My Son's Girlfriend Destroyed My Family novel · Chapter 14 of 24

Chapter 14: Lemon Cake

"January," Alan said.

He still had not looked up from the photograph.

"Luke called on a Sunday night. He said he'd met a nurse at work, and her name was Shelby Keane."

"And?" I said.

"And I had written that surname on every money order for twenty-six years."

The roast sat between us going cold.

"I told him that was nice," Alan said. "Then I went out and sat in the truck for an hour."

"You knew she was yours."

"I knew she might be." He swallowed. "I told you in the kitchen I never saw her. That was a lie, Glenda. I took her to the fair. I bought her that radio."

"Why tell me you never saw her?"

"Because you were looking at me the way you're looking at me now."

"I'm looking at you the way you earned."

He nodded slowly.

"When Luke said engaged, I decided I'd tell you on Monday," he said. "Then Monday turned into the next trip. Then it was Saturday, and she had hit you."

"You could have called Luke. One phone call, and my son would never have put a ring on her."

"Yes."

"You let him."

"Yes."

I had no more to say to him, so I turned my chair.

Shelby had not left.

She sat very straight with her hands in her lap, and for the first time all week she looked like someone who did not know what to do next.

"Tell me about your mother," I said.

"Why?"

"Because she stood at a window and believed the same man I did."

← Chapter 13 · All chapters · Chapter 15 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend