Wild by Leslie Johnson

Author:Leslie Johnson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atrevida Publishing

Sixteen

Lachlan Harris

“Mum didn’t have a drop of wine all day,” Dad told me, his eyes boring into mine. “Care to know why?”

“Just tell me,” I said, biting down my frustration. “I’m listening.”

“Two reasons. The first one is hope.” His gaze fell on the grainy photo of me and Kitty Cat. “She had a nervous breakdown right after your wedding was canceled. My infidelity was the cause, but your breakup with Natalie was the final nail in the coffin. It all became too much for her. Then earlier today, she saw this.” He lifted the photo between his fingers. “It made her happy again.”

I didn’t like where this was going, but I stayed silent to keep him talking.

“She suddenly had something important to focus on, something to keep her busy,” Dad continued. “Her son was in a new relationship, and she was going to protect it at all costs.” There was a brief pause. “And now we come to the second reason.”

Silence filled the air as father and son stared at each other.

“The suspense is killing me,” I said, raising a questioning brow. “Don’t stop now, not when it’s getting interesting.”

Dad’s expression remained unflappable. “It’s your new lady. Even in the grainy photo, she looks awfully young.”

Now I really didn’t like where this was going.

“She’s not underage, if that’s what you’re hinting at,” I snapped. Or at least, I hope she isn’t. “She’s twenty-two.”

“Still much younger than the women you used to date.”

“It’s a non-issue. Let’s move on.”

“It seems her youth has triggered your mother’s maternal instincts,” he said, staring at Kitty Cat’s face in the picture. There was another pause, hesitant this time, before he added, “Your mother had a miscarriage three years ago.”

I hadn’t known about it. “Thanks for telling me now,” I said dryly. “Three years too late, don’t you think?”

“She didn’t want to upset you. Remember when you were a boy, you always asked for a little sister?”

Of course I remembered. I’d always been envious of my classmates who would come to school, cackling about breaking off the heads of their little sisters’ Barbie dolls. They had been equally tormentor and protector of their cute little siblings, and it was the one area that I’d found lacking in my privileged upbringing.

“And then there was her age to consider,” Dad mused, a faraway expression in his eyes. “It was an accidental pregnancy – we didn’t even think she could get pregnant – but she was absolutely thrilled, despite the health risks.” He sighed. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be. She miscarried at twelve weeks. And then it started happening.”

“What started happening?”

“The rejections, night after night. Not wanting to talk to me. Asking me to sleep in one of the spare rooms. Not realizing that I, too, felt bereaved at the loss. It went on for months.”

I finally began to understand. “And this was the impetus that led to your cheating.”

Dad nodded, his eyes filled with deep regret. “I sought solace in another woman’s arms, and this went on for two years.

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