Chapter 7 - THE LETTERS MY MOTHER HID
My father had written to me for nearly three years.
I received none of the letters.
Kayla found them two months earlier while helping Mom clear the garage.
That was another secret she had kept.
“Why didn’t you give these to me?”
Her face crumpled.
“I didn’t know what to do.”
I almost shouted.
Then I looked at her.
She had spent most of her life believing information was dangerous.
Something to collect.
Something to hide.
Something that could destroy a family depending on when you released it.
Mom had taught her that.
I opened another letter.
Amanda,
I betrayed your mother. I am not asking you to excuse that.
At least Dad did not rewrite that part.
He continued:
But I did not leave you girls. I made choices that hurt this family, and your mother has every right to hate me for them. She does not have the right to decide whether you hate me too.
Mom started crying.
“I was angry.”
“You stole years.”
“I thought I was protecting you.”
“You keep saying that.”
My voice cracked.
“You used protection to justify everything.”
Kayla sat beside me.
I opened another letter.
This one was addressed to her.
My Kayla,
You should never have been in that parking lot.
I stared at the page.
Dad knew.
He wrote:
Your mother told me you took the photographs. I am sorry you were put in the middle of what adults broke.
Kayla covered her mouth.
“I never saw that.”
Dad continued:
You are not responsible for discovering whether people are good or bad. You are a child. You are allowed to trust people without becoming their detective.
Andrew looked away.
That sentence landed on all of us.
Kayla began sobbing.
“I thought he hated me.”
Mom whispered:
“He didn’t.”
Kayla turned on her.
“Then why did you let me think he did?”
Mom had no answer.
By evening, the fight had burned itself into exhaustion.
Mom left.
Kayla went upstairs to finish packing.
Andrew and I sat alone.
For several minutes, neither of us spoke.
Then Andrew said:
“There’s something I need to tell you too.”
I turned.
My body tightened.
“What?”
He rubbed both hands over his face.
“Evan called me the day Kayla moved in.”
I stared.
“What?”
“He warned me.”
“About the tests?”
“Not everything.”
Andrew looked miserable.
“He said Kayla was struggling with boundaries and that I should be careful.”
Anger rose instantly.
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“I thought he was a bitter ex.”
“You watched me bring her into our home.”
“I know.”
“You watched me defend her.”
“I know.”
I stood.
“Andrew, why would you hide that?”
“Because I didn’t want to poison you against your sister based on one phone call.”
His answer made sense.
That didn’t make it hurt less.
Then he said:
“There was another reason.”
I waited.
He looked toward the stairs.
“Evan told me Kayla had done something involving you before.”
My heart dropped.
“What?”
Andrew shook his head.
“He wouldn’t say.”
From the staircase, Kayla spoke.
“I know what he meant.”
I turned.
She was holding another notebook.
May you like
Then she said:
“You remember why you broke up with Jason?”
