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To Kane.
And because of those lies, I’d played a major role in that hurt. I’d made decisions based on deception. I wasn’t delusional enough to believe she’d have wanted Penelope if she’d actually told Kane about her.
In some ways, I was surprised I’d been able to convince her not to terminate the pregnancy. My sister was more concerned about the effect it would have on her figure than anything else.
If I were completely honest with myself, I’d known something was off about her entire demeanor.
But I hadn’t cared.
I’d just wanted Penelope.
The thought of Kane and me hand in hand with a small Penelope on the beach flashed in my mind. A pang of loss hit me in the chest. What if I could’ve given her a father too?
The Kane of now would’ve taken on the responsibility of a child without question. Would he have back then? Babies were scary. They were fragile and needy and so much responsibility. Accepting a fully grown daughter was easier in many respects.
There was no way to know, but everything in me said he would’ve done whatever he could’ve to be the best parent possible to Penelope.
I just wasn’t sure if he’d have allowed me to co-parent.
I dumped dishes into the sink.Alma. What was I going to do in regard to her?
I was furious at what she’d done to them.
She lied.
While I hadn’t needed much prodding to think the worst of Kane, she’d made serious accusations against him. It was rare anyone in our world went to the authorities with abuse claims. The people were too powerful. The accusers would be brushed off if listened to at all, and the abusers would rain down more wrath for any attempt to disgrace them.
I’d understood on some level why Alma had kept quiet.
But she’d made me believe I was protecting Penelope from a monster.
The truth was quickly becoming abundantly clear.
She didn’t want a child.
Why did you marry him so quickly?
I tapped the counter, trying to dig into the recesses of my mind to a time I’d buried deep to try to forget. Because watching Kane and Alma get married had been painful. I’d attempted to convince myself it was because I disliked him so and hated to see my sister marry someone like him.
But that was a lie. One I was no better prepared to face now than I had been back then.
A bitter sound escaped me. I supposed lying was a Cunningham sister trait.
Penelope and Kane returned to view, at first only a small dot that grew larger the closer they came. I couldn’t make out their expressions, but her arm was still hooked in his.
Guilt pushed itself to the forefront of the mix of emotions swirling within me.
How would I ever forgive Alma for this?
And worse yet . . . how would Kane or Penelope ever forgive me?
CHAPTERTWELVE
KANE
“A lawyer, huh?”
Penelope’s cheeks were red from the wind. She looked so much like me, she was hard to look at.
