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My chest squeezes. No child is a bastard. No child should have to grow up with apart-timefather.
Mattie sounds tired. “According to Ryan’s PR agency, fifty percent of the viewers and readers are sympathizing with Laura and Daisy.”
Hollowness settles in my stomach. “They’re choosing sides?”
“How can they not? People are judgmental by nature. Very few are going to sit on the fence about the scoop.”
“Shit. This is terrible. How’s Mom?”
“Strong. Brave. Holding her head high and keeping up appearances. What choice does she have?”
Pulling the blanket up to our waists, I say, “I wish there was a way of making this easier for her.”
“That’s what I came to talk to you about. We’re going to be bombarded by the media for the next few weeks, at least until the sensation wears off. Our family should have an aligned strategy on how to deal with the scandal. We decided that our response will be no response. It’s the quickest way to put out the fire.”
“No comment,” I muse.
“Exactly. The funeral can be as early as Friday. The sooner we put this behind us, the sooner Mom can move on.”
I steal a glance at my sister. Like Mom, her make-up and hair are perfect, but the strain shows in the tight set of her mouth and the dark circles under her eyes.
Putting an arm around her, I hug her against me. “You shouldn’t have to deal with this in your condition. Let me take over. I’m on break until July anyway. What else am I going to do while hiding from the media?”
“Not hiding.” She pulls her back straight. “An Edwards never hides. We just don’t engage. We won’t throw them a bone to fight over.”
“Right.”
She leans her head against mine. “Thank you for the offer anyway. I’m good at organizing, and Mom needs this. If she doesn’t keep busy, she’ll probably have a meltdown.”
“What if she melts down after all the arrangements are done? Aren’t we just prolonging the inevitable?”
“Then we’ll be there for her. At least prolonging a breakdown will help her to maintain her dignity while the media dissects her every move.”
A beat of silence passes before I ask carefully, “What do you think about them?”
The set of her features hardens. “Laura and Daisy? No matter how Laura justifies her affair with Dad, what Laura and Dad did was wrong. Dad married Mom, didn’t he? He chose Mom before he met Laura. If he fell out of love with Mom and divorced her before getting together with Laura, I would’ve understood. But keeping a second family in secret? What they did to us is inexcusable. The worst is leaving us to deal with this alone.”
My chest tightens painfully. “Dad didn’t die on purpose.”
“No, but everyone dies. He knew his relationship with Laura would inevitably be exposed. He even constructed his will in that manner. Letting us find out like that…” She swallows. “Letting us handle the aftermath of his infidelity? I’ll never forgive him for that cruelty.”
“What Dad did is wrong, but Daisyisour half-sister.”
Her words are harsh. “I have no interest in getting to know her. Even if I did, I’d never do that to Mom. Can you imagine how that would make her feel?”
Rubbing her arm, I say, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry this is happening when you’re only supposed to feel the joy of being pregnant with your first baby.”
“Oh, Bella.” She lifts her head and gives me a soft smile. “I know this is harder on you. Of all of us, you and Dad were the closest. You were always his favorite.”
“That was wrong too. Parents shouldn’t have favorites.”
“Sometimes, they do. The two of you were accomplices, so similar in your likes and behavior.” She pats my hand where it lies on top of the blanket. “Besides, I’ve always been Mom’s favorite.”
Biting my lip, I stare at the distance. The sun has sunk below the ocean, leaving streaks of pink across the sky. “I don’t know which parts of what I had with Dad weren’t fake. Sometimes, I wonder if anything was real. I didn’t even truly know him. That’s the hardest part.” I swallow back tears. “That I don’t know. That now, I never will.”
“Don’t think like that.” She nudges me. “His love for you was always real. That’s what you have to remember.”
Taking a shaky breath, I consider that. The problem is that his lies make me doubt his affection. Is that how someone who loves you behave? Then again, who am I to judge? After what I did to my family by falling for Angelo, I don’t have the right to criticize anyone’s behavior.
