Page 125 of Revere
“I didn’t realize you knew Molly too.”
“Your father and I spent our time trying to prepare them. Trying to guide them.” There’s a whimsical delirium in her tone; she’s here but not. “Molly was resistant and going to be a problem. She didn’t deserve a man like that. I did what had to be done so she wouldn’t drag him down with her.”
My heart races. “What did you do?”
Mom grins, her eyes distant. “I whispered her secrets in Gideon’s ear. Your father’s love for me was always his downfall. I suppose I should feel guilty for that, too, now that he’s gone.”
The ice in her tone makes my spine stiffen. I’ve always known my father loved my mother more than she loved him. But hearing it stated in such a cold, emotionless manner is heartbreaking.
“Molly fought back, of course. You have that in common with her. You’re both so determined to dig your heels in and hold on. She thought Haven knocking her up would be enough to keep Ezra if she told him it was his, but I made sure she never got the chance. I made sure the doctor dealt with it. Of course she thought it was a checkup, until we took care of the problem.”
“You forced her to get the abortion.”
“Ezra Stone was set to take his place as president. With our help, he would have risen to the top. He couldn’t be tied to a weakling like her—like you.” Mom aims the gun at me. “He is better than that. Gideon didn’t see it. He couldn’t. But I did.Isaw him. Why couldn’t Ezra see me in return? I was right in front of him. I could have given him what she couldn’t.”
Pain cuts through her words as her frown deepens. Realization hits me.
“You were in love with him.” It’s nearly a whisper, and my stomach turns like I’m going to vomit.
“Ezra couldn’t see past Molly, so I took care of the problem. Without her distracting him, he would finally see me.”
“You had Molly killed so you could take him for yourself?”
“He should have hated her!” Mom’s voice shoots up, and a tear slips out. “She cheated on him. She got pregnant by another man. He should have hated her for what she did, but he has a weakness for weak women, so I suppose it figures he chose you of all people.”
Mom sneers, disgusted by me.
“You were married.” I shake my head. “You had a husband. A family.”
“Unfortunately,” she seethes. “You and your brother always held me back. How could Ezra love me with all that baggage? I was only a few years older than him, but he couldn’t see past you and your father.”
It makes sense now. Why Mom resented me. Why she never showed love to my father. She wanted someone else, and in her mind, we were all obstacles in her way.
It couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Mom imagined this entire sick fantasy, destroying Jacob’s life in the process. And when he grieved for his girlfriend instead of falling into her arms, she held it against her family. I’ve always known my mother’s reasoning was off, but this is delusion.
“He never would have loved you,” I say finally, rolling my shoulders back.
“Don’t say that.” She lifts the gun, aiming it at me. “He loves you, doesn’t he? You’re no better. We’re practically the same.”
“I’m nothing like you.”
“You’re right.” She keeps the gun trained on me. “You’re a disappointment. And like I told Molly, if I can’t have him, no one will.”
Mom’s smile falls, and there’s nothing but an empty face staring at me as she pulls the trigger.
I jolt, waiting for the sting of pain. But it never comes.
Red blooms on Mom’s chest from the gun backfiring, and her face slackens the moment before she falls to the ground.
42
SHOCK
PATIENCE
Shock and euphoria walk a thin,fuzzy line.
