“Emily, even you aren’t that cruel,” I practically growled.
She fanned her nails forward and disregarded my comment. Charles was pulled away by someone, but Emily didn’t budge. “I’m just doing my civic duty. She works for Northridge School, right? Do they know what she did?”
My blood boiled. I would never strike a woman, nor had the thought ever crossed my mind, but I knew Gretchen would and might. The best thing to do was walk away, so that was what we did.
“How could you not say anything?” Gretchen asked as I tugged on her arm. She kept looking back to the spot we had just left.
“Because that’s what she wants. I’m not going to add fuel to that fire. It’s time to go home.”
Gretchen had taken a cab to the event, so I gave her a ride home. On the drive to her place, I could feel her gaze on me.
Finally, she said, “Drake, you can’t let her get to you.”
“Get to me? It’s not me I’m worried about. If I drop out, this ends.”
“You can’t do that.”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “I can’t have Lucy’s story get out. She could lose everything that she’s worked for.”
I couldn’t believe this. Lucy had kept her secret safe for over a decade, and once I’d learned it, it was in danger of hitting the tabloids within a few weeks.
“Do you think Lucy would want you to drop out?” Gretchen shook her head. “You don’t need to answer that because the answer is no. She didn’t even do anything wrong.”
Pulling up to a stop at a red light, I glanced over at her. “I know that and you know that, but there are people out there who don’t care what circumstances lead up to an event, just that the event happened. That’s what’s wrong with our society. Everyone is so quick to judge and label people without even knowing them.”
Gretchen nodded in agreement, and I went on. “When I spoke in Lucy’s classroom, there was a student who was concerned about same-sex marriage. Some of the kids snickered at her question, and I know they’re just teenagers, but it’s unacceptable. This girl was smart and genuinely concerned about it because she had two dads. So many things happen to teens because of outside influences.”
Just like Lucy.
“Gee, it’s a shame you aren’t in a position to make a change.” My sister didn’t try to camouflage her sarcasm, but she was right.
“The thing is, I don’t know what happened when she spoke to Greg. They looked so happy, sis.”
My mind spun with scenarios. Were they together? Did they say good-bye? Was she moving to Georgia? Was he moving here?
Those thoughts tore at my insides, but if she was happy, that was what mattered. At least, that was what I kept telling myself.
Gretchen reached out to pat my arm. “She loves you; I know that for a fact. You didn’t mean for her secret to get out, and if you let Emily force your hand, then you’re not as smart as I’ve always thought you were. She just can’t blackmail you and get away with it. If you drop out, you won’t be able to make the changes you talk about. You need to fight, Drake. Lucy will understand; I know she will.”
When we arrived at Gretchen’s apartment building, I pulled up at the curb and turned off the engine. “Let me walk you in.”
“I’ll be fine, big brother. You can watch me go in, and I’ll flash my living room light when I’m inside.” She leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. “Please don’t give up on your dreams, and that includes Lucy.”
I watched her walk in, and just like she said, her light flashed and she waved out the window. Satisfied she was safe, I pulled away and drove home.
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