Page 57 of Endeavor

I clear my throat and she opens her eyes as she brings the bow away from the cello. Her smile is warm, another stab at my heart.

“Hey,” I say softly as I shuffle my feet.

She pats the seat next to her. “What’s wrong? Come sit down. I know that face when I see it.”

I walk over and sit.

“Grady, out with it.” She sets the cello in a stand and turns to me, giving me her full attention.

“I need to tell you something, Mom. And it’s really hard to tell you this,” I admit.

She reaches forward and brushes my hair out of my face in a way only a mother can do, in a way she’s done a million other times since I was little.

“You can tell me anything, pumpkin. You know that.”

I nod. “I know…it’s just…this is different.”

She frowns. “You’re not in more trouble, are you? Something with the stalker?”

“No, no, nothing like that,” I say, shaking my head.

Her shoulders relax. “Then, let’s hear it.”

“I…remember Dad left me that box of stuff,” I start. She nods. “I was going through it about two years ago, and I found some notes in a journal. You guys weren’t getting along very well when I was little.”

“No, we weren’t. Like I said the other day, I honestly didn’t think our marriage would last, but somehow, we found our way through that period,” she agrees as she looks away as though remembering something.

“Did you ever think Dad was cheating on you? You said no the other day, but did you ever really think it?” I blurt out, wincing as the words leave my mouth.

Her gaze flies back to me. “I…” She pauses as though unsure how to answer. She looks down and laces her fingers together. “Yes,” she admits quietly before looking back up at me. She sighs. “I caught him cheating, that’s what caused the issue. You were little and I was stressed out. I wasn’t exactly being a great partner. Back then, postpartum depression wasn’t discussed like it is now. He started talking to some woman, someone he had met at a bar while he was training for a race. I saw him one day. I was going to surprise him, and he was kissing another woman. He came home. I threatened to leave with you. He said I was crazy. We had a giant fight and I left that night with you. I went to Grandma’s house. She’s the one that got me into counseling, and a few weeks later, she made Dad come over so we could talk. By then, I was on some meds and more myself. Anyhow, we decided to try and work it out. He cut ties with the woman, which was easier to do back then. She didn’t live near us. There was no social media and we just changed our numbers. We moved shortly after that and she never contacted us, at least not that I know.”

I swallow, the words are shocking to me.

“I’m sorry, I never told you that. I didn’t want to ruin the way you remembered Dad. It just seemed cruel.”

I reach over and grasp her arm. “I understand.”

She nods, patting my hand. “I’m glad you found out. It’s been a heavy burden to bear alone all these years.”

“I’m sure. Shit, Mom, I don’t even know how to say this now…” I pause again, searching for the right words, and when none come, I blurt out the truth. “I have a half brother.”

Her eyes widen and her hand flies to her mouth. “What?”

“That woman, Heidi Winters, had a son, Jason.”

Mom springs to her feet and paces to the other side of the room. “Who else knows about this?” she asks me.

“Me, you, the band, Emma, and the PI who found him.”

She stops and looks over at me. “Do you want to meet him?”

I bite my lip before speaking. “I wasn’t sure, but Emma made a good point when we spoke. What if he knows or finds out and goes to the press? If I go to him, if we are prepared, then we can control the potential media shitshow. We’d be in the driver’s seat.”

“Yes, yes. I understand that, but do you want to meet him?”

Her question is a valid one. It’s one I’ve been grappling with for weeks now. “I…think I do.”

She sits back down and pulls me into a giant hug. “Pumpkin, if you want to meet him, then you know I’ll support your decision.”

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