Page 29 of Dirty Secret

Nothing I did these past few weeks seemed right. I lied to Heidi, and now I couldn't tell my father the truth, because if I did, I'd lose his respect. And what's a son to do when his father can't look him in the eye anymore?

I grabbed my clothes from the scattered pieces on the ground and got dressed. Needing to touch Heidi once more before I braved my father's wrath, I leaned down and kissed her head.

It wasn't nearly enough, but I left the bedroom anyway and made my way toward the stairs. But I found my father seated on his bed in his bedroom.

My father stood from his bed to face me. "You did the exact opposite of what I told you to do. I thought you were going to get rid of her?" I closed the door and with determination, I turned and lifted my eyes to meet his. It wasn't fair to Heidi or to the man who raised me. I couldn't lie to him. He needed to hear the truth.

I would help him see that he didn't know Heidi the way I did. That she wasn't like her parents.

I needed more time to find out the truth about her family.

"You see, that's where I think I got confused." I curved my lips with a shrug.

Folding his arms over his chest, this wise old man wasn't buying my attempt at humor.

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