Obsession Falls(91)

CHAPTER 35





Audrey





To say I was overwhelmed would have been the understatement of my life.

I didn’t know how much time I’d spent staring at the wall, trying to process everything my mom had told me. Minutes? An hour? My sense of time was skewed as I grappled with my new reality.

An affair. A sibling. Enormous secrets kept for so long.

I wondered if my mom felt better after telling me. Did revealing the truth ease the burden she’d carried for so many years? I hoped so. I didn’t agree with her choice to keep me in the dark my whole life, but I couldn’t help but feel sympathy for her.

On some level, I’d always known their marriage hadn’t been great. I’d seen the contrast between how my father behaved in front of others versus at home without an audience. He’d never been mean to my mother—didn’t fight with her or belittle her, at least that I saw.

He’d kind of ignored her. Paid attention when he needed something but otherwise, he wanted to be left to his own devices.

I’d received the same treatment. It had been so confusing, to have him act like a loving father in some circumstances and brush me off in others. My relationship with him had been little more than a performance, and it had varied depending on who was watching. In public? Loving father and devoted daughter. In private? Busy and distracted father who expected his daughter to stay out of his way.

Deep down, I’d felt like an inconvenience to both my parents.

How much worse must Jeffrey Silva have felt?

Obviously, I didn’t know anything about his childhood. But as I sat there, staring at the wall, I tried to imagine what it would have been like to grow up knowing Darryl Young was your father. He had to have seen him sometimes or at least read his name in the paper. Maybe that was how he found out. Dad’s photo on the front page, prompting a sad and awkward conversation with his mother. He’s your father, but we don’t talk about it. He’ll stop paying child support if we do.

Was it possible that this Jeffrey guy really was stalking me, like my mom thought? Or was this another instance of my mother finding a way to make a situation about her, or about the family name?

Why would he hate me so much? He didn’t even know me. And he had to know that wasn’t my fault.

Too many questions without answers. All I could do was guess.

Had he known who I was when we were growing up? It hadn’t just been my dad in the papers regularly. I had been, too, either because the local press liked to talk about the Young family as a whole, or for my accomplishments in high school, like that wall my mom still had, the shrine to teenage Audrey. Had he been aware of me?

Did he have any idea how false our reputation was?

Absently, I petted Max’s head. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to talk to him face to face. If I could find him. Of course, if my mom was right and he was stalking me, I’d have to be careful. Anyone who’d write in animal blood on someone’s house was dangerous.

But if he wasn’t the stalker? Maybe he’d be open to a relationship with his half-sister.

“I hope Josiah gets home soon.”

Max looked up, probably at Josiah’s name.

“He’s not going to believe all this. I’m still not sure if I do.”

Max’s tail beat a rhythm against the couch cushion and his eyes were hopeful.

“You probably need to go out.” I let out a long breath. “Okay, we’ll go.”

I left the untouched cookies and the mugs. I’d clean them up later. I used the bathroom and put my hair in a ponytail. It was hot out and I wanted it off my neck. Max waited not-so-patiently by the door, his whole body vibrating with excitement.

“I know, I know, I’m moving kind of slow.” I slipped my feet into a pair of flip flops and grabbed my phone in case Josiah called. “Let’s go.”

I opened the door and Max dashed outside, straight to his pee tree. He lifted his leg, did his business, then started sniffing around the grass.

I’d been right about the heat. It had to be at least ninety. Even in the shade, the air felt heavy. It made me think about popsicles and sprinklers. Max liked water; I wondered if he’d have fun with a sprinkler in the yard.

He ran toward the street, so I called him back. A car drove by and I waved. The driver lifted his hand as he passed. The simple gesture of friendliness brought a smile to my face. How nice to live in a place where people waved to each other. Even Josiah did it, and he wasn’t exactly sociable.

My phone rang and a swirl of dread spread through my stomach. If it was the restricted number, I wasn’t going to answer. I wouldn’t make that mistake again.

Thankfully, it was Marigold, and I realized I hadn’t called her yet.

“Hey, I keep meaning to call you but I’ve had a really weird day.”

“There must be something in the air. So have I. Are you okay?”

I picked up a ball and tossed it for Max. “Yes and no. It’s complicated. I’ll fill you in when we can talk in person. Are you okay?”

She sighed. “Physically, yes. But I was in an accident.”

I gasped. “Oh no. What happened?”

“I was just leaving the salon and a car came out of nowhere. Slammed right into me.”

“But you’re not hurt?”