Secrets, Lies, and Online Dating: Three Generations Learn to Love Again (Women's Fiction)

by Sylvia McDaniel

  She felt tired, stunned, and she knew she had to speak to her father. She wanted to hear the truth from his lips.

  The front desk told them he was still in ICU. They took the elevator to that floor in silence. Soon, they approached the nurse’s desk.

  “I’m Katie Larson. My father is Daniel Larson. Can you tell me his condition and if I can see my dad?”

  “He’s stable for now. They’re going to run tests on him in the morning to see if there is any blockage in his arteries or if the heart attack just came on due to the asphyxiation.”

  “Asphyxiation?” Katie asked, puzzled.

  “…Yes, he got into some trouble and wasn’t getting enough oxygen,” the nurse said, not looking at Katie.

  “What kind of trouble?” Katie asked, unable to comprehend what would cause him not to get enough oxygen.

  “I’m sure he can explain it to you,” she said. “I’ll let you have ten minutes with him right now and then you can see him in the morning.”

  Katie looked at Marianne. “Can my mom go in with me?”

  “Sure,” the nurse said, and led them down the hall to his room. She opened the door. “Mr. Larson, your daughter is here to see you.”

  Fear spiraled down her spine at the sight of her father pale and lifeless in the bed. An IV dripped in her father’s arm and a heart monitor beeped its steady rhythm. She took a hesitant step forward into the room.

  “Daddy,” she said, coming to his side. A red welt around his neck looked like a burn. Would a heart attack cause that redness around his neck?

  “Katie-bug,” he said, weakly. “You came.”

  “Yes, Daddy. How are you?”

  “Better. Especially now that you’re here.”

  She gripped his hand. Tears pricked her eyelids. “You scared me.”

  “Scared myself,” he said.

  “Mom came, too,” Katie said.

  He lifted his head weakly from the pillow and gazed at Marianne standing at the door.

  She walked to the side of his bed. “Hi, Daniel.”

  “Marianne.”

  “Are you okay?” Marianne asked.

  He shook his head. “Better now that my two favorite girls are here.”

  “Dad, maybe this isn’t the time, but there is something I have to know and you are the only person who can answer this question.”

  Marianne shook her head, “Not now, Katie.”

  “No, Mom. If something happens during Dad’s test tomorrow, this could be my only chance to know the truth. I won’t believe it unless I hear what Daddy has to say.”

  “What, sweetheart?”

  With her heart thumping loudly she swallowed and asked her father the question that frightened her the most. Because if he cheated on her mother, then she’d treated her horribly.

  “Did you cheat on Mom while the two of you were married?”

  Daniel looked away, cleared his throat, swallowed, and slowly returned his gaze to Katie, his eyes filled with trepidation as he stared at his daughter. A tear rolled down his cheek.

  Katie knew the answer from the expression on his face.

  “Katie, I haven’t been the man I should have been for your Mom. I did cheat on her while we were married. I’m the reason our marriage failed, not your Mom. I should have told you months ago.”

  Katie whimpered. “Oh, Daddy, I’ve blamed Mom this entire time. And you let me.”

  “I know, honey. I was wrong to let you continue believing it was your mother’s fault. She deserves better.” He looked at Marianne. “I’m sorry, Marianne. We’d still be married if I hadn’t screwed it up.”

  Stunned, Marianne stood there, staring at Daniel and wondering at the sudden turn of events. He looked so pitiful and sounded so beat down. She no longer hated Daniel. She didn’t want him to die. She just felt sorry for him. But most of all, she felt bad for Katie. She was learning the truth about her father at the worst possible time.

  “It’s okay, Daniel. You need to concentrate on getting better.”

  He frowned, but before he could respond, the nurse stepped in the doorway. “Sorry, guys, time is up. He needs to rest.”

  Katie leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Bye Daddy. We’ll be here in the morning.”

  He nodded. “Forgive me, Katie. I can’t change how I acted, but I do love you.”

  “I know,” she said, and walked out of the room.

