Page 62 of Between Now & Heartbreak

“Nothing. I’m relieved. But…I don’t understand. Do you know what happened with that family?”

His back stiffens and there’s a perceptible drop in the temperature around us.

“Yes. I do know. Why?” He says curtly.

“It’s just…why wouldDukebe their son?” I’m still incredulous

“He was adopted the same week the lady had a baby. A baby that disappeared and no one knows what happened to it. Or who the father was.”

“Weknowwho Duke’s biological parents are, Carter. It’s not something anyone talks about. But, it’s also not a secret.”

“Who are his parents?” He demands, quiet.

“What’s going on? Why do you care about any of this?”

“Just fuckingtellme.” He slams his palms on the counter in a display of anger that I have never seen from him.

It’s not fear that has me taking a step back. I know Carter would never hurt me. His eyes are furious, but not with anger. That’s desperation. There’s something very wrong. I put aside my questions and answer his.

“Duke’s father, the one who raised him had a sister who died in child birth. He was born an orphan. Her husband died in Afghanistan right before she found out she was pregnant. And then, she died having him. So, the Senator took him in. I mean, he’s blood and I only know because my brother told me. But, I don’t think it’s a secret.”

He takes a step back like someone nudged him. His face is pale, his eyes are wide with shock. He looks like I just shattered his dreams.

“Carter, are you okay?” I touch, gently and he jerks away. His eyes look haunted.

“What’s wrong? Why are you so upset? ” My heart is in my throat, and I brace for the answer to my question.

“Do you know what happened in that house?” He asks me in a grave voice.

“Ye- Yes. My best friend, Dina, she’s writing her thesis on Winsome. And that case is one of the things she’s researching.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, she’s writing about corruption and how power thrives on secrets. That poor woman was completely alone when she needed the town’s help. ”

He blinks like I spit in his eye.

“Whatpoor woman?” he asks incredulously.

“The Kendicott lady. Who else are we talking about?” I say and eye him. “You mean the woman who went nuts and shot her husband in the head before she set him on fire?”

I narrow my eyes and take a step away from him. “She went…nuts?Is that a technical term or is that what you call women who’ve decided they’ve had enough of their husband’s shit.”

“Oh, is that how you think people should deal with their unhappy marriages?” he says incredulously.

“Her husbandbeather.” I yell back.

He does that blinking thing again.

“What do you mean?”

“She told the police when she turned herself in.”

He scoffs. “Why hasn’t this been reported anywhere? How do you know?”

“It’s in the police report. Dina read it and told me.”

“Why didn’t she tell anyone before?”

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