Page 76 of Gravity of Love
She turned, looking over her shoulder.
“Did you know?” he asked. “About my biological dad?”
The expression on her face told him the answer before she responded. “It wasn’t my place to say anything.”
“When did you know?”
She glanced over at his dad, who was standing speaking to the mayor, and he saw from her expression the information she was about to share had to do with his father as well. Now he was really intrigued. Following her lead, they moved past the bar and into an outcove away from prying eyes and eavesdropping ears. She lowered on a tufted leather bench, and he down sat beside her.
For several beats, she stared at the floor in front of her, hands resting on her thighs. She took two breaths, as if she was gathering courage. When she turned towards him, the look in her eyes was one he’d never seen before. “How much do you want to know?”
“What do you mean?” He wasn’t sure he understood the question.
“I mean, peoplethinkthey want answers to things, but sometimes it’s better if they…don’t know things.”
All Liam had asked was if she’d known about his biological father, why did he feel like continuing this conversation was opening Pandora’s box of his family’s secrets?
“I want to know everything.” Liam didn’t like secrets, especially if they involved him.
Cora placed her hand over Liam’s. “I want you to know your mom loved your dad?—”
“Which one?” He honestly wasn’t sure who she was referring to.
She tilted her head to the side and sighed, as if he was being a smartass.
“I’m serious.”
“Oh, sorry. Yourdadis yourdad.” She motioned to the bar where his dad was now talking to Tristan and one of Yaya’s nephews who was in from Canada. “She loved him, but she also loved Michael. She knew he’d never leave Teresa, so she took what she could get?—”
“Wait. Are you saying that she still saw him? Even when she was with my dad?”
Cora looked back down at her lap, took a deep breath, and then looked back up. “I don’t think she was proud of it. But yes, those yearly trips with her sorority sisters…”
“She would meetMichael?”
Cora nodded.
“Did he know about me? Michael?”
Cora shook her head emphatically. “No. No he didn’t. Your mom thought that would be…messy. She didn’t think it would be fair to your dad. Michael always believed that you were Eddie’s.”
Thatwas where she drew the line?
“Did Dad know?” Did Teresa know? Did Kerri know? Were there others?
“She didn’t think so. Your dad I mean, I don’t know about Teresa, or Kerri, or others. She didn’t think your dad knew, I think he did.”
“Why? Why doyouthink he did?”
“Do you remember when Tristan’s appendix burst?”
He nodded.
“Your mom’s cell was turned off. I told your dad that I would call her hotel and leave a message. I knew she wasn’t at the Four Seasons in Napa with her sorority sisters because she was at the Calamigos Ranch in Malibu. Without blinking, he picked up the phone and called the Calamigos. He even knew her room number.”
Liam was so confused. “Did he ever say anything to her? Did he confront her?”
She shook her head. “No. He loved your mom so much…” Her voice trailed off. “I think he felt guilty for being gone so much. She could have pretty much done anything.”
