Kayden caught the look on her face and stood up.
“Did you cut her a deal?!” he shouted, holding the hot cup of tea in his hand.
Taylor stepped in, stopped him from getting too close, and took the cup away.
“I knew it,” Lana finally said, the realization hitting her with the force of a physical blow. “It’s the only thing that makes sense. You… you pulled strings, didn't you?Youagreed to that plea deal!”
“Oh my God,” Carmen gasped, placing a hand over her mouth, the words a choked whisper.
Maureen flinched as if she'd been struck. Her breath came in short, desperate heaves as she began to stammer, her eyes darting wildly between her accusers. The pressure of everyone’sgazes, their unwavering, horrified stares, felt like a physical weight crushing her chest. She couldn't take it anymore. She was caught. Again.
“I had to,” she blurted, the words dissolving into tears. “You don't understand, I had to!”
“My God!” Aunt Mae exclaimed.
Lana shook her head in disbelief. “Why?Whydid youhaveto?” she chided.
“She threatened to blackmail me if I didn’t help her. She has evidence against me. That’s the truth,” Maureen admitted, barely getting the words out, wringing her hands together as their horror-filled faces stayed planted on her.
“Blackmail about what?” Kayden asked.
“I can’t discuss it now. We can talk about it later,” she replied, her attempt to sound in control failing.
Her eyes darted down at Heathcliff, and if they were literal darts, she would have impaled him. He’d pay for putting her on the spot, but the look on his face was new to her. He looked betrayed and exhausted with her, but also… disappointed.
“Oh. We will,” Kayden commanded.
“You can’t discuss it? After everything my child has gone through?!” Veronica was up on her feet in a second, her hand sailing through the air and smacking Maureen on the face.
Maureen stood shocked, holding her face as Rupert retrieved his wife and led her away.
“OK, let’s go. Lana, we’ll be at the hotel,” he said, leading Veronica out of the house.
Sam and Carmen followed behind them, but he kept his eyes on Lana as if he didn’t want to leave her behind.
“What kind of mother are you?” Veronica yelled through the open front door before it closed behind them.
Everyone stood in silence, watching Maureen stand in shame; no one pitied her. Lana walked out of the kitchen and stood eye to eye with Maureen.
“How could you? I’ll never forgive you for this, Maureen. Never.”
Lana stormed out of the living room, and seconds later, the audible slam of the bedroom door echoed through the quiet house.
“Well, I have a kitchen to get back to,” Aunt Mae chimed, standing to her feet.
She and her husband saw themselves to the door, and Taylor followed suit with Heathcliff right behind them.
“Where are you going?” Maureen asked.
“I need some time to think about this relationship, Maureen. I don’t know how to be with someone who would do this to her own kid, time and time again. If you would do that to them, what in the hell would you do to me?” he asked.
She didn’t have a word of a comeback for him, just more guilt and remorse as he closed the door behind him. Kayden had already started for the room he and Lana shared, and Paula averted her eyes as she headed upstairs. Maureen stood alone in the living room, the well-deserved slap stinging her face, and looked around the vast emptiness.
She lowered onto the couch and sobbed. The last thing she wanted to do was tell the truth. Lying was becoming harder than it used to be. She never planned on telling Kayden the truth about his father, because that would mean telling him the truth about everything, and she couldn’t do that. Ever. She had to keep it buried, even if it meant being hated, because that secret was only the tip of an enormous iceberg.
6
lies that built this house
