Quiet tears that spoke to deeper grief than just a failed marriage. I don't understand. Rachel's not. She wouldn't. We raised her better than this.
I thought I knew her, too, I said gently. Turns out both wrong about who she really is. Richard sat down the phone like it burned him. Does Marcus work at her company? Yes.
They've been colleagues for years. Friends first, then something more. Oh, Jesus. I'll call her boss. This is workplace misconduct.
They can't just Richard. That's your choice. But I need you to know something else first. I took a breath. The affair isn't the only thing Rachel lied about.
I told them about the birth control, about the year of fake fertility struggles, the treatments I'd undergone, the emotional torture of thinking we might never have children while she was actively preventing conception. I watched Patricia's face crumple as she understood the depth of her daughter's deception. She told us, "You were both trying so hard. " Patricia whispered. She cried on my shoulder about negative pregnancy tests. I thought I thought she wanted a baby as much as you did.
So did I. Turns out we were both part of the same performance. Richard stood up abruptly, walked to the window, stood there with his back to us. His shoulders were shaking. I need to call her.
I need to She needs to explain this. She won't be able to explain it in a way that makes sense. I've tried. I stood too, ready to leave now that the truth was out. I know this is painful.
I know you love your daughter and want to believe the best of her, but you asked me here to talk, and talking means telling you the truth, even when it's ugly. Patricia stood, hugged me with desperate strength. I'm so sorry, James. I'm so sorry. If we'd known.
If she'd told us, you would have told her to be honest with me. I know, but she didn't tell you because she knew what you'd say. I gently extracted myself from the hug. I should go. This is a family matter now, and I'm not I'm not family anymore.
You'll always be family to us, Patricia said fiercely. What Rachel did that doesn't change how we feel about you. But it did change things and we all knew it. The divorce would divide more than just assets. It would divide relationships, holidays, mutual friends.