Free The Ties that Bind (Kingdom) by Theresa L. Henry

their dinner progressed, he had noticed that Hope’s father kept his wife’s wine glass topped off. He had seen her delicately place her hand over the top of the glass to refuse a refill, but she had been ignored. He had also noticed that the vibrant woman who he had met at the start of the evening was gone. Her eyes becoming progressively more glazed until her conversation was entirely gone.
    At this stage, he could tell that Hope was deeply embarrassed by her mother, and it seemed to Steve that her father’s expression was one of satisfaction. He had been in their company a handful of times subsequent to that first meeting, and the pattern was always repeated. Steve knew abuse when he saw it, and had tried to question Hope about the toxic relationship her parents shared. Her anger at his inquiries about her mother’s wellbeing had surprised him.
    She had told him that her father had spent years attempting to get her mother help but that there was no helping her. Her disdain for the woman who had given her life had astonished Steve. His attempts to show her his perspective as an outsider on how he saw her parents’ relationship had resulted in her verbally attacking him. An argument had ensued which culminated in Hope storming out.
    Unperturbed by her tantrum, Steve had revisited the conversation again. The result always being the same, Hope’s unwillingness to see her parents in any other roles than the ones she had grown accustomed to.
    At one of their infrequent meetings he and tried to get Taryn on her own to speak with her. He had wanted to let her know that if she ever needed anything she could call on him. He had given her his card, but as he had been handing it over, Mason had approached them and had wanted to know what they had been discussing. Taryn’s hand had closed so tightly around the card, Mason’s eyes were immediately drawn to her fist.
    Taryn had told her husband that Steve had just given her his card as he wanted to talk to her about a gift he was thinking of getting for Hope. Mason had smiled, but it never reached his eyes. He had given Steve a knowing look, taken his wife’s arm, and led her away. Steve had never heard from Taryn, and that had been the last time he had seen her.
    “It’s okay, Hope. Why don’t you take a break?” Steve spoke into the silence that had enveloped the room while at the same time pushing his memories of her parents away.
    “Alright. Do you want something to drink?” Hope’s ready acceptance of his suggestions told Steve just how much the revealing of her background was affecting her.
    “You know what I really need right now? I need something to eat. Let’s go out, and I’ll treat you to a late lunch.” Steve suggested. Hope’s immediate agreement to his suggestion spoke volumes, and Steve was prepared to give her the respite she seemed to need. However, before the night was over, he would hear it all.
     

Chapter 9
    Hope’s attempt at eating had been met with a churning of her stomach that caused her to excuse herself on more than one occasion. From what she could see, Steve hadn’t fared much better. She knew neither of them were interested in their meal. Rather, Steve’s suggestion that they go out for a meal had been his way to give her time to compose herself.
    He may well hate her at this point, but she knew him well enough to know that he always had the wellbeing of others in the forefront of his mind.
    For the thousandth time, Hope mentally berated herself for her stupidity at what she had done to him. How, without a thought for his feelings, she had played out a role that for her was almost second nature.
    While a part of her mind rejoiced in the fact that Steve was actually sitting across the table from her, she wasn’t so foolish as to imagine, even for a moment that she could win him back. Too much had happened. He was still too hurt by the way she had behaved, and most distressing of all, he no longer trusted her.
    Throughout the weeks