  Marianne glanced at her ex-husband and mouthed the words, “Thank you.” Then quietly exited the room.

  The night’s emotions showed on their faces and she was so tired and numb. In the flash of an instant, her daughter had learned the truth regarding her father and while part of her was relieved, the other part was sad that she now knew what kind of man he truly was.

  Standing in the hall, Katie appeared exhausted.

  “Come on, let’s go find your grandmother and go sleep in her camper.”

  “I don’t know if I can,” Katie said.

  “There’s nothing else we can do for your dad. We’ll be right here if they need us and we’ll be here before they take him up for the test in the morning.”

  “Mom,” she said softly. Katie turned and fell into Marianne’s arms, sobbing. “I’m so sorry for the way I’ve treated you. Everything makes sense now. Why you acted the way you did and everything. I treated you so badly.”

  “It’s okay, Katie,” Marianne said, feeling her heart shatter into a thousand pieces. This was her baby and she could never be angry with her for long. She loved her from the depths of her heart.

  “No, Mom, over the last six months, I’ve come to realize that you were always there for me. Even when I was a kid, it was you, not Dad. But when you announced the divorce, I couldn’t believe you’d leave him.”

  “Your father loves you.”

  “But Mom, you took the blame. You let me believe that you were the one who wanted the divorce.”

  She’d sacrificed herself for her daughter and while it had hurt, she realized that Katie was now more mature and understood things better than she had when she told her of the separation. If she had to, she would do it all over again. Her daughter was growing into a fine young woman.

  “I couldn’t let you think of your father in a bad way. I knew you loved him. Besides, if I had told you about your father cheating on me, you wouldn’t have believed me. You needed to hear it from him.”

  Katie squeezed her mother hard. “You’re right, I wouldn’t have believed Daddy could do this.”

  “I always knew that eventually you would learn the truth, but I didn’t want that to happen until you were ready,” Marianne said, holding the daughter she loved with all her heart.

  “I don’t know if I was ready, but I’m glad that I know the truth now.” She stepped out of her mother’s arms and they both wiped their eyes. “Since we’re clearing the air, I think there’s something you should know.”

  Her mother gazed at her. “What?”

  “I don’t know if I’m going to marry Jake.”

  Marianne didn’t say anything, just gazed at her steadily, giving thanks in her heart that somehow her daughter’s eyes had been opened to the fact that this boy wasn’t good enough for her.

  “I caught him with another girl.”

  “Oh honey, I’m so sorry.”

  “You know, Mom, when Nana kept talking about history repeating itself, I couldn’t help but think, ‘oh God, I could have gotten pregnant’. And then when I learned that Dad cheated on you, I couldn’t believe the coincidences. I know you had to get married, but did you really want me? I mean, I screwed up your entire life.”

  Marianne laughed. “Oh, honey, I thank God every day that you are in my life. Your arrival wasn’t exactly planned, but I wanted you. I loved you almost the minute they confirmed that I was pregnant, though I kept thinking, ‘not now!’ I’m sorry about Jake. Did you break up?”

  “He promised me it would never happen again. But Mom, if he can’t be faithful now, what will he do when we’re married?”


  “I don’t know,” Marianne answered truthfully. “Katie, you are a bright, intelligent young woman. You are at that stage in life when whatever choices you make, you will have to live with them the rest of your life. But no matter what you choose, remember I will always love you, no matter what.”

  “So, are you saying that if I decide to marry Jake, you’re okay with that?”

  “I have faith in your decisions. If you marry Jake, then that is your choice in life and I will stand behind your choices.”

  Though secretly she was hoping that this boy had fried his goose and her daughter would walk away from him.

  “Oh Mom,” Katie said. “You’ve always been there for me.”

  “And I always will,” Marianne said. “Let’s go find your grandmother and see if we can get her to go to bed.”

  Katie laughed. “You know I’m just starting to realize how much of a character Nana can be. Could you believe her stopping that RV on the freeway?”

  “I think I aged twenty years.”

