Page 47 of Evidence of Deceit

“Do you want to tell us what is on your mind?” asked her mom.

Claire nodded.

Silence.

Her chest constricted. She took several deep breaths. Could she do this? She opened her mouth to speak.

Nothing came out.

Her parents looked at her expectantly but didn’t say a word, just waited for her to talk.

“I… I…” Her chest felt tight. Her throat and windpipe felt like a vise grip was turning them. She saw pity in her parents’ eyes. Could she pass out right now? Please.

Joe cleared his throat. “What Claire is trying to say is Keith abused her for years.”

Her mom gasped. Her dad glanced at Joe and then back at her.

“Is that true, sweetie?”

She nodded and exhaled. “Yes.”

Claireand her parents spent a good hour talking about her life with Keith. Joe hadn’t said a word after telling them that she’d been abused, and she was thankful for that. She didn’t think she would be able to get on with her life if she hid behind the truth.

Her parents sat there and listened, fury radiatingoff their bodies, their hands tightly clasped. When she finished, she sat back in the chair and said, “I’m sorry.”

Silence.

“Sorry for what?” snapped her father. “If that bastard weren’t already dead, he would be now.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” said her mother. She slid over and drew Claire into her arms. “I’m sorry you didn’t confide in us sooner. We wondered what was going on but never suspected that. However, we figured you would tell us when you were ready.”

“Keith was so vindictive. He threatened to ruin you,” she said, looking at her dad.

“As if,” her father retorted. “Don’t ever worry about that.”

Her mom hugged Claire. “You are a strong woman, and life will get better, but as your father said, don’t ever worry about us.”

Claire swallowed hard. A huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She looked over at Joe, who was staring at her.What is he thinking? He hadn’t heard all of it until now.Did he think she was weak, couldn’t take care of herself?

“Ditto what your parents said, Claire. You have your whole life to do as you please. Please yourself. Embrace life. Don’t think about the past or Keith,” he said.

“Well, I can’t get away from thinking about Keith yet.” She went on to tell them about the will and what she told the lawyer to do.

“Good for you, honey,” her dad said. “Will you have enough money to live on?”

“Yes, after everything is sold, I’ll be rich. I’m banking some and taking the rest to set up a foundation for abused women. Keith’s death has to have a good ending.” She smirked. “Poetic justice, I guess.”

Joe nodded. They talked for a few minutes until her mom stood up.

“I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m starving.” Her mom looked at them. “Can I make some sandwiches?”

“Sounds good,” said her dad.

Claire volunteered to help over her mom’s objections. She needed the comfort of doing something normal after an abnormal week.

“I can’t sayhow much I appreciate you helping Claire,” said her dad. He and Joe were waiting for the women to come back with sandwiches.

“You know I would do anything for her.” Did her father guess how much he would do for her? Joe wasn’t sure. Her parents hadn’t liked him hanging out so much with Claire in high school. He was the “bad boy” that parents usually hated and didn’t want their kids, especially their daughters, hanging around with.

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