Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 121054 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121054 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 605(@200wpm)___ 484(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
“There’s more. That’s just the first part.” I refrained from saying, “It only gets worse.” I patted Olivia’s back and smoothed her little pink romper. “The thing with your dad and Stephen ended badly. And, now, your uncle has written his book—”
“Mom mentioned that,” Emma interjected. “I take it the book has something in it about Dad?”
“Yes. And your father would rather you not read it.” I shifted uncomfortably. “It’s not an entirely truthful account.”
Emma nodded, still looking shell-shocked. “Okay. Dad and Uncle Stephen dated. That’s incredibly weird. The fact that my dad is bisexual and has been apparently since the nineteen eighties—”
“Probably his whole life, Emma,” I corrected her.
She rolled her eyes. “Pardon my poor phrasing, Sophie, but I am learning some very shocking family secrets at the moment. Why didn’t Dad ever say anything? I understand why he wouldn’t want to tell me about Uncle Stephen, of course, but he never brought any men home, if he was dating them.”
“According to Neil, he didn’t bring home anyone he wasn’t very serious about. He dated a lot more than you realize.” My own words stunned me into realization. My mom had probably vetted her dates the same way Neil had, with regard to Emma. When my mom had brought home a guy, had it been because it was someone she was really into? A guy who’d had permanent potential? I’d run all those men off.
I was the worst daughter ever.
Well, one foot in front of the other. Right now, I was on the foot that was about to break some very bad news to Emma. “The thing is… your uncle Stephen… he…”
When I couldn’t quite get the words out, Emma prompted gently, “Go on, Sophie. Whatever it is, just tell me.”
“He raped your father.” It was the worst sentence I’d ever had to say. Despite the fact that Neil had told me to talk to Emma about all of this, I felt like I’d betrayed his confidence by using that word with someone else.
“Um.” She laughed, a sound of disbelief and confusion all in one. Like she thought she’d misheard me. Like she was hoping she’d misheard me. “I don’t understand.”
“Your dad and Stephen were…engaging in an activity. Neil asked him to stop, and he didn’t.” God, could I sound more stilted? This was probably the most uncomfortable conversation I’d ever had with anyone.
I noticed that Emma was trembling. It was only just a slight shake, the obvious result of holding back her rage. “And this is in Stephen’s book?”
“No. And that’s the problem.” Olivia stirred against my shoulder. “I haven’t read it, but from your father’s reaction, it seems like the details weren’t presented in the most honest light.”
Emma stood as Oliva began snuffling at my neck. I handed the baby up to her and waited while she processed the information. She deftly whipped a nursing blanket over her shoulder and put Olivia to her breast after a little fumbling.
“You haven’t read the book?” Emma asked finally, looking me in the eye for the first time in a while.
“No. He doesn’t want me to read it. And he doesn’t want you to read it, either.” I rubbed my hands on my jeans-clad thighs.
“Why would I want to read that?” A tear rolled down Emma’s cheek. “I don’t even want to know this much. Is Daddy okay? I know this was years ago, but is he okay?”
“He’s seeing someone about it.” That was the only reassurance I could give her. Neil sure wasn’t “okay” with what had happened, by any stretch of the imagination. “He never really dealt with any of it. I don’t think he intended to.”
“That sounds like him.” She shook her head, more tears spilling as she closed her eyes. “I understand why he wouldn’t have told me this, but why didn’t he tell me he was bi? Was he just not bringing guys home? Because of me?”
“I don’t know that for sure.” It was times like these that I wished I’d inherited my mom’s talent for comforting words. “There’s one last thing.”
Her eyes widened. “Sophie, I don’t know if I can take any more today.” With her free hand, Emma swiped at the wet track on her cheek.
“I’m sorry. It’s just one more tiny thing.” I tried to remember exactly what Neil’s words had been. “Your dad is afraid that you knowing this will change the way you think of him. And he doesn’t want that.”
“My dad is an idiot if he thinks I’m going to be angry or hurt over any of this. With him, at least,” she added. “I don’t know that I’ll ever be over what Uncle Stephen has done.”
“That’s between you and your family,” I said, holding my hands up. “I’m going to stay out of it. But, for what it’s worth, I’m really sorry, Emma. Nobody likes hearing that their loved ones aren’t the way they seemed to be.”