  Katie laughed. “The women in this family are definitely a little screwy.”

  “But full of love for one another,” her mother said and linked her arm with hers. “Come on Katie-bug, let’s go find your grandmother.”

  Brenda went to the cafeteria looking for a cup of coffee. This was going to be a long sleepless night and the way things were going, tension would be served for breakfast. She was starting to realize that her daughter and granddaughter were chips off the old block. They were more like her than she’d ever realized.

  High-strung and high-maintenance emotionally, but strong, tough women, and she was proud they were hers.

  It was past time the kid knew about her father and she was tired of Marianne shouldering the blame. So she’d taken the matter into her own hands.

  She hurried past the emergency room, and in shocked disbelief, saw Liz walking towards her.

  “Liz,” Brenda asked. “Is that you?”

  “Oh my God, Brenda, what are you doing here?” she said, giving her a hug. “It’s been so long.”

  Brenda took a step back, surprised at how happy her friend seemed to see her. This was the very woman who had all but run her out of water aerobics class.

  “What are you doing here?” Brenda asked.

  “It’s Dean. He collapsed and the ambulance brought him in. They’re checking him now.”

  “I’m sorry,” Brenda, said.

  “What about you? What are you doing here?”

  “Daniel, Marianne’s ex, had a heart attack and we came to support Katie.”

  “Oh my, I hope he’s doing better.”

  “That son of a bitch deserves to die, but for Katie’s sake, I hope he lives a little longer.”

  Now that most everything was out in the open regarding Daniel, she was willing to let him be here just a little longer for Katie’s sake.

  Liz laughed. “Oh Brenda, I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed you. I’m sorry that things happened the way they did.”

  Brenda smiled, the apology easing some of the sting of betrayal from her oldest friend. “I’m okay. I’ve had quite the adventure since I left water aerobics in such a snit.”

  Well, she was in some respects. In others, her heart was still aching for a certain old man who was married.

  “I’m so glad to hear that. Call me sometime when you’re in town and we’ll do lunch,” she said.

  “I’d like that.”

  “Ms. Webster?” A very serious doctor came out of the room and looked at her.”

  “That’s me,” Liz said.

  “Your husband is critical. Have you called in the family?” he asked.

  Brenda saw Liz sag from the news and she stepped up to her friend and wrapped her arm around her. When the doctor glanced at her, she gave him her sternest look. “I’m her friend.”

  “My children are on their way,” Liz said.

  “He’s in and out of consciousness. We’re trying to keep him comfortable, but he’s slipping away. If you want to stay with him, I’ll tell the nurses to watch for your children.”

  Liz stood frozen. “I’m not ready to lose my husband,” she said.

  “We never are,” Brenda said, and hugged her friend. “Do you want me to stay with you?”

  Liz gazed at her and Brenda could tell she was thinking of all their years together and everything they’d gone through. Brenda knew the journey that Liz was about to begin and she couldn’t help but want to comfort her friend.

  “Do you mind?” Liz asked.

  “Not at all. I’ll stay with you until your children arrive,” Brenda said. She’d traveled this road and it was not an easy journey. Maybe it was Liz’s husband’s time, but you never wanted to let go. Just like Paul didn’t want to let go of his wife, even though it was only her shell laying in that bed.

  Liz took her by the hand and together the two women walked into her husband’s room, leaving the doctor behind.

  Standing over the dying man, Brenda couldn’t help but think that this was where this stage of her life had started. She had come full circle.

  Chapter 17

  Marianne sat across from her mother in the hospital cafeteria. “Where were you last night? Katie and I searched everywhere for you. We finally gave up and returned to the camper.”

  She looked tired and Marianne worried about her. She wasn’t as young and spry as she once was. They were all growing older.

  “You remember Liz and her husband Dean? They were your father’s and my best friends for many years, until your dad passed away.”

  “Yes, you guys used to go on cruises together.”

  “When the two of you went in to see Daniel, I went to find coffee and saw Liz in the emergency room. Dean had a stroke. I stayed with Liz until her children arrived. He passed away last night.”

