Wild Nights With My Brother’s Ex-Best Friend novel Chapter 102

NICOLE

Katie says, “I know this is shocking for you. You’ve lived your whole life thinking the truth was something else.

Your Ma never wanted you to know this, but to tell you the truth, Talways felt guilty watching you struggle when you could’ve had a better life. A golden opportunity. Your biological father is a rich man, and if you go after him, your whole life could change.”

Katie’s going a little too fast for me. I shake my head and ask her, “You’re sure about this? Like absolutely sure?”

She laughs. “Oh, my darling. How I’m going to miss you.

Yes, I’m sure. Your Ma confided in me many times about this. I’m sure of what I’m saying. And I’m sorry for piling this on you-l always thought that keeping this from you was unfair.”

Oh, God. I need to sit down. I’m weak in the knees and my head is spinning in a strange way. It’s like my mind wants to detach from my body and leap out the window. “Why… she cheated on my father? I mean…Mason’s father?”

“Well, the matter is more complicated than that. Mason’s father, John, was sick at the time. An injury he got from work. He was the sole provider for your family, and your mother couldn’t work because she had a very young Mason to take care of. Your father was going to lose his hand. It was either that, or he would have to operate, and that would take money. On top of that, his debt collectorswere knocking on the door because he was an incorrigible gambler. Jessica was threatened many times. It was a dark period in her life.

“A friend of hers, a woman named Donna, offered a solution that was…unusual. She mentioned this place where your mother could make quick money.” My heart sinks when these words leave my lips. “It was all meant to be anonymous. She would sign up and meet rich men in all these places. At the time, there was a popular hotel that everyone went to. Richard’s was the name. I was there a few times before, which is why I remember the name.

Mod, but the truth is I’m having a hard time imagining Ma in such a situation. Jessica Monroe was an upright woman. Ma never even drank, so to me, all of this sounds crazy.

“She was hesitant—I can’t leave that part out because then it wouldn’t be fair to you. She didn’t want to go. But then John’s creditors came knocking on the door and they beat her up. Badly. They told her they’d come for the baby next. So, as a mother, she decided to do it. She waited for her bruises to fade, signed up, and arranged to meet the man who would be your biological father.”

“This sounds like something out of a book.”

“I agree,” she says before taking several deep breaths. “It was a one-time thing but she earned quite a bit of money for it. Ten thousand dollars; a fortune for a woman in herposition. John eventually lost his hand, but at least the creditors were paid and left her alone.” After a break, Katie adds, “She always mentioned that the encounter was rough. Traumatizing. I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but I want you to know the truth.”

I shudder and feel even more nauseous. My poor Ma. ”

What happened next?”

“She fell pregnant.”

“How’d she know I wasn’t John’s?”

“Because he left her the second she told him how she made the money,” Katie explains bitterly. “She did it to save him and their small family, but he called her names, beat her up, and walked out the door. She never saw him again.”

“Until his death.”

“No, sadly.” Katie lets the words sink in before she starts talking again. “John Monroe didn’t die. At least, she didn’t know if he did.”

“What?” I blurt. “He’s not dead? How? She took us to his grave! I remembered seeing it.”

Katie tries to shrug. “She found the grave of a John Monroe and told you it was him. The name isn’t so uncommon. It was easier than explaining to you both what happened and how he walked out the door one night and never came back. Maybe he truly is dead, but he’sresting someplace else, someplace neither of you knows about.”

“Well, it is, and we have to get used to it. Forgive me, will you?”

“There’s nothing to forgive. I guess this changes a lot of things.”

Her eyes search mine. “Do what you can to find that man.

Start in your Ma’s hometown. Her birth certificate will lead you there. Then, you can try to find Donna. You might get lucky.”

I nod. Gosh, I wanna cry.

We talk a bit longer about other things, but my mind is on all the things I learned today. I’m a mess as I step out of her room, feeling like we’ve said our goodbyes. I’m devastated. Katie Glennville has been a part of my life for so long, and now she’s leaving us, too.

Sebastian is still outside. He stands up when he sees me approach. I keep my eyes low and tell him, “I’m headingout now. It was…it was nice…”

My voice wavers and before I know it, sobs are bubbling out of me. Sebastian asks me if I’m okay and puts an arm around me comfortingly. We start walking down the corridor, heading to the exit.

I can’t stop crying.