It was as if Rowan could read my mind. “Mom, he said unless you go to his office soon and agree to what he wants, he’ll get us expelled. He’ll ruin our chances at college.
He said it’s all good and well to be a part of these programs, but the real deal will come when we get accepted full-time.”
“And… what… what exactly does he want, boys?”
“He wants to play happy family. He said you took away sixteen years of knowing us,” Jude said. “And he’s trying to get appointed to some state education board.
He thinks that if you agree to pretend to be his wife, we’ll all win something from this. There’s a banquet that he wants us to attend.”
I couldn’t speak. I just sat there, the weight of sixteen years pressing against my chest.
It was like being punched in the chest… not just for the absurdity but the sheer cruelty of it. I looked at my sons; their eyes so guarded, their shoulders heavy with fear and betrayal. I took a deep breath, held it, and then let it go.
“Boys,” I said. “Look at me.”
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