She simply stared at Richard Mason as if the room had suddenly tilted beneath her feet.
“My father?”
Richard nodded once.
Alyssa shook her head.
” No. “
His voice was barely audible.
“No, that’s not possible.”
Richard entered the room.
“I wish it weren’t true.”
Vivian suddenly stood up. “Richard, stop.”
He looked at her.
“For thirty years, Vivian.”
His voice was calm.
“I stopped every time you asked me to.”
Vivian’s face collapsed.
“Not here.”
“Where, then?”
Richard looked around the room.
“At another funeral?”
His eyes turned towards the portrait of William Harper hanging above the fireplace.
“Because that’s how this family has always dealt with the
truth, hasn’t it?”
Alyssa looked between them.
” Mom ? “
Vivian closed her eyes.
Richard continued.
“Your mother told me that William would never know.”
Alyssa’s voice broke.
” For what ? “
“Because she was already married to him.”
Alyssa stared at Vivian.
Richard looked at me.
“And because William had already fallen in love with Candace.”
I frowned.
“What does that have to do with me?”
Richard took a slow breath.
” All. “
