Betrayal - Fern Michaels [120]
“But you said”—Sara cried out before she was cut off by her mother.
“Forget what I said and keep quiet. For once, Sara, keep your flapping jaws shut!”
Emily looked at her mother, then at Sara. “Then . . . Uncle Alex died . . . ohmygod!” She started to cry. Kate walked over and gave her a tissue.
“Debbie?” Coleman urged.
“Emily, I need you to listen. I want you to hear what I have to say. You’re a grown woman now, you have a life of your own, but dear old Aunt Kate here, in all those years while she dropped off the face of the earth, Kate Rocket had a plan.
“Debbie, either you come out and say it or I will. I’ve waited too long to hear this, there’s no need to make it any worse for Emily than it’s going to be,” Kate admonished.
“Okay, here it is. Pure and simple. Twenty-four years ago I had a one-night stand with good old Alex Rocket. You, my dearest daughter, are the result!”
Emily observed her mother and father. “But, Dad, did you know?”
Kate thought Emily was taking the news remarkably well.
“Yes, Em, I knew. But only after Alex was in jail, though I had suspected for a long time I was not the man who had fathered you. But I still loved you no matter who your biological father was. That never changed, even after I found out who that man was. You were a great daughter.” Don wrapped his arms around her. “You still are. It’s me that’s been such a waste. I’ve let your mother dictate to me for too many years. I was always too busy trying to climb to the top. I wanted to be somebody. Somebody like Alex. I’ve failed miserably, Emily. All I can ask is that you forgive me.” Don’s shoulders shook with sobs.
No one in the room said anything. There were no words left to say.
“Then why are we here? Why do we have to have these”—Emily pointed to the court reporter and the videographer—“people here, recording our every word?”
“You can thank Aunt Kate for arranging this.”
“Is this true?” Emily questioned.
“Yes, I’m afraid it is. I’ve waited so long to clear Alex’s name. He was so ashamed when the charges were brought against him. He worried more about me than himself. What would this do to Kate? He always wrote that he was sorry. He had nothing to be sorry for! He died because of a lie!
“In exchange for Sara’s coming clean, I’ve agreed to help your mother clear up her banking problems, clear up her mortgage problems, and clear up the problems with her credit cards. And in turn, I get to remove the stain from Alex’s name. I hope to air this on the six o’clock news tonight!”
“That wasn’t part of our deal!”
“No, you’re right, it wasn’t. Did you really believe having Sara confess was enough? All of the people who loved and cared for Alex have the right to know he didn’t die in prison as some dirty child molester!”
“So now you want to drag my family through the mud? Is that what you want, Kate, an eye for an eye?” Debbie screamed at her. The veins were bulging in her face. “Because if this tape is made public, you will have ruined me and my family!”
“I know. Now, perhaps, you’ll know what it feels like. Don, is there something you want to say? I know Coleman spoke with you this morning. He didn’t tell me what you wanted to say, only that you’d like a chance to get a few things off your chest. Do you still want to go through with it?” Kate asked.
“Yes. Sara, I’m sorry if this hurts you. We’ve shoved your problems under the rug far too long. I told your mother you needed help all those years ago. She supposedly took care of it, and I led myself to believe that she had. I know better. It wasn’t just you that needed the help. Debbie, you were instrumental in bringing the charges against Alex. When I thought you were having heart-to-heart talks with Sara, you were telling her things to say! How could you? Alex was my best friend! Not only did you sleep with him, but as far as I’m concerned, you killed him, too!”
More silence. Even Sara was at a loss for words.
“Sara, you were a child when this happened.