There it was.
Thirty-nine years of marriage, and the only conclusion I could reach was that Thomas had a secret child — a whole life I wasn’t invited to see.
We need to talk about how long we’re going to keep the truth from him.
“I was 19 when I married you,” I muttered to the hallway. “When did you even find the time?”
I shuffled through more envelopes until I saw a return address that made me stop breathing for a second.
It was from a State Correctional Facility.
I tore it open, and the mystery got stranger.
Tommy, you shouldn’t be writing to me. Mom and Dad changed your name and moved you away to protect you from what I did, don’t you get that?
“When did you even find the time?”
I blinked. What was I reading?
“Almost there,” the locksmith called out.
I nodded absently and kept reading.
I’m glad you reached out, though. It gives me a chance to apologize. I should’ve been a better role model for you, Tommy. If I could go back, I’d be a better big brother — Steve
Big brother? Thomas always told me he was an only child. How many layers of lies were stashed in this closet?
What was I reading?
