I bite into the edge of my lip. “I … I think so.”
“You think so?” he repeats slowly. “When? A year? Two? Never?”
Tears glisten in my eyes. “I can’t answer that because I don’t know.”
“You’ve been lying this entire time.”
I shake my head. “When you asked who Trey and Gloria’s father was, I never said I didn’t know. I never lied.”
His upper lip curls. “Wow, really? I didn’t find it necessary to specify my father, but I did ask who his dad was.”
He did, and I was careful with my wording for this reason.
“I told you he was a deadbeat asshole. That’s the truth in my opinion—no offense.”
My answer isn’t met with approval.
“You also said you didn’t know where he was.”
Again, I was careful with my words.
“At the time, I didn’t know where he was.” I press my lips together.
My response only pisses him off further. “Bullshit, Chloe!”
“I never lied to you.” I fight to keep my voice strong.
“You selectively left out details.”
“I still didn’t lie.”
He glares. “You’ve had years to tell me.”
Anger surfaces, and I push through the incoming tears. “There was never a reason to tell you! I hated you!”
He lifts his chin. “So, when you were in my bed, you hated me. While I was going to my brother’s football games, you hated me. When you told me you had feelings for me, it was all a lie, and you hated me?”
I press my finger into my chest. “You came to me, Kyle! I didn’t come knocking on your door, asking you to hang out.” I swallow hard, and tears are streaming down my face. “I did hate you. I never pursued you in the beginning.”
“And perusing you was a big fucking mistake!”
I jump when he throws his glass across the room, and it hits a picture of his family, shattering it.
“One big fucking mistake!” He points to the door. “Leave, Chloe. I don’t want you here, and I don’t trust you.”
I wipe away tears, forcing myself to not give up yet, to not give up on us. “Can you please hear me out?”
“Like you heard me out years ago?” He deepens his tone. “Please, Chloe, it took you years to finally hear me out. You had all this time to say something, anything, and you said nothing.” A cold laugh rumbles from his throat. “And here I thought, I was falling in love with you.” He holds up a finger. “I thought we were falling for each other. I’ll never trust you again. Mark my fucking words. My father confessed everything to my mother. You and your sister blackmailed him for years, accepting over a hundred thousand dollars, and it didn’t stop when we began dating. That’s where you crossed the goddamn line. Now, get the fuck out of my house.”
“Please,” I beg. Salty tears hit my lips, and my chin quivers. I’ve never been so terrified of losing someone in my life. I inhale a pained breath. “I’m sorry, I really am, but I was protecting my family.”
“And that’s what I’m doing.” He glares at me. “My guilt for what happened in high school is gone. Looks like you got your revenge. Con-fucking-gratulations. Now, you can fuck off.”
21
Chloe
I never thought I’d miss Kyle telling me good morning.
It’s been two days since we talked. After our four a.m. conversation, I left with tears in my eyes. He was drunk, and there was nothing else I could say to change his mind. I stayed positive, hoping he’d calm down and we’d talk the next day, but nothing.
Claudia is furious, and I’m sure Roger got an ass-kicking when they got back to the trailer. You don’t mess with Claudia’s money. She told me she’d been blowing up Michael’s phone but hadn’t heard back from him. I’m surprised he hasn’t paid her a visit about her boyfriend spilling the beans. Michael made it clear from day one that, if a word was muttered, his checkbook was closed.
His silence means the Bank of Michael is out of business.
I ignore the looks and whispers when I walk into my office building, but there’s no ignoring Melanie. As soon as she sees me, she demands I tell her everything. I do. At least someone will hear me out.
I answer the phone when I see Trey’s name flashing across the screen.
“Hey, buddy!”
“I hate you!” he screams on the other end.
“Whoa,” I say. “What is going on?”
“How could you know and not tell me?” Hurt is clear in his voice.
If I could see his face right now, I’d be in tears.
“How could you not tell me who my father is … that Kyle is my big brother? How could you?”
I open my mouth to speak, but he cuts me off. “I had to find out at school where everyone is calling my mom a homewrecker. I didn’t believe it until Cassidy came barreling down the hall in tears, calling Mom the same thing.” His voice breaks. “You listened to me ask about my father for years when I was younger, and you told me he was gone. He was in the same town. I could’ve known him all along.”
“I’m sorry,” I choke out.
“Did Kyle know?”
“No. He’s just as mad.”
“Tell him I never want to see him again. He and his family are terrible. And, right now, so are you.”
The line goes dead.
The sound of my phone ringing drags me away from the article I’m writing. I stretch across the table to grab it.
Kyle Calling.
Maybe he is drunk and wants to remind me of how much he hates me.
Or maybe he’s ready to hear me out.
I take a deep breath of courage before answering, “Hello?”
“We have a situation.”
A crappy situation from the tone of his voice.
“Jesus, did Trey get busted shoplifting again?”
“It’s your sister.”
