“Hey Kiddo!” his voice boomed. “What are you up to?”

“Oh… um…” I stalled. I took a deep breath and continued, “Dad, I need to know the truth about Jaylene Peterson.”

I could hear his heart sink, the loud sigh. “I was wondering when this would come out,” he finally said after a long pause.

And then he told me the story. I already knew it, Jaylene hadn’t spared any details. But I needed to hear it from him. Jaylene was right, he didn’t know about Derek.

“Abby, I want you to know, I never meant for it to happen. It was a horrible mistake. I really did love your mother. That’s why I hoped she’d never find out.”

“She won’t.”

I could feel his relief. “Oh, ok. Well, how did this come up?”

“Oh, um, you know,” I mumbled. “Hey thanks for being honest with me but I’ve got to go, ok?”

“Ok. But Kiddo, I love you.”

“I love you too, Dad,” I said before clicking the phone off. I got off my bed, grabbed my keys and found myself outside Derek and Lily’s front door. I took a deep breath and rang the bell.