"You were there that night."The words come out measured, deliberate, like I'm trying to build a bridge between past and present with careful precision."You wanted to help, but he wouldn't let you."
Kelly's composure cracks like ice, and tears start flowing down her cheeks.
"Look, I don't know who you think I am?—"
"You wanted to help."
"Stop."Her voice breaks."Just stop."
"You told him it was wrong to leave me there."
"He said he'd take my son."Kelly's words come tumbling out now, fast and desperate."My little boy.He's only eight.They threatened to have him taken from me and said I'd never see him again if I talked."
"Kelly."I say her name and watch her crumble completely.
"How do you—oh God, oh God."She's sobbing now, backing away from me."I wanted to help you.I swear I did."
"Wait, who's 'they'?"
Nick steps forward, his voice sharp but not unkind.
"Scott and his mother," Kelly says through her tears."She came to my workplace the next morning with a check—it was more money than I'd ever seen.But I didn't want it.I told her to keep it.That's when she started listing things.My address.Tommy's school.My sister's name.She knew about my past, my addiction.Said one phone call and child services would take him."
"You were scared," I say, and I mean it.
"Terrified."Kelly wipes her face with shaking hands."You have to understand—I've fought so hard to get clean, to build a life for us.She knew exactly where to hit.Knew I'd do anything to protect him."
"You never cashed the check?"
"Never.I’ve been trying to make an honest living.But every night I still see your face and it haunts me."Kelly looks at me with desperate hope."I'll confess everything if I have to—what I saw, what she said, all of it.I know it won't fix what I did, but maybe—maybe it's not too late to do the right thing."
"Thank you," I say, and the words feel inadequate for what she's offering.
She hands me her phone number on a piece of paper.
“I really am glad you’re okay.”
I turn to Nick, who has been watching this entire exchange with quiet intensity.His presence has been steady throughout, reminding me that I'm not facing this alone.He nods and we make our way to the front door.
"I need to talk to mom," I say, hearing the determination in my own voice."I need to start taking control of this narrative."
Nick's smile is proud and fierce."Your mom will be okay.Whatever comes next, we're all going to face it together."
Nick holds the gallery door open as we step into the afternoon sunlight, and I realize something fundamental about the man who's become my stepfather.
He doesn't just love Mom—he loves all of us, in all our broken complexity.He sees our family's pain and chooses to step into it, to help carry it, to transform it into something that looks like healing.
For months, I've been carrying the weight of what happened like a burden meant for me alone.But maybe that was never the point.
Maybe the point is learning that even in the darkest moments, there are people who want to do the right thing, who are just waiting for someone to give them permission to be brave.
We always have more power than we realize.
We just have to be brave enough to use it.
CHAPTER26
DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS
