck and glanced at her phone, smiling. Jackson had sent her a text.

Jackson: If you need me, I’m just a phone call away. See you tonight.

She didn’t have a chance to respond or even gather her thoughts before Greg and his lovely but distraught wife came barreling through her door.

“Good morning,” Shannon said. “Where’s Lilly?”

“She’s not coming.” Greg wrapped his arm around his wife, Julie. “She left home.”

“What do you mean?” Shannon couldn’t handle another patient with issues. Of course, all her clients had problems. That’s why they came to see a therapist in the first place. Although Shannon thought everyone should see one at some point in their life.

“She snuck out last night and left this note.” Julie handed a crumpled piece of paper to Shannon. “She was doing so well, and then her mother showed up out of the blue, and everything changed.”

“When did her mother get out of rehab?” Shannon held the note and made her way to the filing cabinet, pulling out Lilly’s file.

“Two days ago. But not because she was done with treatment.” Greg ran a hand over his unshaven face. “Sally was doing so well. The last time I spoke to her, she was excited about the way things were going for Lilly, and she seemed truly happy for Lilly’s fresh start. If Sally is back to using and back to her old ways, this won’t be good for our daughter.”

“Lilly is strong, and she’s made more progress than you realize.” Shannon set the file on the top of her desk and unfolded the piece of paper that Lilly had left her parents.

Dear Dad and Julie,

Thanks. I just can’t live here or like this. I’m too broken. I appreciate all you’ve done, but my mom needs me. And, truthfully, I need her.

Lilly.

Shannon glanced up. “Lilly didn’t write this.”

“Excuse me?” Greg blinked. “That’s her handwriting. We double-checked it against her schoolbooks.”

“That very