“Reagan…it’s not as simple as you think.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “You were busted with your twenty-something girlfriend. Seems pretty simple to me.”
“Twenty-something?” He looks genuinely confused.
“She looks younger than me, Dad.” My voice is laced with venom. “I can’t believe you’re cheating on Mom with a perky young blond. Is she your intern?”
He looks at the floor. “No. I think…I mean…I know what’s happened. Those photos the Titan campaign has aren’t of me and…well, the other woman.”
“Then who the hell is she?”
“My daughter.”
I put a hand on the kitchen counter to steady myself. “What?”
He nods, his expression loaded with shame. “I’m sorry you had to find out this way.”
“Find out what? What’s going on here? Tell me exactly what’s going on.”
“I started an affair with Stephanie Barnes twenty-two years ago. The woman I was apparently photographed with is our daughter, Kennedy. She’s twenty.”
I feel unsteady. I wish Jude were here. I need to look into his dark eyes and feel the invisible blanket of reassurance he always wraps around me.
“Twenty-two years? And…?” I clear away the lump in my throat. “I can’t…I mean, I don’t even know what to say. How could you?”
“I’m sorry, Reagan.”
I hold up a hand to quiet him. “Don’t. People who are sorry don’t carry on for more than two decades. You’d still be denying it if there wasn’t cold, hard proof. You’re nothing but aliar.”
He nods, his expression sober. “Yes. I’ve dreaded the thought of my double life being discovered, but I have to say I feel almost relieved right now. I’ve wanted you and Abby to know Kennedy and Chris—”
“Stop.” My voice wavers with emotion. “Just stop. You disgust me. You have a mistress andtwoother children?”
“Yes. I didn’t mean for it to happen. I just—”
“No.” I cut him off, and the tears finally spill over. “You have to tell Mom.”
“When is the Titan campaign releasing the photos?”
“I have no idea, and I don’t even care. Either you tell her in the next twenty-four hours orI will.”
“Reagan—”
“Don’t ever use that stern tone with me again. Ever. You’re not the man I thought you were. All of this running myself to the ground, trying to get elected…it’s all about you. All to make you proud of me and carry on your work. But it was all just a lie.”
He sighs deeply. “Listen, I know this is a shock. I’m sorry. But don’t do anything rash.”
“You don’t get to tell me what to do ever again!”
After a few seconds of silence, he tries again. “Just take some time away from the campaign.”
“I had to, so I could come here. And there’s no way I’m going back and keeping up this charade.”
“Reagan, you have to.”
“No, I don’t.”
He shakes his head. “You don’t know what’s at stake.”
