I took another deep breath to compose myself. I could feel my voice trembling when I spoke, and I didn’t want to cry. Memories came flooding back as I said it, but I forced them away. I didn’t want to think about how it felt. I wanted to talk about it, but without remembering it. I knew if I started thinking about it too much I’d start to cry, and then I’d never tell the whole story.
“The stupid thing was, I was pretty addicted to CSI and those types of shows back then. And you know how they always tell people ‘oh you should have told someone’ whenever that sort of thing happened? Well, I thought to myself that I had to tell my mom. I had to tell her, so that someone knew what kind of person Uncle Edward was. I wasn’t going to hide. I wasn’t going to be the person scolded for keeping it quiet.”
I took another deep breath before continuing. This was almost harder than admitting it had happened at all.
“My mom didn’t believe me. At all. She literally accused me of lying. She told me that Edward Hunt was an important man, one of the most famous people in the country, and that someone from such a good family would never do something like that. She told me to never tell anyone. She told me that no one would believe me anyway. The exact same thing that fucker told me.”
“Holy shit,” Kiegan whispered softly.
“I left two days later. I’ve never regretted it. Not when I didn’t have the money to pay my rent, not when I lived off ramen noodles for weeks on end. Because at least I wasn’t near those people. I thought you knew. Your dad knows. I overheard my mom telling him that night. He told her that of course I was lying, there was no way his brother would do something like that.”
I leaned back against the couch and closed my eyes. It felt good to get that off my chest. I hadn’t told anyone since I told my mom. I was nervous about Kiegan’s reaction, but it still felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
Silence reigned between us for a moment while Kiegan collected his thoughts.
“So that’s why you freaked out when you found out your mom’s having a daughter.”
I nodded. “I know what kind of animal she’ll be raised around. My only hope is that Elton will care more because she’s his actual daughter.”
Kiegan shook his head. “He won’t. He only cares about the family name, and his brother is running for President. Hell, he’s probably going to win.”
“Great. A pervert in the White House. President Pervert.”
“No. You know what? We have to do something.”
“But what? I have absolutely no proof. It’s my word against his. No one is going to believe some random kid over the man running to be President from like the most loved family in America.”
Kiegan pursed his lips.
“You’re right.” He took my hands. “What happened to you was unforgivable. I don’t know what, but I promise you Tina, I will do what I can to make it right.”
I looked into his eyes, which bore into mine with an intensity and a sadness I knew were genuine.
“I may not have been the best brother to you, but I swear I had no idea. I will help make this right. I agree, there is no way I want my new sister to be anywhere near that freak either.”
I smiled at Kiegan. It was such a relief that he believed me, that finally someone believed me, that I just immediately burst into tears.
“Wait, what’s wrong?” Kiegan asked, suddenly concerned.
“Nothing… it’s just… you’re the first person to believe me. Thank you,” I replied. And I meant it. It was crazy, but I trusted Kiegan. I realized that just then. I really, truly trusted him.
Chapter Seventeen
Two days later we flew back to New York to be at Times Square for New Year’s Eve. I apologized to Kiegan, after all thanks to me our romantic holiday had been pretty much ruined, but he refused to accept my apology, saying there was nothing for me to apologize for.
It felt like we were closer now, after I’d told him why I left. I knew he was thinking about what to do. I would catch him deep in thought quite often. We had decided not to comment on the rumours of our relationship at all, that I would continue simply working as his PA and let everything die down on its own.
That said, when the ball dropped and Auld Lang Syne began to play Kiegan squeezed my hand in the crowd as fireworks erupted. I didn’t know what the year to come would hold, but I had a sneaking suspicion it would be one of the more eventful years of my life, for better or for worse.
*
When we flew out to Dallas the next day to do another shoot for Kiegan’s show, Leanne and I finally got to talk for the first time since Christmas.
“So are you guys officially together?” she asked me as Kiegan, Josh and another producer who was with us moved to the back of the plane where there was a big table they could work at to organize the stunt.
I leaned back in my leather seat and sipped the latte I’d been brought by the flight attendant.
“It’s complicated. We are, but we’re not going public with it yet.”
“Yeah, I don’t blame you. With all the flack you got over it after those pictures came out…” he voice trailed off, the rest of the words left unsaid.
“Exactly. Plus, it’s become a bit more complicated than that.”