Page 41 of Kept in the Dark

Hailey immediately sat up once she realized Trey was holding her in front of Trinity. Her body swayed and he gently placed his hand on the small of her back. “Whoa, slow down. You’re gonna pass out again. Do you need to go to the hospital?”

“Seriously, Mom, what happened?” Trinity asked.

“Nothing, I think I just haven't eaten enough the last few days.”

Trey eyed her and she looked away. Hailey was running out of excuses. “I think I was just in shock. I mean, we ate at that place all the time...it’s just weird to think about.”

Genevieve was the only one buying Hailey’s story, but neither Trey nor Sara called her on it. Finally, the dizziness subsided, and Trey helped her off the floor.

Sara opened her mouth to say something, but Trinity looked directly at Trey and said, “You must be my father.”

Genevieve’s eyes widened. “Oh, my heavens.”

Hailey’s face paled as she watched Trey glance from her to Trinity. She wondered if she should feign passing out again.

“Well, this is awkward,” Sara said.

“Hush, Sara,” Genevieve chastised.

Hailey shot Sara a look. Normally, Hailey would have berated her, but she was too focused on holding her breath.

“What did you just say?” Trey asked Trinity.

“You must be my dad,” she said slowly, mocking him. “You’re my mom’s old fling, right?”

Hailey cut in quickly, “That’s enough, Trinity.” She wanted to strangle her daughter for saying such a thing. How did she even know Trey was her father?

This time he was looking directly at Hailey, that old fire burning behind his eyes. “No, I think I want to hear more, Hailey,” Trey said sternly. He was livid and wasn’t trying to hide it, though Trinity didn’t seem to notice. Or if she did, she didn’t care.

Hailey hung her head and sighed. “Why don’t we talk outside.”

“Yes. Why don't we?” he said through gritted teeth.

Sara lifted a brow but thankfully held her tongue.

Genevieve intervened with Trinity and told her they would make some sandwiches. Trinity wanted to protest but then nodded in agreement.

Hailey and Trey walked out the front door together. Hailey sat on the porch swing, the one she had sat on many times as a child. Trey stood in front of her, legs spread, arms folded across his chest. His anger was almost tangible. She thought she might feel the heat come off him if she got close enough. She couldn’t blame him, though. He had every right to be infuriated.

“Is there something you need to tell me?” he demanded.

Hailey let out a breath. Not knowing how to tell him the truth, she simply blurted out, “Trinity is your daughter.”

“When were you going to tell me?”

“I don’t know-”

He threw his arms in the air. “You don’t know?! What do you mean ‘you don’t know?’”

Hailey stood as her own anger began to rise. “I didn’t know when I was going to tell you because I was protecting her. I didn’t want her to get hurt.”

“Protecting her from what? A father who would love her? A father who loved her mother so much it hurt? You left me, remember? And you have the audacity to say you didn’t want her to get hurt?”

Hailey tried to calm down, but his last comment had her seeing red. How dare he act like he hadn’t betrayed her and broken his vow to love her forever. How dare he act like a hero when he never rescued her, never came for her.

She now stood toe-to-toe with him. “I left because of you. You hurt me and I wasn’t going to let you do that to her! You promised to love me, and you broke that promise.”

Hailey paused, trying to compose herself but was instead met with a flow of tears. “You didn’t come for me. You didn’t come for us. You were supposed to be there, and you weren’t. You let me leave without so much as a fight and I hated you for it.”

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