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It’s so strange being home. I’ve only been gone for a few weeks and so much has happened. My entire life has changed.
When I left here, I was so excited about a new beginning. I was finally leaving home and although it was under the watchful eye of my brother, I was still guaranteed a freedom I had never had until then.
Suddenly, it all went to shit when the blackmail started. I tried to deal with it. I was a fool.
But I can’t regret it happening because that’s how I met Shade, and I’m amazed at how quickly and deeply I've fallen for him.
I cling onto his hand as we follow mom into the family room and my father appears through the French doors with a puzzled, “Meredith, have you seen…”
He stops and his brief expression of delight at seeing me is quickly replaced with one of concern when he notices who I’ve brought home.
“What’s going on?” He says in confusion and mom snaps, “Isn’t it obvious, Richard? Your daughter has gone off the rails and got herself in a heap of trouble.”
“Trouble?” He appears concerned and my heart breaks in two because despite everything, he is still my father—will always be my father and this is going to break him.
I step forward and say calmly. “Let’s not get hysterical. I am merely bringing my boyfriend home to meet you. No big deal.”
Mom explodes. “No big deal! Are you kidding me, Allegra? You disappear off the radar and your picture is all over the internet with him.”
She points her finger at Shade and her lip curls. “How could you let him use you and humiliate you? Those images will live with me to my dying day of what he did to you, with no regard for your reputation or feelings.”
My father appears confused and says softly, “They weren’t that bad, Meredith. So, she had a wild night, many kids do and perhaps wasn’t as polished as normal, but she was smiling at least.”
“You fool!” Mom shouts, her face angrier than I have ever seen it.
“She didn’t just have a wild night out with her friends, he…” She jabs her finger in Shade’s direction, “Filmed her performing, well…”
My father looks shocked and glares at Shade, who appears amused by the whole spectacle.
“I take it you’re referring to the video I sent to Judge Stevenson?” He says calmly.
I stare at my mother, who has suddenly turned a whiter shade of devastated.
“What video?” My father says in confusion and mom obviously realizes her mistake because she ignores his question entirely.
“It doesn’t matter. What does is that Allegra’s good name has been dragged into the gutter and if she thinks we are ever going to accept that man into our family, she’s got another thing coming.”
Shade steps forward, glaring at her with derision.
“That man.” He shakes his head. “You speak of me as if I’m beneath you. Not worthy to care for your daughter, to keep her safe and to make her happy. You know nothing at all about me and yet you have decided I am no good for her. What did you base that judgment on Mrs. Powell because if I’m not mistaken, we have never met?”
Mom's eyes are frantically scanning the room as if she's trapped and looking for a way out.
“I, I, well, I searched your name on the internet of course.”
“I see.” Shade appears thoughtful.
“Then may I ask how you came by the video I sent to Judge Stevenson? Especially as your husband doesn’t appear to know anything about it.”
I feel sick as mom struggles to answer him and above everything else, all I want to do is drag my father away, so he doesn’t hear how the people he trusted most in the world betrayed him.
“I, well, Lucas sent it to me.” She says quickly. “He thought I should be informed.”
“To you?” Shade pretends to be surprised. “Why would he send it to you and not his brother? Speaking as a brother myself, I’m sure if I were in the same situation, I wouldn’t be sending things to his wife. It doesn’t make sense.”
Dad says roughly, “Cut to the chase and tell me what the hell is going on here.”
He is angry. I can tell from the expression in his eyes and mom’s face drains of color as she falters, “I think you should go.” She says to Shade, and I don’t believe I have ever seen her so terrified.
