Page 39 of Risks

“I know. We were all finally in agood place.”

We both fall quiet as if thinkingabout what she just said.

Motioning to the stairs, I tell her,“I’m getting Toya’s suitcase.”

Alison nods once. “Okay. I’ll be inthe kitchen.”

She veers off as I jog up the stepsto the guest room. The second I enter, a door opens.

“Toya?” Lisa rushes into the room,halting when she sees me. Fury instantly twists her face. “Varen.” She grindsout my name with so much venom that I wince.

Ignoring her, I grab Toya’s favoritehairbrush from the dresser, toss it into the suitcase, and zip it shut. If I leaveanything, I’ll get it later.

“This is all your fault!” Lisa snapsat my back when I walk past her.

That brings me to a pause in thedoorway.

“You just had to stick your nose intothings that don’t concern you.” There’s so much anger. “You destroyed mymarriage! I bet you’re happy about that, aren’t you? You never liked me. Icouldn’t live up to your perfect mother.”

I pivot, take a long look at thewoman, and shake my head. “You’ve always put your happiness above Toya’s. Doyou even care about her? Do you care how much you’ve hurt her? Have you called?Why aren’t you at my apartment begging for forgiveness? What the fuck was thatabout mending your relationship when you were lying to her all along?” I giveher a derisive glance over. “Your daughter is in pain, and instead of taking responsibility,you’re blaming me because you couldn’t continue hiding the truth.”

Lisa staggers back, blinkingprofusely as her eyes water. Perhaps my words reached her.

“You don’t…” She drops to the sideof the bed. “You don’t understand.”

“It doesn’t matter whetherIunderstand. Come clean to your daughter and her father. Start there. The wholetruth, Lisa. Start with that.”

Like a frightened creature, she hangsher head and utters low whimpers.

Realization dawns on me. Lisadoesn’t have the courage to face Toya or Jesiah. She’s not brave enough to dealwith the heartache she’s caused.

I almost pity her until I remember howToya broke down the night before.

Grip tight on the suitcase, I turnand continue downstairs.

Lisa deserves whatever happens toher.

18

I haven’t moved from the chair sinceI sat down earlier, and my body is starting to ache from being hooked up for solong. My stomach has also been growling.

Conceding to the hunger, I dragmyself to the kitchen and make hot chocolate and toast, eating little by little.

I feel swallowed in a haze of sadnessand disbelief. It’s hard to come to terms with my mom lying about my father andcontinuing the charade for eighteen years. Did she ever have a moment of guilt?Had she ever looked at me and felt shitty?

I doubt it. The only reason we’rehere now is because Varen discovered the truth. Mom had no desire to reveal itto me. She would have carried on the lie if I hadn’t overheard.

Vibrations fill the otherwise quietapartment, and I glance at my phone on the nightstand next to the bed. I considerignoring it, but it might be Varen.

Straightening from the stool, Ihurry over to answer when it starts ringing again.

A gasp trickles out at the name onthe screen.

Mom.

Rage circulates in my veins, causingme to toss the phone to the bed.

I scoff at her audacity.

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