But she's not having it.
"You lied to me." He tries to interrupt, but she's not having it. "My entire life, you lied to me. You let me forget him because it suitedyou. Both of you, but especially you, Dad. You let me forget him because it suited you. You must have been so relieved when I stopped asking for him."
Cate's face has dropped to her hands, her shoulders shaking.
"Molly," he snaps. "That's enough. There are two sides to this--"
"Earlier today, I thought I wanted to hear your side. I thought I had questions. But I only have one. Is it true?"
Cate looks at Rob. His nostrils flare.
Neither of them speaks.
I feel the pain of her disappointment, hear the tightness of her voice when she says, "That's what I thought. You say there are two sides, so does your side defend what you did, or does it lie about it even happening?"
"I don't know what he told you--"
"Be careful, Dad. Because I remember him. Turns out you didn't erase him after all, despite the effort. You pushed him out and took his place. You made mom choose, and she chose you. Chose her comfort over his heart."
"We were protecting--"
"You werepossessingme. You were protecting yourselves."
Cate sobs, finally raising her head. "You don't understand. You were so traumatized, had nightmares for months. And then you forgot. And you were fine."
"Hekidnappedyou, Molly--" Rob snaps.
"Why? Why did he take me?" she asks. "Who drove him to that? Who could be so cruel?"
"I'm your father--" he says more calmly.
But her voice is shaking, furious. "Every happy memory I have was his." The words are quiet, still. "I don't know who youare. But I know you aren't my father. You're the man who stole me from him."
Shock, anger, fear pass across Rob's face.
"Maybe you wanted to tell me, maybe you didn't. But now that I know, I don't know how I'll forgive you."
"Molly, baby, please--" Cate begs.
"No. No, Mom. I know he controls you. But you made these choices. You chose him over Danny. You chose him over me. You wanted to protect me, but all you did was betray us both." Molly glances down, rolls her lips and pins them. "I have to go--I can't look at you right now. I am begging you to leave me alone until I come to you. If I come to you. If you push me, I don't know if there's any chance."
"Molly, you're being ridiculous--"
"Rob!" Cate's voice cuts through, sharp and raw. "Stop it! Just stop!" She shoves his arm, pushing him out of the frame. When she turns back, her face is wrecked. "Honey--I love you. I'm so sorry, Please…please call me when you're ready. I'll be here. Without him. Okay?"
Molly's lips part in surprise, her brows knitted together. I see her fight the instinct to say I love you like she always has. But she can't. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
With a small shake of her head, she ends the call. Drops her phone. Takes a shaky breath.
And then she breaks.
I draw her into me, as close as I can get her, and hold her while she cries, my own eyes burning, her pain unbearable. And I rock her, my mind screaming with fury and helplessness and love and pride.
It's a long time until her tears slow, then stop. She pulls back enough to look at me, red eyed, cheeks blotchy, beautiful, perfect. I cup her face, her skin cool from tears, and I thumb them away.
"I love you," she says with a shaky, breathy voice.
"I love you too," I swear, my throat tight.
