She started crying harder.
I didn’t comfort her.
I asked the only question that mattered.
Not yet.
I asked the only question that mattered.
“When did being raised by me become something you had to be ashamed of?”
Lauren lowered her hands.
“I don’t know.”
“Everyone had more.”
“Try.”
She breathed unevenly.
“College.”
“Why?”
“Everyone had more.”
“At first, I exaggerated small things.”
“More what?”
“Money. Connections. Parents with impressive jobs.”
“So you invented a story?”
“At first, I exaggerated small things.”
Ethan shook his head.
“And every lie needed another lie.”
“Then you met me.”
Lauren nodded.
“And every lie needed another lie,” she whispered.
She looked at me.
“When I saw your picture at their house, I panicked.”
“You kept me away because you were afraid I’d expose you.”
I finally understood.
“You didn’t keep me away because I would embarrass you.”
Lauren shook her head.
“You kept me away because you were afraid I’d expose you.”
“Yes.”
When she released me, she faced Lauren.
Janice walked toward me and hugged me.
When she released me, she faced Lauren.
“For twelve years, the most respected person in our house has been your mother.”
Lauren broke completely.
“I’m sorry.”
“I don’t know which parts of our life were true.”
Ethan looked at her for a long moment.
Then he said, “I love you. But I can’t marry you today.”
Lauren stared at him.
“Ethan—”
“I don’t know which parts of our life were true and which parts were another story you needed me to believe.”
“I won’t start a marriage by pretending this didn’t happen.”
She covered her mouth.
“I want to work this out,” he said. “But I won’t start a marriage by pretending this didn’t happen.”
Lauren nodded through her tears.
“Okay.”
