Page 18 of The Liar I Married
5 MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT
I pace the length of the kitchen, my mind racing. The private detective’s report lays open on the table. I’ve read each word three or four times and understand what had upset my grandma so badly. I run my fingertips across the picture of a young woman and her daughter. The mother of the child looks younger than me. I can hardly breathe with the implications. The report says that my father has been providing for them in secret and visits them often. I stare at the documents and a sob catches in my throat. Has my father had an affair with a woman younger than his own daughter? Is this what upset my grandmother so much it caused her stroke? Is this the dirty little secret she wanted me to expose? God help me, these secrets killed her.
My head is spinning with indecision. I want to drive to my father’s office and confront him face-to-face but fear if I get behind the wheel in this state, I will cause an accident. Is my mother aware of his deception? I need to confront him about this now. I grab my phone and call my father’s number. My hands are trembling as I wait but the call goes straight to voicemail. “Why won’t you ever answer your phone?”
Anger trembles through me. I need answers and I need them now. I almost shout down the phone after the beep. “Dad, I needyou to call me back. It’s urgent.” I disconnect and toss the phone on the table on the pile of photographs I’ll never forget.
The image of my mother flashes across my mind and I moan in misery. How could he do something like this? That child could be my sister. How could he keep something so important from me—from all of us? He’s denied a child her family. Suddenly the thought of confronting him makes my stomach ache but I can’t let this go. I need to confide in someone. I need a second opinion to make sure I’m thinking straight and not going at this like a bull at a gate. Can I confide in Alex? He doesn’t have anything to gain or lose by speaking to me and he’s a good friend.
I grab my keys and drive to the little café where Alex likes to write. I find him in his usual seat in the window. He’s bent over his laptop with a steaming cup of coffee in front of him. I order a hot beverage at the counter and head in his direction. As I approach, he glances up from his laptop and a wide smile stretches his lips. I try to smile back. “Hi Alex, have you got a moment for a chat?”
“Is something wrong?” His soft eyes scan my face and he frowns. “Have you eaten today?”
I sit down and push both hands through my hair. “I honestly can’t remember. I guess I shouldn’t come to you, but I didn’t know where else to go.”
“You can always talk to me, Jessie.” He stares at me. “What’s up?”
I swallow hard and then dive in. “It’s my father. He’s been providing for a woman younger than me and she has a child. I’m not exactly sure what I should do. My first instinct was to call him and demand he tell me what’s going on, but my call went to voicemail, which is probably the best thing that could have happened because I don’t think I’m in any fit state to be talking to him about this right now.”
“That’s a lot to process.” Alex glances up as the server delivers my coffee. As the server walks away, he turns his attention back to me. “Do you figure the child is his?”
I have mixed emotions about the possibility—joy, because I have a new sibling, and betrayal, because I can’t believe my father would lie to me. I can’t put my emotions into words right now so I just shrug. “I’m not sure, but my grandma left me a letter with her lawyer, asking me to look into the secrets surrounding our family. I know she confronted my father about something the night before she suffered a stroke and never recovered.”
“Oh, that’s not good.” Alex squeezes my hand. “I’m glad you came to me. This would be a very delicate thing to discuss with the family without knowing the full facts. At least I have an unbiased view. How did you come to discover this information?”
I tell him about my grandmother’s letter and speaking to her private detective. “He wouldn’t break client confidentiality even though I showed him the letter, so I engaged one myself and the documents arrived this morning. I’ve been reading and rereading them since they arrived, not knowing what to do.” I took a long sip of the scalding coffee. “I kind of lost it and I left a message for my father to call me back. Now I don’t know what I’m going to say. This bombshell could destroy our family and I don’t want to be responsible for doing that.”
“This isn’t something you can do over the phone, Jessie, nor in front of spectators. You need to speak to him alone. There may be a perfectly reasonable explanation why he’s helping this family.” Alex met my gaze. “Think through what you’ve told me. He’s your father and I assume he’s been a good father to you? If so, you owe him the benefit of the doubt.”
I mull over his words and nod slowly. I just knew that Alex would give me a clear and concise path to travel. “Okay, I’ll go and see him. He’s still working a few days a week. When heretired, both John and Michael wanted him to work at the same firm. Everyone around me are stockbrokers.”
“Oh, my God, it’s all making sense now.” Alex slams a palm to his forehead. “Are you related to Michael Thompson?”
I narrow my gaze. “Yes, he’s my brother. Why?”
“Michael is my stockbroker.” Alex shook his head in disbelief. “He asked me about the art classes and mentioned it would be perfect for his sister.” His brow furrows. “He said you were having problems. Is this what he was referring to?”
I shake my head and, suddenly famished, reach for a sandwich. “No, not this. It’s something else. My husband works long hours and Michael suggested the art classes. I needed to meet people and chat before I lose the ability to hold a decent conversation.” I take a bite of the sandwich and chew slowly. “I should go and speak to my dad this afternoon, while he’s in his office. I don’t want to involve my mom at this stage.”
“Do you want me to come with you? I can wait outside.” Alex smiles at the server as she refills the cups. “I’m very good at moral support and you might need someone to drive you home.”
I smile at him. “That sounds like a plan.”
“Just be careful, you might end up in one of my stories.” His laugh is infectious. “The weird things that happen in Grande Haven, I can’t make up.”
Laughing, I turn to him. “You can say that again.” I take a deep breath. “I’m glad we met. You’re really a good friend, Alex, and I appreciate it.”And right now, he’s the only person I trust.
TWENTY-ONE
Having Alex behind me as I drive to my father’s office has erased the horrible feeling that someone is following me. This time when I look in my rearview mirror, all I see is Alex’s Ford Explorer. It is good to have him beside me as we head out of the elevator. The door swishes open and I walk straight into Michael, who gives me the strangest expression as his gaze drifts toward Alex. “I’ve come to see Dad.” I indicate toward Alex. “Small world, isn’t it? Alex is one of my art class buddies.”
“Did you come to see me, Alex? I don’t recall having an appointment with you today.” Michael’s forehead creases into a frown.
“Nope, I’m the support team.” Alex smiles.
“What’s going on, Jessie?” Michael flicks a glance at me. “I’m not sure if it’s a good time to drop by. John is entertaining some of his clients in the conference room.”
I look at him and raise an eyebrow. “You mean he’s in there entertaining Ms. Lawson?” I throw both hands in the air and let them drop to my sides. “What’s new?” I move past him. “Don’t worry, I won’t make a scene. I didn’t come to see John. I came to see Dad.” I look over my shoulder at Alex. “Wish me luck.”
