Page 21 of Truth is the Ultimate Weapon

Devyn grinned, “When we went through her things, we learned that she kept journals all these years.”

“Journals, like a diary?” he asked, and the group nodded. Then you must already know all of this and who Tommy was.”

“There was no mention –– just hints of emotional fallout that now makes more sense and…”

“What do you mean, who Tommy was?” Coy interrupted. “We were all really young back then.”

“Son, there’s a reason your father took special interest in Tommy and why he took the attack and death so hard. It’s the main reason we covered up what happened that night.”

“Glen, what aren’t you telling us?” Coy pried, “Who is this guy, Tommy?”

Glen scanned the space, his gaze lingering on each face, contemplating how best to deliver the news that was bound to send shockwaves through them all. “Tommy Stone –– your daddy’s brother.”

9

“I don’t even know what to think.” Coy shared. “Dad had a… brother?”

“We had an uncle we never even knew about,” Devyn said. “And that’s not even the biggest shock.”

“Pop killed his own brother.” As the siblings grappled with the emotional aftermath of Glen's visit the night before, Nash pressed on, offering his perspective on the situation. “Well, attempted to… in order to protect Mama? It certainly makes sense of what we found behind that barn and why, but…”

“That’s more than a secret.” Coy shared. “That’s…”

“Insane.” Devyn finished her brother’s thought. “These are the kinds of things you see in a movie or in a twisted thriller novel, but this is our real life. Our parents are the stars of the story in the most terrifying way. Poor Mama.”

“I’m… angry,” Coy admitted. “Not that they kept it from us because they just thought they were protecting us in the end, but that it even happened, and we couldn’t do anything to help them.”

“We were kids, Coy.” Nash pointed out. “Not much we could’ve done, and to be fair, can you imagine what it would have been like growing up… knowing?”

“I guess that’s the part that stings. The trauma they carried for more years on this earth than they didn’t. To her dying day, Mama must’ve grappled with images of that night and soothed the scars it left. All while wearing a brave face.”

Nash bobbed his head with understanding, “Can you imagine what it must’ve been like for them every time they looked at that barn, knowing what was underneath –– or what was supposed to be underneath, anyway.”

“And Pop lived his whole life knowing he killed his only brother,” Devyn added.

“I don’t think Pop acknowledged he even had a brother after that night.” Coy was at a loss, struggling with the incomprehensible terror and tragedy that had unfolded not just for them but their parents that fateful night so long ago. He struggled to find meaning in the chaos, his mind wrestling with the enormity of the situation and the profound loss it had wrought. “How could he see Tommy as anything but a monster at that point?”

Nash wrapped an arm around Charlotte and pulled her closer, “If it were me, I’d have done the same damn thing with zero regrets or remorse. A man doesn’t do that to a woman, much less family. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t do exactly what Pop did. I’m sorry if that makes me a monster, but it’s true.”

“Not that any of this is my business,” Rip chimed in, “But I’m with Nash. Any man who does that to any woman deserves what Tommy got. Especially given the dynamics of it all. I think we can all agree that your father was justified in his actions, and their choice to protect you all from it was exactly that… a choice and the one they saw proper. Can’t say I would blame anyone for wanting to protect their children from the horrors they must’ve lived with every single day.”

“I agree wholeheartedly,” Coy said. “I don’t blame them for a damn thing. Just wish…”

“They knew we supported them?” Devyn asked. “Because that’s my only disappointment –– that I couldn’t thank Pop for protecting our family and Mama for being such a brave and strong example to emulate.”

Rip looked at her, “I’m sure they know. The fondness you all speak of them with couldn’t have gone unnoticed. And that’s coming from an outsider looking in, for what it’s worth.”

“I think it’ll take a bit for us to process what we learned last night fully, but I think it’s safe to say we all agree on the matter,” Coy said, “We don’t blame them.”

“Not even a little bit.” Nash agreed.

“I do have to say, I think it’s interesting,” Devyn began as she picked up one of the mocked-up images of the remains, which they now know as Tommy. If there was any question as to the validity of Glen’s story… this picture confirms it. The resemblance he shares with Nash is uncanny.”

“Oh, don’t start that.” Nash warned, “I know what y’all are thinking. It runs in the family –– they look alike, act alike, and both are screw-ups. I would never do what that monster did, though.”

Coy laid a hand on his brother’s shoulder, “Nah, not at all. You may resemble one another, but that’s where the similarities begin… and end. You’re nothing like that man. Hell, you’ve done a complete one-eighty in just the last month or so I’ve been here. I’d never compare you to the likes of him.”

“You have a heart of gold, honey. You aren’t capable of those kinds of things,” Charlotte shared, lifting Nash’s spirits, “Besides, you’re much more handsome, too. He doesn’t hold a candle to you.”

---