Page 50 of Crying Shame

Sam and Aurora laughed and shook hands before walking into a haunted house together. We circled around, so we could wait at the exit.

“Looks like our kids get along,” I said.

Maddie said, “I’m glad. Aurora’s so mature for her age. It’s good to see her not be so shy.”

She could have been speaking about Sam. I swallowed. “I feel the same way about Sam.”

Maddie gave me a quizzical look. “Our psychologist says it’s common for a kid like Aurora to mature early because of what my ex put us through. I need to watch out for depression and anxiety when she becomes a teenager.”

If Hunter had put Sam on that same path, then it was all my fault. I hugged my waist and wished my stomach wasn’t flipping. “What did your ex do?”

“He was abusive, and the abuse was daily, though I took the brunt of it.”

Tears formed in my eyes. No one could see my scars, but I’d learned memories never die. “I’m so sorry, Maddie.”

“It’s okay. And Sam’s lucky you took him out of the situation as soon as you realized what happened with Hunter.”

“How do you know about that?”

“Kids talk.”

“I’m so embarrassed.”

“Don’t be. I understand.”

Arman and Elon came to join us, and Maddie said, “Go have fun with Elon, Clarissa. You can get some adult time, and I’ll direct the kids to the next ride.”

It was nice having a friend. “Thanks, Maddie.”

Elon and I walked away from Maddie and Arman, and the past and the present all mixed together. I’d forgotten why we’d promised years ago to keep our relationship a secret. It seemed like a lifetime ago when my parents, his parents, and youth had all created false narratives.

We walked to two seats at a bar and ordered beer. I remembered he used to hate the smell of beer. He ordered one, once again proving how different he was than the Elon I remembered. We clinked glasses. “You and Maddie seem tight.”

I sipped my beer. He drank his like he enjoyed the crisp flavor.

I relaxed. “She’s nice. She was telling me her story.”

We watched the crowd pass by. “And?”

Maddie had a disapproving father, and we'd both found ourselves in relationships with the wrong kind of guy. I kept that to myself.

“I had no idea how parallel our lives were," I said.

He lowered his glass. “I wish I knew how to fix everything.”

None of the mistakes I'd made in my life were because of Elon. He’d been a bright spot, and being with him had been a reprieve. I squeezed his knee. “You’re here now, with us.”

His lips thinned like he didn’t believe that was enough. We both sipped our beer. I said, “And you’re already acting like a great father.”

His lips quirked upward, and his cheeks tinged red. “I want to be a good father, but Clarissa… I need for you to start talking to me and telling me what’s going on and what you’re thinking.”

A nervous laugh escaped from my throat, and I closed my eyes. “I was thinking it will be hard to leave and even harder when you forget about me.”

“I’d never forget you. I never have.”

I cringed and lowered my head. “I shouldn’t have told you. It was a passing thought.”

“I need you to trust me.”