Chapter 9: What Nate Asked Him to Hide

'Daniel said Nate asked me to keep the plea file from Cassidy,' Daniel told the relatives.

Nate was still standing near the meeting room door.

The relatives turned toward him.

Daniel stood beside the open plea file on the table, and no one covered the pages.

Nate had wanted his silence to make it seem that I had chosen not to know about the plea file.

I kept my hands at my sides.

My relatives watched him wait for me to make this easier.

'You asked Daniel to keep the file from me before the scholarship reception,' I said.

Nate looked at Daniel, then back at me.

'I didn't want you to hear it from him first.'

'You wanted to tell me when?'

He glanced down at the plea file.

'I thought I could explain it after the reception.'

'After I stood there believing everyone else had been surprised too?'

A relative near the table pulled her chair back, then remained standing.

Nate rubbed his thumb over his palm.

'I thought the truth would tear the family apart,' he said. 'And I thought you'd leave me.'

He admitted he had feared losing his place beside me more than he respected my right to know.

That made it worse.

He had chosen what I could bear, then called it trust.

'You don't get to decide what I can handle,' I said.

'I know.'

'You knew before you asked your father to keep it from me.'

Nate opened his mouth, but he didn't answer.

A relative stood beside Daniel's chair.

'You were worried about keeping your place with her,' she said. 'You took our choice away too.'

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