it’s an odd feeling, knowing that her father had a family before her and sammy. honestly, she can’t imagine it, but there’s something inside of her that knows the other woman is telling the truth. someone who had this elaborate of a story couldn’t be lying, right?
“ no, it’s.. it’s okay, i’m glad i know. ” her father was dead, after all, he wasn’t there to tell her the family secrets. she just wished she would have known sooner, that her father had left behind some sort of hint towards his other family. she offers mari an awkward, tired smile, feeling as though she might explode if she doesn’t.
her smile becomes more genuine when she hears about her childhood, it sounded like a good one at best. “ that sounds stressful and enjoyable at the same time—i think i’ve moved about three times in my life. ” moving to hurricane when sammy disappeared, leaving with aunt jen after her father died, and moving in with jessica for college.
marianne, that was a pretty name. it had kind of a proper feeling to it, she guesses her father liked those kinds of names ( charlotte, samuel, and marianne ). “ it’s nice to meet you, and i guess now is better than never. it’s just crazy knowing this part of life. ” she pauses suddenly, gaze fixating on her shoes. “ do you know what happened to him? our father, i mean. ”
There’s a pause, and then a quiet sigh. “...Yeah. I know,” She nods, expression grim as she recalled about hearing the news. It was before she found out who he was, of course, but nonetheless, it was somewhat of a shock. Her mother, of course, had been heartbroken. Marianne herself didn’t learn why until about a week later.
That in and of itself was a shock-but then came anger. Her own brother hadn’t told her-she didn’t quite blame her mother, of course, it was understandable why she hadn’t said anything-but Alex? Yes, he may have hated Henry with a burning passion, but not once had he said anything to her other than insults directed toward Henry. It hurt then-and even now, it still stung.
“I still feel...sort of bad, about not being able to have that relationship with him, get to know him as my father-even my brother got that, if only for a short while. But...” Another sigh, but this time it was more disheartened than anything.
“I do understand my mother’s reasons for not telling me. She never did like talking about him. My brother didn’t either, but he always tried to sort of...demonize him, I suppose. I think he didn’t want me to be...disappointed, I guess, if I met the man I got my eyes from.”