Page 27 of Tainted Rose

Scarlett

Ican’t get this new piece of information about the probable identity of my dad out of my mind. Early this morning, when I still couldn’t sleep, I’d gotten up, showered, and thrown on my school uniform, hurrying out the door.

Sitting in the parking lot, I watch as cars start to pull into the faculty parking spaces. When Mrs. Harden pops out of her little sedan, gray hair in a tight bun, I push out of my truck and jog across the parking lot to her.

“Mrs. Harden!” I shout, hoping she’ll hear me and stop.

Her head whips around, brows raised. “Oh my! Scarlett, you scared me for a second.” She looks me up and down. “It’s awfully early. What are you doing here already?”

After possibly getting the answer to the Who’s your daddy? text, I’m about fed up with whomever the hell is taunting me. I need answers.

“I was— Well, I was kind of hoping there was something else you could tell me… anything else about my mom. I mean, I know it was a long time ago and all, but—” I heave out a breath. “I have so many questions, and she’s not here to ask.”

She looks at me kindly, probably sensing my distress. “Don’t worry, Scarlett. Still sharp as a tack.” She taps her finger to her temple and takes a deep breath. “I assume you’re interested in finding out more about your father. Am I wrong?”

I press my lips together and shake my head. “No, you’re not wrong. I don’t know anything about him.”

“I don’t like to gossip.” She hesitates.

“Please. I really, really need to know.”

She gives me a swift nod. “There was a lot of talk once rumors started that she was pregnant. I heard snippets of things in class, mostly rude, nosy people just taking potshots at your poor mother. They called her awful names, made her feel terrible about herself.”

I look into her warm eyes and am positive she knows more. I wait.

“Word circulating through the faculty was that Amelia was seeing someone from a very influential family, though we didn’t know which one. People were afraid to even guess who it could be. And of course, your mother was a shy girl. Very quiet. Kept to herself. No one really believed that she could be dating a Rose. Maybe that’s why it worked between them.”

“Until it didn’t, you mean.” My mouth pulls down at the corners.

“Right. Look, I can’t say for sure who it was, although I have a guess. But there was certainly something happening … after all, here you are seventeen years later. It makes me sad to think she went through that alone. People can be downright vicious when they feel threatened.”

“But why? Why would two people falling in love make anyone else feel threatened?”

“It boils down to being a societal thing. Like tend to go with like. When people from different backgrounds fall for each other, it can cause terrible problems. Themes like this are present all throughout literature and history. Think about it.”

“I believe I know who my father is.”

“Then tread carefully, Scarlett. People’s reactions can be unpredictable when buried secrets are finally unearthed.”

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