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He opened his eyes and dropped his hand, then looked at me with that hard stare I’d seen hiular

"I’m not ashamed of you This situation, however, has hu to lie about that"

I lowered my eyes and ranat it nervously I’d spoken up foras it had with oing through a pretty rough period in my life, and I had no one to turn to"

He shook his head "I’et a hold of me As for your mother--"

"She came to the condo lastinme for money, drunk off her ass" I wipedhand

He nodded, sing, apparently too overwrought to talk We sat there in silence before he cleared his throat "Has she bothered you since then?"

I pressed ether and shook my head, certain he wouldn’t be pleased with the neas about to give him "I cut her out of my life, Dad I had to I told her I would block her texts and calls It’s a long story, but if she shows up again, I’ll get a restraining order"

He took a deep breath and let it out "That doesn’t make me happy, April But it’s not your fault that it caht to do it I just…I hope so in response My face lowered and the tears came faster, and I had no idea what to say even if I could even talk Everything just felt so raw and sore Every breath stabbed me a little deeper

When I’d stood up to my mom, it had been easier Jordan had believed in e to do what I needed to do To cut her out of ood talk when he wasn’t the one in the line of fire The enormity of the loss of him felt like a hole ripped in my chest I al stretch, staring out the

I cleared ain "I--I’m sorry you’re hurt I’s are not more important than mine And I’ve learned that lesson That I need to speak up for myself"

He didn’t react for ato cut me out too? Like you did with your mother?"

"No"

His face slackened with relief and that reaction did so to me--showed me that he did care He blinked quickly and then looked away, and I could tell that he was trying not to break down Seeingeven a hint of emotion cut deep--soul deep But underneath all that pain was a spark of hope, a glih to break down at the thought of ain And until this moment, I’d never known that

He quickly took control of his e before turning back to the wheel "We should--uh--Rebekah will be wondering where we are"

He started the car and I leaned against the , closing my eyes I tried not to think about this day, tried to close my mind off to the hurt and hu at ust as I stood on the stairs, fully exposed It was like a combination of all the worst naked dreams I’d ever had increased exponentially It was hard to breathe and the occasional tear spilled over onto h my closed eyes

A half hour into the drive home, as I faded in and out of consciousness, emotionally exhausted, I felt my dad’s hand close over rasped his and clahtened on esture, but in that moment, we’d communicated more than we had in years

We arrived atthe kids ready for bed while I gathered up ht stay and prepared to leave She’d seen my face--blotchy skin and swollen eyes--but hadn’t asked questions But as I packed up, she wandered into the guest room with soh for a few days I know you like , tucking it alongside"Thanks"

"Are you okay?"