Page 85 of The Banned Books Club

She put up a hand. “And before you go after him, insisting he really did molest Gia, I know that now, too. Mom set me straight.”

Another surprise. He sat up taller. “When did you talk to Mom?”

“She came by early this morning, said she didn’t want me to be mad at you when you were right.”

“But she also went over to Dad’s—”

“To ask him if he really admitted what you said he did.”

Cormac scratched his head. “And he told her the truth?”

“No. But she was hoping he would. She wanted to do away with every last shred of doubt, has always tried to reserve judgment—just in case he was being falsely accused.”

“And?”

“He denied admitting anything to you. But she said she could tell he was lying. And she’d take your word against his any day.”

Cormac struggled to piece together the events of the morning. “So...after Mom got off at the hospital, she stopped by his place, then went over and told you not to be mad at me because I’m right? What about Edith?”

“Mom’s probably talked to her, too. She told me we couldn’t let this tear our family apart, that we had to be mad at the right person and you’re not the one. But when I called Dad to tell him I’ll never speak to him again, he said of course you’d believe Gia—you’re sleeping with her.”

Thatwas the missing link right there. Their father had tried to defend himself by throwing Cormac under the bus, even though it was Cormac and Gia who’d been kind enough to agree not to tell Louisa and Edith the truth. He’d known his mother had visited his father, but he’d assumed that was it, had no idea she would finally go into action and take a firm stand.

Laughing mirthlessly, Cormac shook his head.

“You think it’s funny?” Louisa asked.

Itwaskind of funny that the truth had come out, anyway. But Cormac wasn’t going to say that. “I think our father doesn’t have nearly the character I once believed he did,” he said instead, which was also true.

Blinking her tears back, Louisa dashed a hand across her cheeks. “Yeah, well, thanks for destroying any admirationIhad for him.” She got to her feet to leave the office, but he called her back.

“Ididn’t do that, and you know it,” he said. “Sure, I was going to let you know he was guilty—I thought it was only right that we all accept the truth—but you know who talked me out of it? Who said I should let you believe whatever was easiest for you to believe so you wouldn’t be hurt any worse?”

She didn’t look as though she cared to guess but was curious enough to say, sullenly, “Who?”

“Gia,” he replied.

When Sheldon’s call came in, Gia told herself to ignore it, to maintain her silence for a little longer, in case she heard from her sister and could get some idea of how Margot wanted her to handle the situation. But she was afraid she wouldn’t hear from Margot—and maybe he could provide some answers. She wanted to know what had gone wrong, why Margot had left without saying a word to anyone and where she might’ve gone. Whatever he could contribute might prove helpful.

Besides, Gia was curious to find out how he was reacting to the fact that his wife had finally wised up and left him. At this point, she figured more information was better than less, so she quickly closed the door to her bedroom and answered before the call could transfer to voicemail. “Hello?”

“What the fuck’s going on?” he demanded without preamble.

That answered one question. He was as furious as she’d expected him to be. Gia guessed she was about to see the worst of her brother-in-law—and she’d never liked him much to begin with. “That’s what I’d like to ask you.”

“You and your parents won’t even answer my calls!”

It sounded as though he was in his truck, probably on speakerphone since it was an old vintage Chevy, which wouldn’t have Bluetooth. She could hear road noise as well as country music playing in the background. “I just answered this one.”

“Is it true?” he demanded. “Has Margot taken the boys and left?”

“That’s what your parents are saying, but... I have no idea.”

“Bullshit!” he shouted. “You have to have some role in what’s happening. If there’s trouble, you’re always behind it.”

She wanted to say that even at her worst she couldn’t be as bad as he was, but she was afraid he’d just hang up, and she hadn’t gotten any information yet. “I’m telling you—honest to God—I don’t know where she is.”

“She just happens to pick one of the rare moments when you’re in town to pull this shit?”

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