Page 116 of A River of Crows

As much as Sloan wanted to trust her mom, she knew better. This was an act, a smokescreen of sanity, a manipulation. “You were in the attic.” Sloan crossed her arms.

“I climbed in the attic, but not for the gun. Why would I even think you’d put it back there where I could find it? That would be pretty stupid of you.” She reached into the passenger seat. “I was looking for this.” She held up a handwritten letter with an old photo attached. “I burned most of the letters and cards from Jay, most of the pictures, but I kept these.” She rubbed her thumb across the white border of the Polaroid. “These were special. The first letter he ever wrote me, the first picture we took together. As much as I’ve hated him all these years, I could never let these burn.”

“I’m glad you didn’t,” Sloan said. “It’s a great picture. You both look so happy. And I’d love to read the letter sometime.”

“Why?” Caroline wiped away another tear. “Every damn word in it is a lie.”

Sloan leaned closer and pointed at the picture. “That smile on his face doesn’t look like a lie. It wasn’t right what he did. None of it, but Dad loved you, Mom. It was gross how much he loved you.”

Caroline shook her head. “Jay has to answer for this. For this and for every year, every lie that followed.”

Tires squealed as a car rounded the corner. Sloan turned and saw Brad stop in the middle of the road and let their father out before peeling into his mother’s driveway.

“Sloan, is everything all right?” Jay asked, looking into the car.

Caroline threw open her door, pushing Sloan out of the way. “No, Jay. I would say everything is most definitely not alright.”

Jay drew his mouth into a straight line. “I’m sorry. I’m just so sorry about everything.”

“Dad!” Brad took wide steps toward them. “Should I call the police?” He looked Sloan in the eye as if this were her doing.

“No,” Jay said. “We aren’t calling the police.”

“Come inside,” Brad said. “You don’t have to . . .”

“Bradley!” Jay thrust his arm out. “Go back inside.”

Brad’s face tightened, skin stretching into a snarl, but he didn’t argue.

“Nice boy you got there,” Caroline said, watching Brad walk away. “I remember when I learned about him. Went for Ridge’s birth certificate and got his instead.”

Even in the dark of the night, Sloan saw her father grow pale. “That’s when you found out?”

Caroline charged at Jay, slamming her fists into his chest and screaming. “Did you really think you could keep it a secret forever?” Sloan heard Dylan’s truck door open, but Sloan motioned for him to stay. Her father deserved far worse. He could handle himself.

“Caroline, don’t do this.” Jay’s voice was calm. He gently grabbed her wrists. “I know you hate me, but you loved me once. Let’s calm down and talk.”

Caroline shook herself free from his grasp and stumbled back to her car, crying.

“I’m glad you came.” He took a careful step toward her. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you. I’ve imagined it for twenty years. I never imagined it out here, like this, but it’s okay.”

“And I never imagined it would be out here where my life ended.”

“Your life ending?” Jay shook his head. “Don’t talk like that.”

“It already ended. At this very spot.” She stomped her foot. “This is where I first saw you . . .” She waved her hands toward his house across the street. “This is where I first saw you with her.”

Jay’s chin dipped to his chest. “How come you never confronted me? I knew something was wrong. Why didn’t you tell me you knew? Were you just going to let me off the hook?”

“No.” She crossed her arms. “How could I let you off the hook after you stole my entire life?”

Sloan’s fingers and toes went numb. Was her mom going to tell the truth about what she’d done to make him pay? “Mom!” Sloan reached into the car and pulled out the letter. “You said you wanted to show Dad this.”

Caroline snatched it from Sloan’s hands. “Do you remember this? Do you?” She shoved it against his chest.

Sloan watched her father hold up the letter towards a streetlight before dropping his arms to his side, lifeless. “Of course, I do. I meant every word.”

“Every word, huh?” Caroline’s voice was rough and thick. “Even the ones that claimed I was the love of your life?”