Page 64 of Skye's Fall
“I can see that.”
“I’m sorry about all of this, I really am.”
“Can we start at the beginning?”
“Which one? When you were born? When I started drinking? Or when we ran off with your money?”
“I guess when I was born, although I’m confused,” I tell him.
“Let’s grab a cup of coffee and I will tell you all that you need to know,” he says, closing his book. I follow him to the cafeteria, taking in the scenery along the way. This place looks more like a day spa than a rehab center. Who is paying for this? Who put him here? Where is my mom?
He goes to a high-tech latte machine, gets two large cups, and sits down at the table I chose.
“This is a nice place.”
“It is. They have yoga classes and a pool. I swim every day, meditate.”
“Where is Mom?” Let’s get down to the dirt.
He sighs before speaking. “She’s not really your mother.” He looks horrified that he’s kept this secret from me and I’m sure I look the same.
“I’m sorry?” Another slap to the face. First Skye, now my Dad. Is everyone keeping secrets from me?
“Your mother died in childbirth. I was already married to Angie. If your mom lived, we would have made it work between two households.”
“Wait, did you cheat on Mom, I mean, Angie?”
“No, we were newlyweds. I met your mom in a bar, slept with her, she never called me again. I met Angie and months later we were married. Right before you were born, your mother, Stella, found me and informed me about you. I was happier than I had been in years. I always wanted a son. And then you were here, and your mom was dead. Angie said she would raise you with me. I didn’t give her a choice. Even if she said no, you were coming home. I would have left Angie in a heartbeat to be with Stella. If Stella would have lived, it might have been different. I was miffed as to why she never called me again until the moment she went into labor. I held her as she took her last breath.”
He looks out the window, deep in thought. I give him a moment because he seems to need it. I’m not even sure how to respond yet.
“Things were good at first, with Angie, until she started cheating on me. Eventually, she got pregnant when you were little. I forgave her like an idiot, and told her I would help her, but she gave the baby to the father. But not before promising the child in wedlock to you when you both became of age. I thought it was preposterous. Who does arranged marriages anymore? We argued, and kept right on arguing. I wanted to leave, but she threatened me with you, told me the courts wouldn’t let me have you. So to dull the pain of being in a horrible marriage, I drank. And I didn’t stop. I was a shit father, never there when you needed me. I drowned myself in bottles after bottles.”
“I have no words.” I don’t know what to say.
“I don’t know what to say.” I repeat because I don’t.
“Angie wasn’t ever mean to you, I don’t think. But she stayed because of what you had coming in your grandpa’s will.”
“She was using me?” This is starting to make sense.
“Using us.”
“And then what happened?”
“We all knew your grandpa didn’t have much time. You just started high school.”
“I know what grade I was in,” I chuckled.
“Right.” He laughs and continues, “When he left this world, he left it all to you.”
“Why did grandpa do that?”
“He knew I was losing it. He felt like you were more responsible at the time and he was right. Only stipulation was you couldn’t have access until you were twenty-one.”
“I’m way past that.”
“You are.”
