“Can I ask why you didn’t leave when your children got older?” Wills asks while holding a sobbing Sadie.
“I did. She found me.”
Jackson
My stomach is in knots as I listen to my father’s story.
I see a broken, abused man, but I also still see the father who hurt me. And I hate myself for that. Because if I can’t get over this, I know I was hurt more than I ever realized.
Belle mentioned before that it might be too much all at once, and while I know she was saying it to goad me into coming today, I can see the truth behind it now.
I glance behind Belle and reach for my sister. “You okay, Sades?”
She shrugs, not even trying to act strong, and I don’t blame her. This story is more fucked up than I ever thought possible.
“So she found you, then what?” I ask, wanting to get on with it. I need to hear the rest and get out of here.
“She didn’t find me… the men she hired did.”Fuck. “I still don’t know to this day if she hired them to scare me or kill me, but they beat me within an inch of my life because of your mother. She had to have been scared I would finally talk. The day I returned was the day I broke, and for many years after, I was her punching bag. I knew then that the two of you, Jackson and Sadie, were better off without me. It’s why I didn’t come sooner, and the only reason I can offer you now is all because of the housekeeper. She forced me to leave.”
“She helped you?” Sadie asks.
“Yes, right after your daughter was born. She saw it was killing what little light I had left in me to pretend I didn’t have a granddaughter. So, one weekend, while your mother was away, I came downstairs to a man standing in the kitchen. I assumed your mother hired a hitman and thought,This is it. I’m finally dead. But no, it was Mariana’s son, the tech wiz. He told me he could loop the cameras, allowing me to leave without her knowing. There was no way your mother would guess the housekeeper could do something like this since she looked down on her employees like the terrible person she was. She would assume I hired someone to do it.” He takes a deep breath. “So I left, paid cash for a small place, and started seeing a therapist. Before your grandfather died, I spoke to him and told him everything. He believed me, and it devastated me to know I could have just gone to him all those years ago. I know it sounds simple, and even when I say it aloud, I ask myself why I didn’t do things differently. But when you’re enduring daily mental and physical abuse, it screws with your thought process. I didn’t come here for your pity or forgiveness, but after years of therapy, I am finally in a place to tell you the truth. Even if what I did in trying to save you made you think I was a monster in the process, I need you both to know that I never stopped loving you. Not for one second of my life.”
Sadie sobs into Wills, and Belle looks at me through tear-filled eyes. “I’m here for you, Jack,” she whispers, and I’m so grateful to have her by my side.
Sadie gets up finally and hugs our dad. I knew she’d have no issue moving on from the past, but I’m struggling.
When they break apart, I speak up. “I’m sorry for what you went through, and I appreciate you protecting us while putting your life on the line to ensurewelived. I’m also sorry that we didn’t see any signs to help you as we grew up. I—”
Dad cuts me off, “There’s no way you could have ever known. Her abuse was very calculated, always ensuring that the physical harm was untraceable.”
I nod in understanding. With no more words left to give, I glance at Wills and he shoots me an understanding look that I should go. I know my sister will have more questions, things I can’t hear yet.
I stand abruptly, and Belle’s right there with me.
“Again, I’m sorry you went through that, and I’m thankful you told us. I’m going to need some time to process everything that was said today.”
His eyes—green that match my own—stare at me with so much emotion. “I understand, and if today is all I get, that’s okay too. I need you to know I love you. It’s all I care about, all I’ve ever cared about.”
I hesitate before deciding to walk over to him. He stands and I hug him quickly, not knowing if it’ll be the last hug I share with my dad or the first of many to come.
Still undecided.
As Belle and I are about to enter the elevator, he calls out to me, “I’m proud of the man you’ve become. I’ve been following you for years. Congratulations on all your success.”
* * *
The ride home is silent, but the second we cross the threshold of our home, I’m on Belle, kissing her, touching her.
“Jack, what are you doing?”
I kiss her hard against the lips. “I need this… I need you. Please, sweetheart.”
She pulls back and stares into my eyes. She must see whatever she’s looking for, because she says, “Okay, Jack. Anything you need.”
24
Annabelle
