Jett #3
I nod in agreement. “I don’t know what you two talk about, but I do know you are in desperate need of a mother figure in your life.
It’s something you missed out on, and I was happy to hear you found it in Fallon.
I’ve never met a better mother than her, certainly leaps and bounds above the hand you were dealt.
” Her head jerks back in surprise. I’ve never bashed Ginny in front of her, but I want to be truthful.
Fallon is giving my daughter something Ginny has never been capable of.
I look at Fallon and then back at Kennedy.
“I love that you have her in your life. You’ve been lost for so long, but there have been so many positive changes in you since you moved back into town.
I have no doubt having Fallon in your life has played at least some part in that.
Fallon wanted to tell you—she’s been wanting to tell you for a long while—but I was afraid you’d clam up like you have for the past ten years. ”
“Can you blame me?” she spits back with a venom I was hoping was a thing of the past between us.
I stop to take a few breaths, not wanting to escalate this conversation, and calmly state, “I’m sure it was traumatic walking in on your mother having an affair, but you turned your back on all of us after that day.”
“An affair?” she says in a bizarre tone, as if there’s more to the story. “It was way more than that, don’t you think?”
Huh? My face scrunches in confusion. What the hell is she talking about? What am I missing? I look at Fallon. She appears as dumbfounded as I am.
Kennedy studies me carefully. “Do you know who she had an affair with, Dad?” she asks as though she thought I did until this moment.
I shake my head. “She never said. I assumed some stranger she met. She never let on that it was anyone we knew. Did you know the man?” The thought had never occurred to me. Oh my god. Who was it?
She lets out a laugh before asking, “Does the name Nick Castillo ring a bell, Dad?”
It sounds familiar, but I can’t place him. I run through the husbands of Ginny’s friends. Then I run through Kennedy’s teachers. No, I don’t remember a Nick. There was only one Nick I can ever—
My eyes widen as it hits me. “Your boyfriend? That older college guy you were dating, who I wanted to choke to death every time he walked into the house with a smug smile like it was normal for a twenty-year-old to date a sixteen-year-old?” I fucking hated that pompous kid.
She slowly nods. “Ding, ding, ding. You’ve won a prize.
I didn’t walk into my house, my safe haven, my home, and see my mother having sex with a stranger.
I walked in and found her getting railed from behind by my boyfriend.
On my kitchen table. The same place I used to do my homework.
The same guy I lost my virginity to a few weeks earlier. ”
I can feel Fallon trembling next to me. I look at her and see tears streaming down her face. She’s in shock, as am I.
Tears begin to fall down my cheeks as Kennedy turns blurry. I suddenly see her as a little girl being betrayed by the people who are supposed to protect her. My hands begin shaking.
I run through my conversations with Ginny after this traumatic event. Not once did she mention who it was. Not once did she mention it was someone Kennedy knew, let alone her boyfriend.
I open and close my mouth a few times, having no words for this. Did Kennedy think I knew about this for all these years? That I did nothing about it? That no one protected her or cared enough to help her?
Eventually, I croak out, “I know I wasn’t a great father to you.
I know I let my own demons take over and wasn’t around like I should have been.
I’m so sorry for that. You’ll never know just how much I regret the way I acted.
I’ve tried my best to be there for Pierce in all the ways I failed you.
I’ve tried to make it up to you as best as I can.
But I swear to you, Kennedy, I didn’t realize just how horrific it was for you.
” I continue to rack my brain for exactly what Ginny said to me after that day.
“Your mother told me you caught her in bed with another man, but that I shouldn’t bring it up to you because it would be like reliving the trauma all over again.
I wanted to kick her out right away, but she said you’d blame yourself for our divorce and that we should stick it out until you left for college.
It made sense, so I agreed to it. I had no idea how bad it was.
” A bubble lodges in my throat, and I cover my mouth in horror.
My head is spinning. “My poor little girl. You’ve lost so much. Even more than I ever knew.”
Fallon leans into me, offering me comfort. I think she’s the only reason I can still sit upright. I’ve never been in more shock in my life.
Kennedy carefully assesses us before her face finally softens and she leans back in her chair.
“Frankly, it makes perfect sense. I never understood why you didn’t react like you are right now.
Now I get it. You didn’t know. She lied to me about having told you because I threatened that I would if she didn’t.
