We cry together, clinging to one another, and it’s therapeutic.
When our tears finally dry, I let Dad put me back in bed, locking eyes with Adam as he carefully pulls the covers up over me. His eyes are damp and red-rimmed too.
Dad flops into his chair, scrubbing his hands down his face, and he seems to have aged in the last hour. I hate to add to his pain, but there’s no point in telling him half the truth.
“He’s back,” I blurt out. “The man who attacked me.”
“What the fuck?” Adam shouts, his spine locking up.
“I thought he was a stranger, Dad. All this time, I thought it was random, but it wasn’t.”
A frown creases his brow. “What do you mean?”
“I’m sorry you have to find out like this, but Mom’s cheating on you.”
He scoffs. “Your mother has cheated on me for years. That isn’t news. We are married in name only.”
“He’s her lover, Dad. He must’ve been coming from our house the night he raped me, but I only just figured it out because he’s back. Or maybe he never left. Maybe they have always been together,” I add as the thought occurs to me. Just because I haven’t seen him since the rape doesn’t mean he hasn’t been around. They could’ve been together all this time. A shudder works its way through me, and I’m cold all over.
“I’ve seen them together, and Sunday night he saw me,” I continue explaining. “I was walking through campus, and he was coming out of Mom’s office building. He chased me, and I was sure this time he wouldn’t just rape me. Not now I know who he is, but I managed to lose him because a bunch of coeds came out of the dorms just before he caught up to me, and he took off.”
Dad’s chair slams to the ground as he jumps up all of a sudden. Adam and I turn to the door at the same time. Mom is standing in the doorway staring at me in shock. It’s clear she’s heard enough to know what we were discussing. Adam wraps his arms around me as he shoots daggers at my mother.
Dad grabs her into the room, shutting the door behind her. “Start talking, Carole. Who is this man, and where can I find him?”
“Where canwefind him,” Adam says. “Because there’s no way you’re going there alone. I’ve as much right to kill the bastard as you do.” His jaw is wired tight, his words clipped as he speaks. I’ve no idea if Adam is speaking metaphorically or he actually wants to murder him. I wouldn’t have any issue with that except I don’t want to see my father or my boyfriend behind bars. I’d much rather that bastard rots in a jail cell than my loved ones.
Mom recovers fast. “No one is killing anyone. We all know Emily is prone to fanciful notions. This is another pathetic attention-seeking attempt on her part.”
Dad grabs Mom around the throat, pushing her up against the wall.
“Dad!” I scream, not wanting him up on any murder charge. “Stop!” I get out of bed or try to, but Adam stops me, shaking his head while he clutches onto my hand. “Daddy, please. You’re no use to me in jail, and, besides, we need her to tell us who he is.”
Dad reluctantly releases her. “Start talking, Carole, or I swear to God I will fucking kill you!” His voice rattles with rage. “That bastard you’re sleeping with drugged and raped our daughter! You’ve never been a mother to Emily, but you will do the right thing now, Carole. You will tell us who he is. You brought him into her life. You’re the reason she was raped when she was fifteen!” His voice cracks, and I fear he’s going to lose it again.
Mom glares at me. “Quit with your lies. How dare you cast doubt on his character! Richard is the most incredible man I’ve ever met, and he isn’t capable of the things you’re accusing him of.” The vein in her neck visibly throbs. “He isn’t a rapist! Why would he rape anyone when I give him whatever he wants in bed?!”
She’s even more delusional than I thought. For an educated, intelligent woman, she sure is acting dumb.
Her eyes narrow as she redirects her glare in Dad’s direction. “Besides, Richard would never be interested in her! I mean, look at her!” She waves her hands around. “She’s a mess! She never dresses appropriately, hardly ever wears makeup, and she loves flaunting her boobs like a cheap whore. She has no class.” She tilts her shoulders back, tipping her chin up. “And she’s only a kid. He would never go for her. Especially not when he loves me!”
This time, Adam loses his cool. “You are batshit crazy, woman. He raped your daughter, and you see it as some kind of sick competition? And now you’re, what, defending him? Protecting him?” His body trembles, and I hold onto his arm, keeping him by my side, so he can’t do anything that’ll get him arrested.
“What is his last name, Carole, and where can I find him?” Dad asks, folding his arms.
She pushes off the wall, smoothing a hand down the front of her skirt suit. Her usual mask goes on. “I’m not telling you. If you want to believe our daughter’s lies, that’s up to you. But I’m not listening to another word of this, this…sick fantasy of hers.”
Un-fucking-believable. You know, I think my mother might be clinically insane.
She strides toward the door.
“If you walk out of here, you are dead to me,” I call out, surprised at how calm I sound when I’m seething inside. “And I’m going to the cops. I’m making a formal complaint. He is not getting away with what he did to me.” I should have reported it four years ago, but I was afraid to tell anyone. But not now. Now I want to ensure he pays for his crime and that he’s locked up so he can’t do this to any other girl or woman.
She stumbles momentarily, but she doesn’t respond, and she doesn’t look back as she exits the room.
Stunned silence rings out for a few beats. I slump against Adam, but he keeps me upright.
Dad turns to me. “We’re better off without her.”
