Page 114 of Twisted Beauty

Was anything he thought he knew about his life real?

Matt slumped back in his chair and kept his eyes on the photo of his father, trying to wrap his head around this bombshell. It wasn’t working. And at the same time, he couldn’t seem to stop his mind from replaying all the times he’d blamed his mother for his dad’s absence. All the times as a kid he’d told her he hated her, or that he wanted to go to Mexico to live with his dad. Or that he never wanted to see her again. And she never said a word. Why didn’t she set him straight? And now that he was an adult, why keep up the pretense?

Shit, he’d spent his entire life hating Americans because of her. Not that Sadie helped in that regard. But if he believed Tito’s story, it was his father who’d left him behind. Who’d denied him the chance to visit Tito and Lita and all his cousins for most of his life.

What the hell was he supposed to do with that?

“Why are you telling me this now?” Matt finally asked.

“She lie to protect you, mi hijo. Tito keep secret too. We love you. Want what’s best for you. Maybe Liv have good reason too.”

Liv? Matt looked up to meet Tito’s eyes. What did any of this have to do with Liv?

Tito sat back and waited, like he knew he’d made a point and it was up to Matt now to understand. But it was Tito who didn’t understand. His grandfather had obviously lied to protect him. And, as it turned out, there was a good chance his mother had too. But Liv? She’d lied to protect herself. That much was clear.

“Liv’s gone. I know how you felt about her, but this?” He held up the photo album. “This has nothing to do with her or why she left.”

“Stubborn boy.”

Matt shook his head. “Who were you on the phone with just now?”

“Tu madre. She calls to check up on you sometimes. I say is time to tell you truth, time you understand.”

Matt slammed the album shut and tossed it onto the counter. “So Mom didn’t have the guts to tell me herself. She left it to you.”

Tito smiled. “She warn me you say that. But no, I decide. I tell you in person.”

The fact that Tito was so calm and reassuring about all of this made Matt want to put his fist through a wall. Did he not grasp what a huge deal this was?

“I need to get out of here.” Matt stood, pushing the chair back so forcefully it toppled over. As he leaned over to pick it up, a high voice made the hairs prickle on the back of his neck.

“Oh my gosh. Quit being so dramatic.”

He’d recognize that voice anywhere. The quintessential drama queen herself.

Matt looked up to see Katie standing beside Zach, with her arms folded, acting like her eavesdropping was somehow acceptable. He hadn’t noticed her come in. Matt folded the chair and leaned it against the counter, taking a deep breath before speaking. “This is none of your business, Kat.”

“Is too. Livvy’s my best friend, so anyone who hurts her is my business. Besides, she cared about Tito no matter what happened between the two of you. The day she left, she made me stop here and help her hang this picture before we went to the airport. She almost missed her flight.”

“Nice job, sweets.” Zach nodded, squeezing her shoulder. “But you missed most of the conversation here. Maybe you should cut him some slack.”

Katie didn’t seem to hear him. “You were a jerk to her,” she continued. “And she still stopped by to give Tito something special. Obviously, she’s a much better person than you.”

Matt let out an exasperated groan, but he wasn’t prepared to deal with her right now. “That’s one way to look at it.”

He brushed past her and Zach to get a closer look at the image. It was even more stunning up close, just like all of Liv’s photos. That shaft of light illuminating the priest was so majestic it almost didn’t look real. No doubt Tito would see it as a beacon from heaven. Or something else magical.

Along the bottom of the frame was an inscription. However far you go, I hear your whisper on the breeze and feel your embrace in every ray of the sun, and my heart is full.

Holy fuck. That was a direct quote from Lita’s photo. He’d have recognized it anywhere.

“Tito? Where did Liv get this quote?”

“I show her photo.” Tito gestured toward the framed pictures lining his counter. “Liv very sweet girl. I tell her she welcome here always, even if grandson es idiota.”

Matt couldn’t help but chuckle at the look of defiance on Tito’s face. Though he didn’t feel amused, just exhausted. Apparently everyone was in agreement that he was an ass, and Liv could do no wrong. “Thanks for the unconditional support, gramps.”

Despite the smile on his face, Matt felt like the ground had shifted beneath him, and everything familiar around him was crumbling.