Page 90 of The One I Left Behind

“Is it true?” Clayton says.

“Is what true?” I shake my head. What the heck has him so upset?

“That my dad is some deadbeat named Waylon Knight and that he hit you?”

Gasps fill the room, and my stomach sinks to the floor.

“Did he?”

Everyone’s attention is on us, and I’m so stunned I’m not sure how to react. “I?—”

“Mom?”

“Come here.” I put my arm around him and escort him outside the barn.

Ben steps forward, but I put out my hand. He’s done enough damage from what I suspect.

Bruce walks past us and stands by Ben. He can take care of his son while I take care of mine.

Once I get Clayton outside, I walk us farther away from the barn so no one sees or hears what we’re saying. “Okay, Clay.”

“Is it true?” He releases the tears he’s been holding back, and they cascade down his cheeks. “That my dad was an asshole, an alcoholic?”

“It’s complicated,” I say, unprepared to be discussing this. Especially right now.

“It’s not, Mom! You said you’d always be honest, and you kept all this from me!” His voice grows louder.

I push away my own tears because one of us has to be strong right now.

“You can’t yell at your mom,” Ben says, walking over.

Clayton’s eyes veer away. He’s obviously embarrassed to be seen crying.

I sigh and look at Ben. “Not now, Ben. Please. Just give us some space.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry that he overheard me. I didn’t mean to?—”

“But you did,” I say, my voice shuddering. “I need to handle Clayton right now.”

Ben backs off, but he lingers in the distance.

“I’m sorry, Clay. I thought I was saving you from heartbreak. You didn’t need to know that. It makes no difference because he’s never returned, and he probably won’t.”

“Then why is Ben asking Brooks to look him up? He mentioned murder.”

My shoulders fall, and I glare at Ben. “Let’s just go home, okay?”

Clayton nods, clearly eager to get away from here.

It’s then that I realize I have no car here. Clayton walks toward the parking lot while I stop in front of Ben. “Can you please get Laurel for me?”

“I’ll take you home. Let me fix this.”

“Please, Ben, I can’t right now.” He needs to stop pushing me or I’m going to go mama bear on him.

“Gillian. I didn’t mean?—”

“What, Ben?” I shout. “You didn’t mean to tell everyone in there my biggest secret? My son? Jesus, what were you thinking?”

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