Chapter 9 — Eudora Thought Telling the Truth Would Break the Family
Celestine sat on Eudora’s bed.
Roderick remained nearby but did not speak for her.
“Eudora, I need to apologize.”
The little girl held her stuffed rabbit.
“For wardrobe?”
“Yes.”
Celestine took a breath.
“I found something about Daddy’s family.”
“I was scared that telling him before I understood it would hurt him.”
“So I kept it secret.”
Eudora listened.
“Then you found the room.”
“And instead of telling Daddy myself, I told you not to tell him either.”
Celestine’s eyes filled.
“That was wrong.”
“Adults should not give children secrets that make them afraid.”
Eudora looked toward Roderick.
Then back at her mother.
“I thought if I tell Daddy, he get mad and leave.”
Celestine’s face broke.
“Oh, sweetheart.”
“No.”
Eudora began crying.
“You said it could change everything.”
Celestine closed her eyes.
She remembered saying those exact words after Eudora found Mara.
Daddy can’t know yet. It could change everything.
To Celestine, it meant Roderick’s understanding of his childhood.
To Eudora, it meant the family itself might collapse.
Celestine took her daughter’s hand.
“I should never have said that to you.”
“Daddy is upset with me.”
“But that is because of what I did.”
“Not because you told the truth.”
Roderick added:
“And you telling me does not make me leave you.”
Eudora looked toward him.
“Or Mommy?”
Roderick chose his answer carefully.
“Mommy and I are going to work through what happened.”
“You are not responsible for fixing it.”
Eudora nodded.
Celestine continued.
“If any adult ever tells you to keep a secret that makes you scared, confused, or worried someone will be hurt if you tell…”
“You can tell Daddy.”
“You can tell me.”
“You can tell another adult you trust.”
“Even if the person who told you the secret is family.”
Eudora thought.
“Even you?”
Celestine nodded.
“Even me.”
Then Eudora asked:
“Is secret lady coming back?”
Roderick smiled faintly.
“Her name is Mara.”
“And I am meeting her tomorrow.”
Eudora looked excited and nervous at once.
“Is she my aunt?”
Roderick paused.
“Biologically, yes.”
“But we’re going to meet first.”
Eudora nodded.
That was enough.
The following morning, Roderick went to the café.
Mara was already there.
And the second he saw her face clearly for the first time, one childhood memory returned so suddenly that he had to stop walking.