Trevor squinted in disbelief. “What are you talking about? Rape is a simple concept.”
“Oh, Trevor, nothing is simple,” Sylvia interjected. “They had a relationship. They were infatuated with one another. I was there; I saw it with my own eyes. I was certain they were having sex. That’s what teenagers do. I did it, you did it, I’m sure. When the lines aren’t clear, things can happen.”
Trevor regarded her indignantly. “You were not there. You didn’t see what he did to her.”
“Trevor,” the Senator cut in. “Look at me, son. I never meant to hurt your sister. You’re right—we weren’t there. We didn’t see it. The only thing I knew for sure was that her heart was broken. Harry Randall is my best friend. I wasn’t about to accuse his son of rape unless I was absolutely certain of it.”
Despite her best efforts, Zoe began to cry. Suddenly, she was seventeen again, wounded, confused, and incapable of comprehending why her father had chosen not to believe her.
Trevor squeezed her hand. “Zoe’s sitting right here, Dad. Look her in the eye and tell her she made it up. If you can’t do that, then the last twelve years of your life are a lie.”
The Senator stood abruptly. “I can’t believe it. I’ve given you both privileges I never dreamed of when I was a kid, and this is what I get in return?” He faced Zoe. “Do you know how many calls I’ve gotten since the hearing? My party, my campaign, no one knows what to do with the footage on TV. I have to tell them something, but what I am supposed to say? That my daughter opposed me in my own committee because of something that happened a decade ago?”
“Stop it,” Zoe said, tears streaming down her face. “I didn’t want this. I don’t care about the White House. I hate politics. I hate what they’ve done to us. I never asked you to punish Clay. All I wanted was for you to believe me, to say you were sorry and that you’d do whatever it took to make it right. But no, you couldn’t do that. You had too much to lose.”
She took a breath and tried to calm down. “The irony is I’m not even sure you really care about politics.” Seeing her father stiffen, she forged ahead. “Tell me I’m not right. You were spinning after Mom died. You needed a distraction, and Sylvia gave you a mountain to climb. You convinced yourself it was your idea because you needed to escape the guilt.”
“What guilt?” the Senator asked in a near whisper.
“That you weren’t there to save her.”
“That’s absurd,” he said unconvincingly.
“Look, I don’t care what you tell people. Lie to them if it makes you feel better. I have no intention of speaking about this ever again. I’m here for one reason. There’s a girl in Zambia who has a medical condition that could kill her. The doctors in Lusaka can’t perform the surgery. The nearest hospital that can do it is in Pretoria, and it’s going to cost a hundred thousand dollars. I asked Atticus, and he won’t give it to me.” She leaned forward. “So here’s your chance at redemption. You can change what happens to this girl. But the clock is ticking.”
Silence enveloped them when Zoe concluded. She heard the calls of gulls playing in the wind and the distant sound of the surf. To her surprise, it was Sylvia who spoke first.
“Jack, can I talk to you for a minute?”
The Senator nodded and joined her in the hallway. Instantly, Zoe was struck by déjà vu. I’ve been here before. Is it possible it could happen again? When her father reentered the living room, she noticed a change in his countenance. In confronting the subject of Catherine’s death, he had seemed human, even vulnerable. Now the steel of the candidate had returned.
“We can help each other,” the Senator said. “I’ll give you the money, but I need you to close Pandora’s box. I’ll make a brief statement to the press that you will attend with Trevor and Sylvia. I’ll talk about our family’s commitment to philanthropy, and you’ll show the world that you respect me and support my candidacy.”
His words pierced Zoe like a knife in the back. “I can’t believe you want me to bargain with you.” She shook her head. “It’s amazing, Dad. After all these years, you still can’t say it.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Say what?”
Zoe knew what decision she had to make, but still she hesitated. In the end, her legs were stronger than her heart. “You can come, or you can give me the keys,” she said to Trevor.
“I’m coming,” he replied, following her toward the door.
“You’re really going to walk away from this?” her father called after her.