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Chapter Fifty-Three

Graduation is over.Our names were called. We walked the path—didn’t trip—and got our fake diplomas. The real ones will come in the mail in a few weeks.

Bruno, Pat, and to everyone’s surprise, Olivia, the boys’ mother came. I know it’s an olive branchgesture and a small step in the right direction, but Logan and Liam are still a long way from forgiving everything their mother allowed to happen. But they talk often and their parents’ divorce is expected to be finalized in the next three or four months. Their father has not tried to contact either of them since the day the boys confronted him. They both say it’s better off this way, but my heart hurts for them. I have always taken my loving parents for granted.

Isn’t it what parents are supposed to do? Love their kids unconditionally? I never questioned their love. They never questioned my trust in them. It just was. Some of our friends would say we were lucky to have the parents we had, but I never really paid much attention to it until I met Liam’s parents. What a couple of fucked up people. Talk about priorities being mixed up. I feel lucky. I feel blessed. I should let Mom and Dad know.

We had a late lunch at a fancy restaurant. But besides the happy celebration atmosphere, Mom kept glancing at me and Skye. I’m not surprised. She always knew when something was up. Since we were kids, we couldn’t get away with anything. Ever! Mom’s sixth sense has a sixth sense. And right now, I can see and hear the alarm bells going off in her head. But she’s biding her time until we get to our place. The six of us are sharing the space in Logan’s SUV. It’s big enough to fit all of us comfortably. I know my parents are not going back home without us talking first.

As soon as the door to our apartment clicks closed, it happens.

“All right, I have been patient enough. Someone tell me what’s going on.”

Logan and Liam look at each other and then at Mom, like the proverbial deer in the headlight.

“What do you mean?” Logan tries to deflect.

Skye just shakes her head at him and waves her hand. She looks at me for permission and I nod.

I take over from there. “We may as well sit. This is not the kind of talk one has standing up.”

Dad, as always, is completely oblivious to everything, but he has been with Mom long enough not to doubt or question any of her weirdness, and I swear it’s exactly that—her weirdness—what he loves most about her. Or as he likes to put it, Mom’s woo-woo ways.

The boys look at me and Skye and hesitate, then each takes a seat next to us. Mom and Dad sit across from us, the coffee table marking neutral ground.

“Something happened. Something I didn’t tell you or Skye or anyone for that matter. I should have, but at the time, I was confused, angry at myself, and ashamed.”

I take a deep breath and both Liam’s and Skye’s hands reach out at the same time to take one of my hands in theirs. They smile at each other and lend me the support and strength I need to go on.

“Mom, Dad.” My lungs fill with air and expel it, one last attempt at delaying the pain my words will cause them. “I was raped.”

Mom’s gasp fills the silence, instant tears swimming in her eyes. Liam’s fingers squeeze one of my hands, as Skye holds the other to her chest. Dad’s always smiling face darkens. I rush to fill the empty space those three words I spoke created.

“I don’t remember anything. I was drugged and up until about a week ago, I had no idea who did it.”

“When?” Dad asks the one-word question.

“Nearly a year ago. I’m sorry it took this long to tell you, to tell anyone, but it has taken me this long to come to terms with it.”

“Who?”

The silence falls heavy between us. I know as soon as I say his name my parents will recognize it. They know Skye dated him for a few weeks. They know how much I despise him. I feel like a coward all over again because his name refuses to leave my lips.

Skye takes the weight of those words away from me and I’m grateful for her stepping in.

“It was Jon, Dad.”

My parents met Jon once when they came up to visit us. Mom didn’t like him much either, but she never did interfere with our lives. She voices her feelings, gives advice when we ask for, but always allows us to make our own decisions.

Mom hasn’t said a word. It’s so unlike her to not say anything, but the silent tears streaming down her face, a face so much like my own, say it all. She’s hurting for me.

I don’t cry. I don’t have any tears left in me and I’m done hurting over what he did to me. I’m taking my life back.

“Son.” Dad looks at Logan. “You may not want to hear what I have to say next, being that you’re the law and all, but I must say I have a lot of land and some machines that can dig very deep holes.” He looks back at me. “Where can I find this piece of shit, River?”

Dad never curses. Never. He’s completely in control, and cold rage along with the single curse word scare me more than words can say. I know Dad means everything he’s saying. If he gets a hold of Jon, he will kill him and bury him somewhere no one can find him.

Logan steps in. “He’s under arrest, sir. His bail has been denied. River was not the only one he hurt. There are several others. He’s going away for a long time.”