Bab 82: Chapter 28

"Oh, Killian." Marliss's sigh was even louder than his. Let me get a cup of coffee so I can wake up my brain. Then you can tell me how you've made a mess of things."

He waited impatiently until she picked up the phone again and told him she was ready. It took him a while, and he wasn't sure he was coherent at all times. His mother listened without interrupting until he got it all out. When he finished, he blew out a breath and waited for her to tell him he was full of shit. What she said hurt him even more.

"Killian." Her voice actually sounded sad. "I can't tell you how disappointed in you I am."

"Oh, Mama, you know I hate hearing that."

"Too bad," she said. "It's the truth. I thought I gave you a good picture of the kind of man Dusty was, of his good qualities and why I fell in love with him. I tried to get you to remember what a good dad he was when he was with you."

"Yeah," he said bitterly, "when he was with me. I was one of many."