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"I orried that you’d hate us the way your grandparents do It was more comfortable to not know But my father, Alfie, died of a heart attack recently--it was very sudden Myever since Mates usually don’t survive long without the other She wants to see you just once Of course, she’d loveof you"

"Why did he kill my mother?"

Lydia sed "I don’t know Christopher adored Caroline He really did What happened shocked everyone"

"Was he on drugs?"

"Drugs? No But a human reporter started that rumor Another clai Christopher wasn’t suicidal either" Lydia sighed "I really wish I could tell you why he did it, but I just don’t know The only person as there that night was you, but you weren’t what anyone could really consider a witness"

"But you wantedthat would vindicate him" Frankie’s tone dared her to deny it, and Lydia lookedhurt

"No one ever tried to brainwash you into believing or disbelieving anything Our main concern was you--you were traumatized, you needed help and family"

"And yet none of you were there"

"We would have been if it were possible"

Knowing it was unreasonable to snap at Lydia for sohed "I’ around" Just disappointed and a little hurt "And I don’t blame you for what your brother did Maybe that’s because I haven’t quite digested it yet But I just found out yesterday thatwas a lie I wouldn’t have thought randparents and uncle would lie to me like that, but they did So I’ht now"

Lydia slowly nodded "Understandable We’ll probably never knohat happened that night But if you want to learn about your father, about the other half of your faoing to put you on the spot and ask you to make that decision here and now That wouldn’t be fair"

Lydia pulled a pen out of her purse and scribbled on a napkin She then slid it across the table "Here’s my number If you can find it in you to co" With what looked like extreme reluctance, Lydia rose "Bye, Frankie I really hope you call"

On guard, Ryan took the lead as he, Lydia, and Cahtly in his seat to face Frankie as he asked, "You all right?"

Frankie sighed, resting her elbows on the table "Fine"

Bullshit Trick guessed she was probably feeling let down by both sides of her fa her, and the other side for not being around Helpless against the need to coave it a little squeeze "You have every right to be mad at the pack--don’t say you’re not, of course you are We should have been there for you every step of the way We weren’t But we’re here now We want to know you You’re ours"