Page 62 of Jumping In

I scoff, rolling my eyes. I’m about to argue with her but a baritone voice stops me.

“It’s true, Emmalynn. I only want what’s best for you.” I turn to see my father entering the kitchen. My eyes follow him as he walks around the island to stand beside my mom. His eyes are soft, like he’s open to hearing me out.

“Your father may be a little misguided, based on his previous experiences, but he loves you.” My dad nods in agreement.

“I just don’t want you to make the same mistakes that I did. I . . .” he trails off and sighs, running his hand down his face. “I don’t know if I have the heart to get into it right now, but I promise one day I’ll tell you the story, okay?”

“Okay,” I say, confusion laces my voice. “I get that you guys want to protect me but . . .” I hesitate and contemplate my next words. Dad is keeping his story close to his heart, and I feel like I owe it to Mac to keep his secret. But I also think maybe it’s time the truth comes out. The case is already closed, there’s no going back now. “Mac isn’t even a criminal,” I say, barely above a whisper.

“He was just convicted on Monday, Emmalynn. I know it’s hard to accept, but he is.”

“Peanut, I know you want—”

“No, guys. He may be a criminal on paper, but he didn’t actually rob Henry’s. His brother did.”

The kitchen is suddenly silent except for my mom inhaling deeply.

“Emmalynn, that—”

“Changes things,” my dad finishes for her.

“Does it?” I ask.

“Why didn’t he say anything?” Dad asks.

“He didn’t want the truth out there or for Jake to get in trouble. He said he had to take the fall. I wanted him to tell the truth, told him we could get the charges dropped or something, but he didn’t want Jake going to prison,” the words rush out of me.

“So, he committed a crime to protect his brother who committed a more serious crime?” My dad asks, and it takes me a minute to understand. As if he can see my wheels turning, he gives me a soft smile and explains. “He perjured himself. Admitted to committing a crime, which was untrue, while under oath.”

My eyes go wide and my dad nods at my realization.

“I didn’t even think of that,” I whisper. “Please don’t say anything, Daddy!”

He takes a moment of silence, not reassuring me at all. I look at my mom who has a mischievous smile on her face.What the fuck? I look over at my dad, and he also smiles at me.

“I won’t say anything. It seems Mac has been misjudged,and misjudged harshly at that.”

“By the whole town too. I know!” I agree wholeheartedly. Both of my parents laugh softly at my outburst.

“It seems we owe the boy an apology,” Dad says, looking over at Mom.

“I think you do, Bill,” Mom agrees.

Dad opens his mouth, likely to point out that Mom only said he owed the apology. As if knowing what he was going to say, she continues, “I have been nothing but nice to that boy. A little wary, because that’s our little girl but he’s always been a good kid. You, on the other hand, have been very hard on him.”

Dad sighs and looks down at the island. Mom nudges her shoulder against his, and she whispers, “You’ve been hard on our girl over there too, ya know?”

I pretend I didn’t hear but Dad looks up, catching my eye and immediately moves around the island to where I’m sitting.

“I’m sorry, Emmalynn. I can see now that you have feelings for this boy, and while your mom’s right, we will always be wary and protective, Alexander—Mac has always been a good kid. Forgive me for being too harsh?”

My nose stings, and tears blur my vision. I nod and lean into the hug my father offers me. I hear footsteps and then feel Mom’s arms wrap around both of us, squeezing tight.

Releasing each other, Mom and Dad return to the other side of the island, Dad stands behind her with his arms around her waist.

“Now that that’s all out in the open, anythingelse you’ve been keeping from us?” Mom asks with a knowing look.Well, shit.

Not ready to open that can of worms just yet, I start to shake my head but then think better of it. “There is, but—”

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