Chapter 4 - THE NIGHT HE LIED TO ME
I confronted Ryan that afternoon.
He arrived at his mother's house looking exhausted.
Caleb ran toward him.
Ryan hugged him.
For a moment, he looked like the father I remembered.
Then he saw me.
The warmth disappeared.
“Can we talk?”
“Yes.”
We stepped outside.
I showed him the photograph.
His face went pale.
“Where did you get this?”
“Your tablet.”
“You went through my things?”
“Answer me.”
He looked toward the house.
“Natalie, this isn't what you think.”
“That's the sentence people use right before admitting exactly what I think.”
He closed his eyes.
“There was an accident.”
“What accident?”
“Two years ago.”
“Where?”
“Near Lake Tahoe.”
I stared at him.
“Who was hurt?”
“Nobody.”
“That isn't true.”
His silence told me everything.
“Who was hurt?”
“Someone died.”
My knees weakened.
“Who?”
He whispered a name.
I recognized it.
A helicopter mechanic.
A man Ryan had once told me died from a heart condition.
“You lied.”
“I was protecting people.”
“Which people?”
He didn't answer.
“Brooke?”
He looked away.
“Ryan.”
“I can't discuss this.”
“You've been lying to me for two years.”
“I had no choice.”
“There is always a choice.”
He finally looked at me.
“You don't understand what happened.”
“Then explain it.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because if I tell you, you're involved.”
I laughed bitterly.
“I've been married to you for eleven years. Apparently I'm already involved.”
He stepped closer.
“Natalie, please.”
“No.”
I backed away.
“You left me in a wildfire.”
His expression changed.
“I had to take Brooke.”
“You chose Brooke.”
“She was injured.”
“So was our marriage.”
He flinched.
I turned toward the house.
Then he said:
“Brooke knows what happened that night.”
I stopped.
“That's why you keep protecting her?”
He didn't answer.
I turned back.
“And what happens if she decides to stop protecting you?”
Ryan's face went completely blank.
“She won't.”
Behind us, Caleb was standing in the doorway.
He had heard everything.
He looked at his father.
“Dad?”
Ryan turned.
“What's wrong, buddy?”
Caleb's voice trembled.
“Are you going to leave Mom?”
Ryan opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Caleb looked at me.
And I saw something change inside my son.
May you like
He no longer looked confused.
He looked disappointed.
