“There’s more?” Alexandra sat on the sofa beside her mom and covered her legs with the throw, but she couldn’t quell theshaking.
Kimberly nodded. “Your father was a terrible philanderer. He didn’t think I knew…” Kimberly tossed off the blanket and, using her cane for support, pushed off the sofa. With slow, deliberate steps, she walked to the fireplace and pivoted. Strength and determination shone in hereyes.
“While your father loved you and Cain, he despised Colton. Back then, Colton was shy because of his stuttering. Instead of being patient and supportive, Wilson viewed Colton as weak and bullied him. Colton grew to fear him. Cain, on the other hand, was bold, brazen even, and Wilson favored him above everyone else. Evenyou.”
Alexandra struggled to maintain her composure, her head reeling. “So, that’s why you and Colton hadsecrets.”
“It is. Colton knew too much and you, nothing. I needed to ensure that one of my babies’ childhoods remained intact. Wilson’s sudden departure affected you deeply. I tried to be both a mother and a father, but you missedhim.”
Alexandra broke into a cold sweat and she kicked off the blanket. “I’m sorry for what you and Colton had to suffer through. Thank you for protectingme.”
“As a teen, you retreated behind your Goth. Crockett was the only one who could reach you.” A tear slid down Kimberly’s cheek. “The summer before you left for college, youblossomed.”
Alexandra’s vision narrowed and she threw her head between her legs before she passedout.
Returning to the sofa, Kimberly rubbed her back. “I’m sorry,honey.”
“I’m glad I know,” Alexandra muttered, her head still tipped down. “Is theremore?”
Kimberly didn’treply.
Alexandra repositioned herself, lying on the floor with her legs draped over the sofa cushion. Kimberly laughed, then apologized. “You haven’t gotten light-headed inyears.”
Alexandra studied her mom’s tired face. “You didn’t answer my question.Is theremore?”
“Isn’t that enough?” Kimberlyasked.
“I have nightmares that have haunted me since childhood.” She shuddered in a shaky breath. “A faceless man hits a woman and I run screaming and crying towardher.”
Anger flashed in Kimberly’s eyes and Alexandra worried that she’d upset her. “I remember those. You’d wake screaming. Do you remember what I used to tellyou?”
Alexandra shook her head. “Notreally.”
“Dreams clean out the clutter. When we wake, our minds are clear to take on theday.”
But her mom’s wringing hands sent Alexandra’s stomach plummeting. “Oh, God, no,” she whispered. “That wasn’t a dream. He hit you, didn’the?”
“Your father was a monster.” Kimberly’s hushed delivery sent a chill down Alexandra’s spine. “One night you woke up and saw him attack me. You were wild withfear.”
Alexandra started shaking, the tremors jolting her like earthquakes. She didn’t want to believe it, but the truth was impossible to ignore. Her amazing, doting father was an evil bastard. She choked back a sob as tears flowed down hertemples.
The nightmare finally made sense. And the other one, too. The man kissing a lady that wasn’thismommy was her child’s brain wresting with the fact that her father was kissing a woman that wasn’thermommy.I saw him with another woman.Nausea blurred her thoughts while her heart thundered in herchest.
“Everything changed the day I found the courage to boot the son of a bitch out. You, Colton and I forged a new family. And loving, peaceful one.” Kimberly smiled. “Though I miss Cain terribly, I’m thankful you and Colton survived the horror of WilsonMitus.”
“Why didn’t Colton tellme?”
“He was a tormented little boy. After Wilson left, he became your protector, then time and our love healedhim.”
Her heart broke for her mom and for the brother she adored and admired. Silence hovered, the harsh reality sinking in. When she felt like she could move, she curled up next to her mom on the couch. “I’m sorry for the hell you endured. I resented the secrets I knew you both were keeping, but now I understand why you kept them. What happened toWilson?”
Kimberly stiffened. “He vanished. Recently he attempted a hostile takeover of the Francesco Company and Colton almost lost CrockettBoxes.”
“Wow. Where ishe?”
“He’s an executive at MobiCom in NorthernVirginia.”
“Thank you for telling me the truth, Mom. Talking about this wasn’t easy.” Alexandra hugged hermom.