My blood runs cold anytime those words are spoken. “What?”
He groans, and I can imagine him running his hand along his forehead like he does when he’s stressed.
“She got picked up for possession. With her record, she’s most likely not going home tonight.” He pauses as faint yelling comes from the other side of the phone. “She wants to talk to you.”
Of course the screaming maniac is her.
Her inebriated voice suddenly slurring on the other line stops me from telling him I have nothing to say to her.
“Chloe! Tell your boyfriend to get me out of this hellhole!”
Oh, now, she wants me to date Kyle.
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I answer flatly. Unfortunately.
“Your fuck buddy. Whatever,” she counters with urgency.
I frown. She’s saying this in front of people in the station.
Perfect.
“Where are the kids?” is all I answer.
“The kids? You’re worried about them when I’m about to go to jail! What kind of sister are you?”
Jesus. This chick. How are we related?
“Yes, I’m worried about your children. I need to pick them up, considering you won’t be able to,” I reply, not bothering to answer about helping her out. Let her sit there all night or longer for all I care. She’s not my main concern.
“They’re at school,” she finally answers.
“It’s too late for them to be at school.”
“Then, I’m not quite sure where they are at the moment. You know their schedule better than I do.”
“Jesus. I need to go. Hand the phone back to Kyle.”
“No! Not until you fix this for me!”
I hang up.
A few minutes later, my phone rings again.
“This’d better be Kyle, or I’m disconnecting the call again.”
“It’s me,” he answers. “Never thought I’d hear you say that on the other line.”
“Me either,” I mutter. “So?”
“She won’t see a judge until tomorrow, concerning her bail … if she�
��ll even receive one. The guys who arrested her said she asked her boyfriend to look after the kids.”
“So, she knows where the kids are. She just wouldn’t tell me.”
“Or she doesn’t remember. She’s drugged out of her mind. I’m surprised she knew who you were. Roger somehow wasn’t carrying anything. My guess is, he gave it to Claudia, so we couldn’t book him, too. You and I both know that dude isn’t someone I’d trust with my children. Call Trey and pick them up. Gage can go with you if you’re concerned about your safety. I’ll have someone keep you updated about Claudia.”
“Don’t worry about sending Gage. I’ll be fine and figure everything out.”
“Good luck, Chloe.” His tone isn’t one filled with intimacy. He’s concerned but still cold. He’s doing his job, treating me as he would anyone else in this situation, but it’s not the man who told me he was falling in love with me. He’s no longer the man I was falling in love with.
“And, Kyle?” I say, hoping to catch him before he hangs up.
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
“I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing it for the kids, and it’s my job.”
I grab my purse and keep my phone to my ear while walking to my car. “Right … I guess.” I stop to find the right words. “Do you … do you think you can stop by and talk tonight or tomorrow?”
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
And it’s his turn to end the call.
I call Trey as soon as I get in my car, and he answers with the first ring.
“Where are you?” I ask.
“Mom’s,” he mutters.
“Who’s there with you?”
“No one. We got back from the Y a few hours ago.”
Claudia and I set up a schedule where we take turns picking them up from school or the after-school program.
I start the car and reverse out of my driveway. “How did you get home?”
“We walked.”
I’m going to kick Claudia’s ass. She could’ve at least asked me to pick them up.
“Why didn’t you ask me for a ride?”
“I don’t want to call you all the time, and I’m mad at you at the moment.”
“I’m coming to get you. Your mom has to go out of town for a few days, so you get to stay with me.”
He sighs and lowers his voice. “I already know she was arrested.” His voice is filled with disappointment, and I have a feeling it’s more for me lying to him again than Claudia’s arrest.
“Yes, she was arrested. How did you find out?”
“It was here in the trailer park.”
“You were home?”
“No, but everyone told me when we got home. Roger said we’re supposed to stay with him and not to call you. He left for a beer run about ten minutes ago.”
“I’m on my way. Get yourself and Gloria ready.”
When I pull up, they’re waiting for me outside with bags in their hands. I wish I could say this was the first time we’d done this, but it isn’t. Call it a routine for us Fieldgains.
“Mommy’s boyfriend told us not to leave!” Gloria says when I get out of my car.
“Yeah, well, Mommy’s boyfriend can get over it,” I tell her, scooping her up in my arms.
I turn around and notice the squad car pull up across the street. I see Gage on the driver’s side.
I strap Gloria into her car seat while Trey gets in.
“Give me a sec,” I tell them before heading over to the squad car.
Gage rolls down his window. “He’s not here, if that’s what you’re wondering.”
I shake my head and lie. “I wanted to say thank you.”
His face turns neutral, but his words are harsh. “You should’ve told him, you know.”
I sigh. “It’s complicated.”
He nods. “I understand complicated. I’ve told him to talk to you, but he’s stubborn. Don’t give up though.”
“Aunt Chloe!” Trey yells.
I turn around to look at him.
