Page 91 of Left

“What is it you think you know, Emmanuel?”

Why hadn’t Ivy questioned it before? Manny matched Larson’s glint with a mirror expression. “You think I would let you get off so easy, Larson? No. You say it! Be man enough to finally own up to what you did!” Manny shouted.

“I want you to leave! Leave my house right now.”

“And I want you to say what you did to Concetta Bianchi! What you did to my mother!!”

“I have nothing to say to you, Em?—”

“No Dear. It sounds like you have something to tell our son.”

“Grace,” Larson gasped. Standing, his body shook.

While she was concentrating on Manny and Larson’s conversation, Ivy, like the other occupants of the room, was unaware Grace stood outside. How long had she been there and how much had she heard?

Manny turned to Ivy. His look conveyed the questions racing through her mind. Her only response was to shake her head. Grace walked further into the room, stopping beside Manny.

“Hey Mom, I… Ivy and I are going to head home.”

“No Sweet Boy, you don’t have to protect me. You’ve waited long enough for answers. Larson.”

Her father-in-law was already shaking his head.

“Larson! Our son asked you a question. Tell him, better yet, tell me, what you did to his mother.”

“Grace, it is better for the past to stay in the past,” Larson said, reaching for Grace’s hand. Ivy fully expected her mother-in-law to reject his offer. Instead, Grace accepted Larson’s hold.

“Whatever it is… it’s time to tell the truth.” Grace stared at him as she seemed to wait for an answer. When he wasn’t forthcoming with one, she added. “For me, please.”

“It was so long ago, Grace. I did the best I could.”

“I’m sure you did. Just tell me. What does Manny want you to admit to?” her mother-in-law coaxed gently.

“Grace, I’m so sorry. I’ve spent the rest of my life making up for what I did. I’ll continue to do so.”

“Of course you did, Dear. Go ahead, tell us.” Her free hand gently cupped his jaw.

Larson’s voice was as low as hers. “Emmanuel is my son.”

“Yes, I know that.” Poor Grace sounded confused. She had been fighting for answers for Manny, but she didn’t know what she was fighting for.

Oh goodness, this was going to break her heart.

“He is my biological son.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

YOU STAYED OUT OF JAIL?

It is one thing to believe it. Feel the truth of it coursing through your blood. It was a completely different thing to have it confirmed. It didn’t go without his notice thatHEclaimed Emmanuel, but not Leonardo. Leave it to Larson to make him feel empathy for a man Emmanuel despised. He wanted to rage against Larson because the havoc his actions caused were still being felt. The newest casualty was his Mom. His heart twisted as he watched her. She dropped her hand, cupping his father’s jaw.

His Mom came in and fought for the answer he was looking for without knowing what the answer would cost her. That was the kind of woman she was. She didn’t deserve to find out most of her marriage was a lie. Larson Scott’s only redeeming feature was his relationship with his wife. The devotion he displayed. Or so Emmanuel thought. How the hell should he refer to him? Emmanuel sure the hell didn’t want to refer him as Dad or want him to be his father. Larson would do. Larson had been looking at his Mom in the face for fifty years while perpetrating a colossal lie.

“Grace, Grace,” Larson pleaded, as he held her hand in his.

Emmanuel wanted to intervene, but he didn’t trust himself to speak to Larson. There was no guarantee he wouldn’t lose it if he did.

“It meant nothing. I made a mistake. It happened once,” Larson coaxed.

---