  “Oh my,” Marianne said. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  Brenda glanced down at her coffee cup in her hand and sighed. “Marianne, I don’t have many surreal moments in life, but being with her while her husband was dying, well it made me realize how much I’ve changed and grown in the eighteen months since your father died.”

  “I thought you hated her.”

  “I did until last night.” Brenda stared into her coffee and then glanced at Marianne. “We had a fight at water aerobics class and that’s when I realized how alone I really was. But then again, I hated everyone after your father died. I was angry that he’d left me. I was lonely. I missed him so much I could hardly function.”

  This was why she’d acted out so much when Marianne had told her about her divorce from Daniel and then the move.

  “Oh, Mom, I knew you were grieving for Dad, but I guess, I was so wrapped up in hiding my own personal hell that I didn’t notice until everything imploded. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay, I don’t know that I would have heard anything you had to say.” Brenda laid her hand on Marianne’s. “You know, if my friends hadn’t abandoned me, I wouldn’t have set out on this journey across the country and learned I could make a new life for myself.”

  “You look good Mom. The trip has somehow revitalized you.”

  “Yes, it has.” Brenda took a deep breath and gazed at Marianne, her eyes teary. “It’s not often that I say I’m sorry, but you must be very angry with me for telling Katie about Daniel. As your mother, I couldn’t let her blame you any longer. I’m sorry I interfered, but I couldn’t help myself.”

  Marianne sighed and smiled at her mother, shaking her head. The woman was a fierce defender of her daughter, and she'd become quite independent. Marianne was proud of her.

  “You’re not mad?” Brenda asked, surprised.

  “No, in fact I should thank you. Because of you, my daughter and I had a very heart-warming talk for the first time in months. Daniel told Katie the truth.”

  “Good. I’m glad.”

  “Mom, why don’t you come back to Denver with me? We could spend some time together.”

  “I’d
like that, except right now, I can’t,” Brenda said. “Last night, seeing Liz watch her husband die helped me get my priorities straight.”

  “How?”

  Brenda took a deep breath. “Marianne, I have a confession to make. I know how you feel about infidelity in a marriage.” She glanced over at her daughter. “I met a man, a great guy. I fell in love with him and even slept with him.”

  “So why are saying confession and infidelity in the same sentence?” Marianne asked, almost afraid to hear the answer. The thought of her mother sleeping with anyone other than her father was kind of weird.

  Brenda held up her hand. “Paul would disappear for days at a time from the RV Park where we both were camped. I knew he went to Dallas, but didn’t know why. Day before yesterday, he confessed he’s married.”

  “Oh, Mom.”

  “We had great sex and then he dropped the bomb that he was married,” Brenda said, her eyes filling with tears. “His wife has been in an Alzheimer’s care unit for two years. She doesn’t know who he is, but he’s still married. I couldn’t help but think of how Daniel treated you and how you would have felt.”

  Marianne felt alarm for her mother. Was the man a con artist and just using an older woman or was he a good man who she’d fallen in love with?

  “Why didn’t he tell you he was married when you first met?”

  “He said he tried. Married is married. He even said he thought of not returning to the campsite, but couldn’t stay away.”

  “Is he a good guy, other than not telling you about his wife?” Marianne asked.

  “Yes, I think so,” Brenda replied. “He still cares for his wife. But he talks about her as if she’s dead.”

  “Does she even know he’s there?”

  “No, he says her mind is gone, but her body is still alive.”

  Marianne couldn’t imagine how the man must feel taking care of a woman who doesn’t even know you’re there. And then comes her very vibrant mother who no one could ignore.

  “Oh my God, think how hard that must be to witness someone you love wasting away. He must be lonely. He’s growing old all alone,” Marianne said suddenly.

  Brenda sat and stared at her daughter. “I miss him so much, I can’t stand it. Dean’s death made me realize we may not have much time left together. Yes, he’s married, but she’s not really there.”