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"I was pregnant, too." My mom says in a whisper, the words tumbling out quickly.
"Wait, what?" I gasp, thoughts scrambling my brain.
Is Melissa not my full blood sister? What in the hell is she talking about?
"Melissa?" I blurt out, my panic getting the best of me.
My mother shakes her head. "I lost the baby, Em. So, no, it wasn't Melissa. The man's name was Clinton and he knew I was pregnant, but he still left anyway. I'd only been about eight weeks or so along. But unfortunately..." My mom trails off.
She lost the baby... just like me. No wonder she lashed out.
"The doctors said there was nothing I could've done differently, but I blamed myself. My grief, my heartache—they were consuming me. It was such a dark time for me..."
I contemplate these rules for what seems like the millionth time. Sadness creeps through me as I think about my mom's story, her sordid past. At the same time, it doesn't change the facts of how she treated me. She was wrong and she needs to know that. And, it certainly doesn't change how I feel.
"Emma, listen to me. Don't make the same mistakes I did. You've already lost a baby. Follow my rules so you can be happy."
I walk past my mother, my mind made up. When I get to the door, I stop and turn to face her. "Losing the baby wasn't my fault. And Knox isn't a bad man. Maybe one day when you stop looking through your judgmental lenses, you'll realize what happiness truly is."
I open the door and slam it behind me before I can hear another word.
Knox is who I want.
Who I love.
And, no one is going to tell me no.
~K~
"Oh,Knox. I wish you'd told me sooner." My mother envelops me in a warm hug. "How are you doing with it all?" She rubs my back before pulling away.
I just confessed everything to my mother while Jane sat beside me. Our father left on a business trip and Bella and Lynne are off on yet another business trip.
"I'm all right." I shrug.
I'm not all right. It's been a week and I still haven't heard from Emma.
I'm giving her the time and space she needs, even if it's killing me inside.
My mom squeezes my hand. "It'll take time hun, don't worry."
I nod and a silence falls over us.
My mom's face falls, her shoulders drawing in. A few lone tears slide down her cheek.
"What’s wrong?" Jane asks before I have a chance to. We both know our mother so well.
"I've decided it's time I share something with you two." My mother plays with her spoon in her coffee cup, searching for invisible cookie crumbs.
"Whatever it is, Mom, you know we're here for you." I smile as I sip my coffee.
"Bella and Lynn aren't your full blooded sisters."
"What?" My mouth drops open at the same time Jane's does.
My mother nods as her eyes shift between the two of us. "I was... I was with someone, someone abusive, before I met your father. He saved me from that relationship and when he did, I had no idea I'd been pregnant. Bella was only a year old and I was in such a bad state." She sips her coffee before continuing. "Your father adopted Bella and we hoped Lynne was his but I knew deep down she wasn't. When the paternity results came back and proved the truth, your father didn't flinch. He adopted Lynne and we moved on with our lives."
I pat my mother's hand, urging her to continue.
