Page 88 of Fourteen of a Kind

“This is nice.” Aunt Dorinda smiled. “You have such a beautiful view of the ocean.”

“Aunt Dorinda, there’s something I need to tell you.” I looked at Ella.

“What is it, Graham?”

“I’m seeing a therapist. Her name is Dr. Charlotte Kind, and she’s Ella’s aunt. I told her and Ella about my father’s death and what really happened.”

I could see the anger consume in her eyes. “How dare you. You had no right. After everything I’ve done for you since you were a child, and you go and betray me like that?”

“Betray you?” I shouted. “You have no idea what that did to me. The only thing you cared about was saving my father’s reputation.”

“As far as anyone is concerned, Dr. Malone’s reputation will always be that he died of a heart attack,” Ella spoke.

“You stay out of this!” Aunt Dorinda loudly voiced.

“Don’t you dare speak to her like that!” I shouted, standing from my seat.

“Graham, it’s okay,” Ella said.

“No, it’s not! You knew how much I was suffering after witnessing what my father did!” I shouted, pointing at my Aunt Dorinda. “And you didn’t care! You could have gotten me help, but you were too scared I’d tell the truth! For seventeen years, I’ve been a mess, dealing with PTSD.”

“You’re a brilliant doctor, Graham. It can’t be that bad,” she said.

“Because I buried myself in my work to try and forget. But my personal life was a shitshow, Aunt Dorinda! Not only did my father fuck me up, but you did too. Thank God you never had children of your own.”

“I don’t have to sit here and listen to this.” She stood up. “Your father was a weak man, and what he did is unforgivable. But he had his reputation of being a stellar doctor and surgeon, and that’s how people should have remembered him. You had no right telling anyone what happened, Graham.”

“And you had no right making me keep that secret. I was thirteen years old—a kid, and I needed help.”

When she stared at me, I saw nothing in her eyes. No empathy and no regrets.

“I’m disappointed in you, Graham. It’s apparent you’re weak, just like your father.”

“Okay. I’ve heard enough, lady.” Ella stood up. “Get the fuck out of my house now! Graham’s aunt or not. You’re a horrible person with no soul.”

“How dare you, young lady.”

“No! How dare you, Dorinda! Just get out!”

“She’s right, Aunt Dorinda. Leave. We’re done here,” I said.

“You’re right, Graham. We are done here. What you’ve done is unforgivable.”

“And what you’ve done is unforgivable,” I said.

She opened the sliding door, grabbed her purse, and walked out the front door. I let out a breath as Ella wrapped her arms around me.

“I’m so sorry,” she said.

“Don’t be. Like you said, she’s a horrible person with no soul.”

Nathan walked over. “Are you okay, Graham?” He placed his hand on my shoulder.

“Yeah, Nathan. I actually am.”

CHAPTER 28

FIVE MONTHS LATER

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