AllFreeNovel
Share Us
PROLOGUE
Fifteen Years Ago
“Mær?” I smooth down my graduation gown over my white dress. Since the skirt has a flared-out effect, my gown keeps bunching up. Hopefully, mama will have a solution, or this is going to drive me crazy until I can take it off.
I glance behind me at my bedroom door with a frown. She hasn’t responded to me calling her name. Maybe she stepped outside? I walk through the quiet house and head down the hall to the stairs. When I’m just about to step off the landing to go down, I hear whispers.
“Josette, please, she’ll be off to college in a few weeks. I’ll move out then. Don’t ruin this day for her.” My dad’s words are rushed and urgent, making my heart pound.
Move out?
“Clarence, you have disrespected me for the last time. You are no longer welcome in my home.” What is going on?
“Mær? What’s wrong, and why does dad have to leave?” I make my presence known and see mama in her robe standing in front of my dad in his dress uniform.
Mama’s face falls when she hears my question, and Dad’s goes rigid. He picks up his cover and places it under his arm.
“I’ll be in the car. We don’t want to be late.” My mouth drops open in shock.
Dad has never been a chatty man, but he’s never ignored me so thoroughly as he is now. Walking past me as if I was a complete stranger and didn’t matter at all. Yet he still felt the need to remind me of the time because God forbid Admiral Davenport ever be late. That just wasn’t done.
“Mær, please tell me what is happening.” I move to mama and grab her hands, pleading for answers.
“Kaká,” She curses and sits down heavily on a nearby chair, dragging me with her.
“Your father has been having an affair. Now that you are grown and no longer need him, there is no reason for me to live this lie.” She holds my cheek while slicing my heart in two.
“How long?” I choke the question out.
My mama is a level-headed woman. She thinks everything out before acting on it, not wanting bad juju to come her way.
“Always, he has been keeping this woman since before we married. He fathered her son but would not give him his name. Disgusting.” She spits on the floor, holding her gris-gris close to her heart.
“No,” I stand, feeling dizzy.
Son? I have an older brother? He has another family? How can the proudest day of my life turn into this? How could he just walk out and offer no explanation?
“Mær, please get dressed. I want to get this over with so I can help him pack.” I walk right for the front door with my mama calling my name.
I may look and sound like mama, but my anger is all dad. I step outside and down the porch steps heading right at the man who has preached honor and responsibility to me all my life.
Dad stands by the passenger door and opens it as I approach. Like a true gentleman, he wants everyone to believe he is. His eyes won’t meet mine, and for the first time in my life, my dad, a hero in my eyes, looks like the coward he is.
I snap my hand out and smack him across the cheek.
“You don’t deserve the title of Dad. You are a fucking hypocrite, and I will happily pack your things tonight. How dare you lie and cheat, then act the noble man! I have been modeling every boy I meet to your standard. I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to be gay in my life.” I step into the car and pull the door shut.
The windows are tinted, and I watch realization cross my father’s face.
His baby girl not only slapped him but admitted to being a lesbian, all in the same breath. Guess he’s not the only one good at keeping secrets. And boy, do I hate that I inherited the habit from him.
What’s that saying about the fruit and the tree?
1
GENEVIEVE
Ipull up to dads house and park but leave the car on. I haven’t set foot in this house ever. This was his “other” home. The one kept hidden from mama and me all my life. The one where he met with the bitch he cheated with. Hell, this may be where that bastard of his was conceived. A shiver runs down my back.
