Whisper Through The Pain (A Novella) Read Free Page B

married.”
    His twisted smile speared her heart. “Now you remember.” He glared at her with such contempt she almost retreated from the room. “Married people are supposed to share—communicate and not tell each other lies.”
    “I never lied to you.”
    “Lady, you lied! Big time.”
    “I—”
    “Lying by omission is still a lie.”
    “I can’t talk to you when you’re like this.”
    “The hell you won’t.”
    “You’re acting like a crazy man.”
    He threw out a sarcastic grunt. “If I am. You made me this way.”
    “You’re drunk and smelling of cheap perfume.”
    “I’m not drunk.” He started for the door but she moved, locked it and stood with her back against it. To get out, he would physically have to move her. She realized he never denied being with another woman. The realization of that fact hurt her more deeply than she thought possible.
    “You’re going to listen, whether you want to or not. I was born and raised in Dallas. My grandfather was white and my grandmother was a mixture of Sioux, Irish, and African-American. My mother was a product of their union. She married my father, a white man, the year she graduated from college. I came along three years later. To my mother’s surprise, I wasn’t what she expected.”
    “Why? She wanted a son?”
    “No, I had brown skin. My mother was hoping for a pale child. One that didn’t remind her of her black lineage. My mother was fair— almost fair enough to pass for white.”
    “That’s ridiculous. That’s not important any longer.”
    “My mother thought so.”
    “What about your father?”
    “He loved me but he loved my mother more. Whatever she wanted, he gave it to her except the white child she wanted.” She took a long, deep breath. “I found refuge at the Sinclair’s. I spent all my free time with them. 
    “The Sinclair children consisted of Ashton, and twins, Brent and Gia. I became best friends with the twins but there was always a special bond between me and Brent. I didn’t realize it was love until I turned sixteen. I began to see him differently. I knew my mother wanted a link between the families and when she found out how I felt about him, she encouraged it. She became my mother—a real mother.” Tears rolled down her cheeks at the memories. “We went to social functions, horseback riding, and shopping together. It was wonderful. I became what she wanted. My mother finally loved me. I felt special.
    “When Brent and I got married it was one of the happiest days of my life. I was the center of my parents’ affection. I had the man I loved—only there was one problem—Brent was in love with his brother’s wife.”
    “Is that why you’re still here?” He sneered. “He doesn’t want you?”
    She rolled her eyes. “Ashton and his wife, Nicole loved each other deeply. Once I realized where Brent’s heart was, I filed for divorce and left Dallas.”
    “Just like that—you left,” he said, incredulously.
    “Yes. I refused to be a pawn or stick my head in the sand to hide from the truth. Today was the first time I’ve seen him in five years.”
    “You still love him.” It was a statement.
    “Of course, I love him. He’s family.”
    “Then let me rephrase the question. Are you in love with him?
    “It’s difficult to explain or to categorize Brent in my life.”
    “Answer the question.”
    The air was thick and charged with emotion. She wanted to give him the truth but the answer might not be what he wanted to hear. “I don’t know.”
    The silence that clouded the room was heavy with agony—distrust—hurt. She felt it and she knew he did also. His face was a hard, cold mask. His eyes reflected so much disgust and pain she wanted to beg him to forgive her. But she couldn’t. Nothing she did would erase the doubt she’d just uttered.
    “Do you expect me to stick around until you decide?”
    “I just need some time, Jake.” She stretched her hands toward him, but they didn’t touch.