I’ll never forgive her for any of it, and I’ll never have a relationship with her, but I don’t feel that way about you, Dad.
I want you in my life. I need you in my life.
I want to move past the painful memories and look toward a more positive future, one I hope you’ll be a part of. ”
There’s a softness to her right now I’m not sure I’ve ever seen before. I don’t know the reason, but I’m thankful for it.
I want to go to her, but I’m naked beneath this blanket. Fallon starts sobbing, so I hold her close, wishing I could do the same to Kennedy.
Kennedy walks over to Fallon and pulls her away from me into a hug, offering her a level of compassion I didn’t know she was capable of.
Their heads are down as Kennedy continues to provide love to my girl.
I briefly take in the beauty of the moment.
The two most important women in my life embracing each other in their respective times of need.
But as I watch them, what Ginny didn’t provide floods my brain. What she did to our daughter without taking any accountability is unforgivable. No wonder Kennedy hates her so much. It all makes sense now.
Rage begins to infiltrate my body. A rage I’m not sure I’ve ever felt before. How could Ginny do this to Kennedy? How could she keep this from me?
While they continue hugging, I take the opportunity to quickly grab my clothes and discreetly slip into them.
Through gritted teeth, I tell them I’m leaving. I may not have protected my daughter then, but I will now.
It’s time for me to have a little chat with Ginny.
Kennedy looks up at me and her lips twitch in amusement. She stares but doesn’t stop me. My mission is clear as day. My daughter needs me to fight for her. To know I’m in her corner and always will be.
It’s fucking go time, Virginia Jeffries. You’re about to get your due.
I practically stomp into the house to find my keys and wallet.
Before I leave, I turn to check on my girls outside.
Fallon now has the blanket wrapped around her, and they’re sitting together on the ground, shoulder to shoulder, as they both smile and laugh in such a familiar way.
This is how it’s supposed to be between a mother and daughter.
Ten minutes later, I’m banging on Ginny’s door. While I have the code, I’m not just barging in for this conversation.
It takes a full minute, but she eventually opens the door in what is obviously a man’s T-shirt. A fraternity T-shirt. No pants, no shorts, just the oversized shirt.
“Put on some fucking clothes,” I grit out.
She pinches her eyebrows together. “What are you doing here? What’s wrong?”
“Clothes, Ginny. Now!” I yell in a manner I have never done with her before. She flinches in obvious shock and maybe a little fear.
“What’s going on, babe?” a young male voice says as he walks out with messy hair, in his boxer briefs, eating beef jerky.
I look at him. “Get the fuck out of here.”
Ginny crosses her arms. “You don’t get to tell him what to do in my house.”
My jaw tics. “Actually, it’s my house. I own it. You’re my tenant…for now.” Looking back at the frat guy, I scream, “Get. The. Fuck. Out. Now.”
His eyes toggle nervously between Ginny and me several times before he nods. “Chill, dude. I need to bolt anyway.”
Five minutes later, the boy is gone, Ginny is dressed, and we’re standing in her kitchen.
I shake my head. “What is wrong with you? He’s younger than our daughter.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “If you were fucking some twenty-four-year-old supermodel, no one would bat an eyelash, but I can’t do the same?
” She shrugs. “I like them young.” Her eyes move down to my crotch area.
“No problems with the plumbing. They’re always up and ready to go. It’s refreshing for me.”
From the moment we separated, I’ve tried to keep things amicable and classy between us, but that came to an end the second Kennedy told me the identity of Ginny’s affair partner.
I let out a laugh. “Turns out it was just you, Gin. No problems in that department for me anymore. I’m with the right woman now, and she does it for me in ways you were never capable of.”
She clenches her jaw. “She’s Kennedy’s coach. I think that’s in poor taste.”
“Not that it’s your business, but I was with her before she became Kennedy’s coach.
And,” I smile, “Kennedy loves her like a mother. The two of them are probably sitting in my kitchen right now eating ice cream, giggling about some inside joke.” I know it’s a low blow, but I also know it will bother her, and I’ve lost the ability to give a flying fuck about Ginny’s feelings.
Her giant, poison-filled lips press together like a duck. “Is that why you came here? To hurt me?”
“I came here because I’ve just learned from our daughter who you slept with ten years ago.”