“We’d better get going before Roger gets back!”
I nod and then glance back at Gage. “Thank you—again.”
Trey is sitting in my living room, throwing a football in the air and catching it, when I walk in after putting Gloria to bed.
He sets the ball aside. “So, uh … the mayor is my dad?”
I tighten my sweater around my chest and slump down on the couch.
I called Trey after he hung up earlier. He’s young and confused. He didn’t answer my call, but he did text, saying he was okay but needed time to clear his head and had a test to study for. I told him okay, but I’m still not prepared to have this conversation.
“Yes,” I reply.
He slowly shakes his head in disbelief. “How? I don’t understand. He’s … him … and Mom is Mom.”
“Trust me; you’re not the only one confused.”
When I was sixteen, Claudia got drunk and opened up about her relationship with Michael. They’d met at a job fair. Claudia’s probation officer had forced her to go look for a job. Instead, she sat in the back parking lot and smoked. That was where she met Michael, who was sneaking out to do the same. They’d talked, hit it off, and exchanged numbers.
He hesitates before asking his next question. “Is it true you made him pay you money not to tell anyone?”
I grimace. “I don’t think this is an appropriate conversation for a teenager.”
He appears annoyed at my response. “I already know you did.”
“It sounds worse than what it was. We didn’t hold a gun to his head. He’d offered. He wanted to make sure you were taken care of.”
That’s the truth. Michael paid Claudia from the beginning, but she took it upon herself to demand more with the threats. With how much money he’s given her, I’m surprised he hasn’t gone bankrupt.
His face scrunches up. “Is Kyle mad that I’m his brother?”
“Of course not,” I assure with a soothing voice. “Everyone was just taken by surprise.”
“Did you break up because of it?”
I suck in my cheeks and tilt my head toward his book bag on the floor. “You need to do your homework, and we’ll talk about this another time. It’s been a long night.”
“Kyle was a good dude. Too bad he couldn’t be my big brother when I was growing up.”
I clutch my sweater around myself tighter, nearly ripping it. “I’m sorry for keeping it from you.”
He only nods, grabs his book bag, and pulls out a notebook. “What happens next … with the whole Mom situation?”
Ease pumps through me for him not asking more Michael-related questions.
“You’ll stay here until we figure something out,” I state.
His face brightens and then falls. “Roger said Mom told him we could only stay with you if you paid her bail and got Kyle to drop the charges on her.”
“I can’t convince anyone to drop drug-possession charges.”
A flicker of a smile passes over his lips, but he attempts to hide it. “Maybe, we can stay with you now.”
22
Kyle
So much has happened in the past few days.
The town is torn on their thoughts about my father. His scandal is nothing out of the ordinary with politics, so him having an affair and illegitimate son won’t affect him professionally, but those secrets will alter his public image—our family’s public image.
My father left town for a conference and won’t be back for a few days. He hasn’t answered my calls but did take Sierra’s. She was a daddy’s girl growing up, and I think his affair has hurt her more than the rest of us children. He apologized profusely.
When I visited my mom, she was in the kitchen, and stacks of papers sat in front of her—legal documents, receipts of money transactions, and papers covered with texts. She demanded the documents or threatened a divorce. My father surprisingly had his attorney drop off everything. When I asked if she was leaving him, sh
e only shook her head and grabbed another piece of damning evidence against Chloe.
I sat down and skimmed through them with her, grimacing with every check made out to Chloe for thousands and thousands of dollars. My mom hasn’t commented on my involvement with her, but I won’t be inviting her to dinner in my mother’s home again. Shit. Inviting her to dinner, period.
When I went back to work, all eyes were on me. People had questions but were too timid to ask them. Then, Claudia was brought in, making everything worse. She talked shit to me the entire time the arresting officers booked her. She announced I was having sex with her sister and threatened to release more family secrets if I didn’t get her out of trouble.
I didn’t.
Her threats only sped up her booking process.
“Give them to me, you stupid cunt!”
The loud voice wakes me. I throw some clothes on, grab my gun, badge, and phone, and rush outside to find Roger standing in front of Chloe’s house, throwing rocks at it.
Not again.
I look away from him to see Chloe standing on the porch in her robe, begging him to leave.
I walk closer, and it’s no surprise Roger is wasted off his ass. He drops the rocks in his hand when he notices me approaching.
“What’s going on here?” I ask.
“He’s trying to make me give him the kids,” Chloe shouts, worry clear in her voice.
Roger takes a step forward, causing me to do the same and block him from getting closer to Chloe.
“I told the little shitheads not to leave,” Roger slurs. “Claudia said they couldn’t stay unless she bailed her out. She didn’t, so I’m here to collect the brats.”
“They’re not going anywhere with you,” Chloe answers, her hands going to her hips. “Keep throwing rocks at my house all you want. I’ll call the cops.”
“Why haven’t you called the cops?” I ask her.
Vote Then Read: Volume III Page 40