“I did not.” How had the conversation gone from Tynley’s wedding to Trey? How? Her family couldn’t possibly know, could they?
“You’re still denying it after all these years?” Mom looked at her with brows raised high. “We weren’t blind.”
“Did you know his father has cancer?” Tynley’s eyes clouded. “I never cared for the elder Kaplan, but I wouldn’t wish cancer on anyone.”
An anvil dropped in Alexis’s stomach. “How did you hear that?”
Tynley grimaced. “I don’t think I was supposed to say anything, so please don’t let it slip. My boss used to work for him, and they’ve recently reconnected. He’s the one who told me.”
Did Trey know? She didn’t think so. Surely, he would have mentioned that night two weeks ago when he’d opened up to her about all that happened. “Is it bad?”
“Terminal, from what Mr. Dunn told me.”
Alexis swallowed, but the lump in her throat remained. Trey and his father might not have had the best relationship, but that was still his father. The only family he had left. Overcome with emotion, unbidden tears sprang to her eyes. “Excuse me.”
She ran to the bathroom and splashed water on her face. Why was she crying? This was ridiculous. She hated Thomas Kaplan for all the horrible things he’d done. Except she couldn’t hate him. She pitied him. From what Trey had told her once, his father had always been about business, but it had become worse after his wife had passed. That’s all he knew, and all he lived for. What kind of a life was that? Why had she let his opinion of her upset her for so long?
Still, the tears wouldn’t stop.
A light knock sounded on the door. Tynley cleared her throat. “Are you okay in there?”
Was she? She opened the door and let her sister in. “I’m sorry. We’re supposed to be talking about your happy day. Ignore me.”
“What’s going on?” Tynley leaned against the sink. “You have me worried.”
Alexis wiped her eyes with a tissue and blew her nose. “It’s so stupid.”
“If it has you this upset, then it’s not.”
“I don’t know why I’m crying. There’s no love lost between me and Mr. Kaplan, but this will hit Trey hard. I’m almost positive he doesn’t know.”
Tynley arched a brow, then peered at her with concerned curiosity. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Her tears dried, and she averted her sister’s inquiring gaze. “Trey’s on the board of directors at Hope House.”
“Oh.” Tynley frowned. “I’m sorry. That must be awkward after all the fighting between you two growing up.”
“You don’t know the half of it,” she muttered under her breath.
“If you want to tell me, I’ll listen.” Tynley reached out and cupped her shoulder. “If you’re not ready to talk about it, you don’t have to.”
“It’s probably time to let it all out.” She sniffled and looked around. “But not in the bathroom.”
“We can go for a walk.”
Alexis shook her head. “Another time, but soon. Today is about you.”
“After all the times you were there for me, let me be your shoulder. If you don’t want to talk, that’s different, but don’t let me factor into it. The wedding will be planned either way.”
“Can you get Mom, and meet me in my old bedroom? I need a minute to gather myself.”
“Take all the time you need. We’ll be waiting for you.” Tynley gave her a hug before leaving.
Appraising herself in the mirror, she scowled at her tear-streaked face. What had gotten into her? She knew one thing. The time for secrets was over. If Trey could confide his, she could as well. Her family had always supported each other, but she hadn’t allowed them into her world when she was at her lowest. Had she leaned on them, would she have released her bitterness long before now?
She’d never know for sure. All she could do was move forward with her lessons learned.
She splashed cold water on her face several times, trying to rid the evidence of her tears. After the third splash, she stopped. Hadn’t she decided no more hiding information from her family? They wouldn’t care, not in a bad way. It was only her stubborn pride.
