Chapter 8 - THE PRICE OF A FAMILY NAME
I listened to the recording three times.
The third time hurt worse than the first.
My mother had not ordered Mara’s children taken.
She had initially insisted Mara keep them.
But she had agreed that I should never know.
That distinction did not forgive her.
It only made the betrayal more complicated.
Brielle sat across from me.
“My father told me Mara was trying to trap you.”
“And you believed him?”
“I was nineteen.”
“So was Mara when your family decided her future was negotiable.”
Brielle lowered her eyes.
“I know.”
She handed me the phone.
“Take it.”
“Why did you save it?”
“Because part of me knew something was wrong.”
She wiped her face.
“And because I was afraid of my father.”
That, at least, I understood.
Before leaving, I asked one question.
“Did you ever love me?”
Brielle looked at me for a long time.
“I think I loved the life everyone told me we were supposed to have.”
It was the most truthful thing she had ever said to me.
Back at the hotel, Mara was waiting.
The boys were asleep.
I gave her the phone.
She listened silently.
When Victoria’s voice said, “Mara keeps the children,” Mara closed her eyes.
“She could have stopped them.”
“Yes.”
“But she didn’t.”
“No.”
For several minutes, we said nothing.
Then Mara looked at me.
“Do you remember the lake house?”
I did.
We had spent one summer there before everything collapsed.
“You wanted six kids.”
“I was twenty-four.”
“You said four minimum.”
I almost smiled.
“Apparently someone was listening.”
She laughed softly.
The sound hurt.
There was still something between us.
Not the old relationship.
Too much had been broken.
But something alive.
“I loved you, Mara.”
“I know.”
“I never stopped.”
She looked away.
“That doesn’t fix six years.”
“I know.”
“And I can’t just put the boys into your life because the DNA says you belong there.”
“I know.”
She looked back at me.
“Stop saying you know.”
“I don’t know what else to say.”
“Say you’re angry.”
“I’m furious.”
“Say you’re scared.”
“I’m terrified.”
“Say you have no idea how to be their father.”
“I have absolutely no idea.”
That finally made her smile.
Then a small voice came from the hallway.
“Mom?”
Mason stood there holding his stomach.
Mara rushed toward him.
He collapsed before she reached him.
Within seconds, the hotel suite erupted into motion.
Paramedics arrived.
I rode with them to the hospital.
Mara held Mason’s hand.
I sat beside them.
The doctors ran tests.
Two hours later, a pediatric specialist entered.
His expression was serious.
“There’s something unusual in Mason’s bloodwork.”
My father’s hidden diagnosis flashed through my mind.
May you like
I looked at Mara.
She had thought the same thing.
