Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
“She told the journalist the same thing she told us, that she has nothing to be ashamed of. She said she respected Dad’s wishes while he was alive, but now that he’s dead, she wants recognition for Daisy who grew up under exceptionally difficult circumstances.”
“Whose fault was that?” I cry out. “Didn’t Laura consider the hardships of being a part-time single mother before she decided to have a child with a married man?”
Mattie wipes a hand over her brow. “Laura is evoking sympathy by telling the country how Daisy was teased in school for not having a father. She’s using the bullying card. She wants the world to recognize Daisy as Ben Edwards’s daughter and not just another bastard child.”
My chest squeezes. No child is a bastard. No child should have to grow up with a part-time father.
Mattie sounds tired. “According to Ryan’s PR agency, fifty percent of the viewers and readers are sympathizing with Laura and Daisy.”
Hollowness settles in my stomach. “They’re choosing sides?”
“How can they not? People are judgmental by nature. Very few are going to sit on the fence about the scoop.”
“Shit. This is terrible. How’s Mom?”
“Strong. Brave. Holding her head high and keeping up appearances. What choice does she have?”
Pulling the blanket up to our waists, I say, “I wish there was a way of making this easier for her.”
“That’s what I came to talk to you about. We’re going to be bombarded by the media for the next few weeks, at least until the sensation wears off. Our family should have an aligned strategy on how to deal with the scandal. We decided that our response will be no response. It’s the quickest way to put out the fire.”
“No comment,” I muse.
“Exactly. The funeral can be as early as Friday. The sooner we put this behind us, the sooner Mom can move on.”
I steal a glance at my sister. Like Mom, her make-up and hair are perfect, but the strain shows in the tight set of her mouth and the dark circles under her eyes.
Putting an arm around her, I hug her against me. “You shouldn’t have to deal with this in your condition. Let me take over. I’m on break until July anyway. What else am I going to do while hiding from the media?”
“Not hiding.” She pulls her back straight. “An Edwards never hides. We just don’t engage. We won’t throw them a bone to fight over.”
“Right.”
She leans her head against mine. “Thank you for the offer anyway. I’m good at organizing, and Mom needs this. If she doesn’t keep busy, she’ll probably have a meltdown.”
“What if she melts down after all the arrangements are done? Aren’t we just prolonging the inevitable?”
“Then we’ll be there for her. At least prolonging a breakdown will help her to maintain her dignity while the media dissects her every move.”
A beat of silence passes before I ask carefully, “What do you think about them?”
The set of her features hardens. “Laura and Daisy? No matter how Laura justifies her affair with Dad, what Laura and Dad did was wrong. Dad married Mom, didn’t he? He chose Mom before he met Laura. If he fell out of love with Mom and divorced her before getting together with Laura, I would’ve understood. But keeping a second family in secret? What they did to us is inexcusable. The worst is leaving us to deal with this alone.”
My chest tightens painfully. “Dad didn’t die on purpose.”
“No, but everyone dies. He knew his relationship with Laura would inevitably be exposed. He even constructed his will in that manner. Letting us find out like that…” She swallows. “Letting us handle the aftermath of his infidelity? I’ll never forgive him for that cruelty.”
“What Dad did is wrong, but Daisy is our half-sister.”
Her words are harsh. “I have no interest in getting to know her. Even if I did, I’d never do that to Mom. Can you imagine how that would make her feel?”
Rubbing her arm, I say, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry this is happening when you’re only supposed to feel the joy of being pregnant with your first baby.”
“Oh, Bella.” She lifts her head and gives me a soft smile. “I know this is harder on you. Of all of us, you and Dad were the closest. You were always his favorite.”
“That was wrong too. Parents shouldn’t have favorites.”
“Sometimes, they do. The two of you were accomplices, so similar in your likes and behavior.” She pats my hand where it lies on top of the blanket. “Besides, I’ve always been Mom’s favorite.”
Biting my lip, I stare at the distance. The sun has sunk below the ocean, leaving streaks of pink across the sky. “I don’t know which parts of what I had with Dad weren’t fake. Sometimes, I wonder if anything was real. I didn’t even truly know him. That’s the hardest part.” I swallow back tears. “That I don’t know. That now, I never will.”