and I needed to see all of it. I wanted nothing more than to see it all with him by my side.
With time, I grew stronger. Slowly, I allowed myself to open up. I even told
him about the abuse I endured while drugged. In a way, I was glad Christopher
was dead. The fury in Jack’s eyes told me he would have made sure no one else
was ever hurt by him. My confession about my revenge plan in regard to Jeremy
was received differently. Jack laughed when I told him how far I went and even
asked if he could meet Justice.
Jack and my mother stayed on after we said goodbye to Thomas and Jacob.
For the first time since I was a child, I really celebrated Christmas. As we rang in the New Year, I reflected on my past but focused on our present. Jack treated me
like I was special and important. He taught me there was no rush. Our relationship was in the moment. No past. No future. Just the now.
“You’re going to be late,” my mother called, interrupting my reverie.
“Oh, we don’t have set plans. Do I look okay?” I asked.
“Beautiful. I am proud of you, Caitlyn.” She sat on the edge of the tub while
I finished applying my makeup. “I’ve wanted to talk to you. I think I’m ready to
go home.”
“But, you love it here. You’ve made a home here.”
“I do love it here and being with you. I feel I’ve also grown while being here.
This has been the best time in my life, but I think I’ve become too comfortable.
It’s easy to get lost in Viv’s sanctuary. It’s time to return to the commitments I made in San Diego. Honey, I know I wasn’t a good example of how to be a confident woman or wife.”
“That’s not true,” I denied. Setting my mascara on the vanity, I sat down next
to her. Anger filled me. Even from the grave, my father is still convincing her she was at fault.
“Let me finish,” she demanded gently. “I wasn’t. After your father died, you
found out about his affairs and I didn’t say anything. I sat back as he told me, over and over, he would change. Maybe that is why you didn’t tell me about Christopher.”
“No,” I gasped. “I couldn’t. I –”
“I knew the day after Prom that something horrible had happened. I was too
afraid to ask, to make you tell me. When I sent Nick to help you, I had no idea
how badly you had been hurt. When I saw the newspaper, I understood
everything. If he wasn’t already dead, I would have found and killed him myself.” Her eyes blazed with anger, and she ground her clenched fist into her
leg.
“Maybe that’s why you ended up with Jeremy? They say some women end
up marrying their fathers, and I think we both did. I’m glad you’re stopping the
cycle. You have Jack now, and he’s nothing like them.”
“He is a good man, but I don’t quite have him yet,” I said with a smile. “I’m
just enjoying the time we spend together.”
Relief flooded me. The secret I had been carrying was finally lifted. I hadn’t
realized how important it was for my mother to know what happened to me. If
only I purged these demons years ago.
Hugging me, she said, “Ok, you better finish getting ready. I love you, Caitlyn.”
“I love you, too,” I said, hugging her tighter.
