Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 92140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“It’s hard to know for sure what she wanted,” Mason said. “I know that she married her high school boyfriend before I was born, and I’m guessing that was because her parents shamed her into it.”
“I remember they were pretty strict,” I said. “She told me they hated that she worked in a bar.”
“I barely remember them.” Mason shrugged, his eyes growing a little cold. “And they were never that interested in me.”
“I’m sorry,” I said again.
“So did you meet her where she worked?” Lori asked.
I took another sip of whiskey. “Yes, in the pub where she waitressed. I was eighteen, same as she was. I’d joined the Navy right after high school graduation, gone to boot camp and then A School, and I had a few days before I had to report for duty in Norfolk. My mom guilted me into going up to Frankenmuth to visit my dad.”
“Your parents were divorced?” asked Lori.
I nodded. “They split when I was nine. It was—they had—” Swirling the whiskey in my glass, I debated how much to reveal. “Things were tough at home.”
“And you had no brothers or sisters?” she asked.
I hesitated. Took a sip. “Actually, I had a sister.”
“You did?” Mason was surprised, since I’d hidden the truth when he asked about siblings before.
“Yes. Her name was Penelope, but we called her Poppy. She was four years younger than me.” I swallowed hard. “We lost her when she was three.”
Lori gasped. “I’m so sorry. Was she sick?”
I shook my head and drained the last of my whiskey. “It was an accident.”
Immediately, Lori put her hands over her cheeks. “Oh, how awful. I’m really sorry, Zach.”
“Me too,” said Mason quietly.
I shoved the image of the little girl in the butterfly shirt from my mind. “Anyway, the marriage never recovered. My dad left and eventually remarried. My mom and I stayed in Cleveland.” I looked Mason in the eye. “I’m sorry I wasn’t honest when you asked me on the phone about siblings. It’s not something I talk about.”
“I understand,” he said. “It’s okay. Thank you for telling me now.”
It struck me that Andi had managed to raise a sensitive, empathetic son despite how hard it must have been for her, and how easy it would be for Mason to be accusatory or bitter. It made me want to be as forthcoming as possible with him. “Truth be told, Mason, I wasn’t all that mature or responsible in those days. I had a lot of anger, I was hot-headed and reckless. I wanted to settle things by yelling or fighting. The Navy was doing its best to whip me into shape, but I wasn’t there yet.”
“Eighteen is young,” Lori said.
“Yeah. Didn’t feel that way, of course. I thought I knew everything. Anyway, I saw Andi at the bar where she worked and thought she was cute. We spent a few days having a good time, but being careless about it.”
“A few days? That’s it?” Mason questioned.
“That’s it. Her ex-boyfriend—Mick, the one she married—got wind of me and showed up at my dad’s ready to fight.” I shrugged. “So I fought him.”
“He was a jerk. I hope you kicked his ass.” Mason set his jaw, and I saw my younger self in his pugnacious expression.
“I did, but my dad and stepmother were furious and tossed me out. I was so mad I left without saying goodbye to Andi.”
“And she never tried to get in touch with you?” Lori asked.
I shook my head. “Not that I know of. I always figured she was so angry that she just deleted my number and decided, to hell with that guy.”
Mason exhaled. “That sounds like her. Mom had a hot temper too. And man, could she hold a grudge. I could see her realizing that you’d left without saying anything and swearing she’d never utter your name again.”
“But even after she found out she was pregnant?” Lori was incredulous. “That’s a heck of a grudge.”
Guilt slammed my chest like a wrecking ball. “I swear, if she’d tried to contact me, Mason, I would have responded. I can’t say I would have been thrilled, but I would not have ignored her.”
Mason picked up his beer glass and drank. After setting it down, he nodded slowly. “I believe you. If my mother never even wanted me to have your name, it must have been because she never wanted you to know.”
I wanted to apologize again, but the words were starting to sound hollow.
“At least you know now, right?” Lori said, her tone brighter. “And even though we’ll probably never know why Andrea made the choice she did, maybe it doesn’t matter. We can’t change it. But we can move forward as a family.”
Mason smiled at her, patting her hand on the table. “Yes. Exactly.”
The server arrived with salads a moment later, and I dug in as if I were starving, grateful for the distraction.