During that time, Kate told her that she had gently brought up the question regarding their father’s role in Roger Lawson’s arrest with their mother. Jo Ellen didn’t deny it, didn’t confirm it, and asked that the topic be dropped.
But theycouldn’tdrop it. For one thing, Tessa had to prove her father would never be so disloyal. And it would hang over their friendship with the Lawsons, which had been progressing just beautifully these past few months. Finally, the dark history could certainly derail Kate and Eli’s budding romance.
If she feared that, Kate wasn’t saying. Like Jo Ellen, she was determined to just gloss over it, but Tessa couldn’t do that. So maybe now was a good time to bring it up.
Tessa took a steadying breath and turned to face her mother. “So, can I ask you something? About Dad?”
Jo Ellen’s eyes shuttered. “Your sister already told me he’s been accused of tipping the police off to Roger’s crimes.”
“Well…” Tessa’s hands fisted as she stared at her mother. “Did he?”
She just stared straight ahead, silent.
“Mom.”
“I can’t talk about it.”
She and Kate both leaned forward, equally surprised by this statement. “Why not?” They asked in perfect unison.
“Because…I can’t.” She put her coffee mug on the table with finality. “I made a promise to my husband, and I will not break it.”
“What promise?” Tessa asked, her voice rising in frustration.
Jo Ellen turned to her, a world of pain in her dark eyes. “I promised him many years ago that I wouldn’t ask about it, talk about it, or mention it ever again.”
Kate shook her head. “And by ‘it’ do you mean Roger’s arrest or Dad’s role in the investigation?”
Their mother swallowed, refusing to answer.
“Mom, both men are dead,” Tessa said. “And the relationship between the two families is on a course to heal. Why won’t you tell us the truth now?”
“Because I don’t know it,” she said simply.
“Whatdoyou know?” Kate pressed.
Another sigh and this time, Jo Ellen glanced at the door into the house, as though she wanted to be sure no one was lurking about or listening.
“All I know is that Artie did the right thing. He always did.”
Kate dropped back with a huff, but Tessa just got closer. “What was the right thing?” she asked. “Did he turn Roger in to the police or not?”
“I don’t know for sure,” she said, a soft cry in the words. “He said it was better if I didn’t know all the details.”
Kate and Tessa shared a silent look, sharing their confusion and frustration.
“Does Maggie know what happened?” Tessa asked.
“She thought she knew,” Jo Ellen said. “She made a lot of assumptions and accusations and, of course, tried to protect her husband, who…who…”
“Who was guilty,” Kate said softly. “Everyone knows that, Mom. Even the Lawsons have accepted that their father committed crimes. And they’ve suffered for it. But do our families have to forever be broken because of that?”
“That’s what Artie and Roger wanted.”
“What?” Again, the question came out in unison.
“Well, I can’t speak for Roger, but Artie was quite clear to me—I was never, under any circumstances, to contact, see, call, or have anything to do with Maggie.”
“Even after Roger died?” Kate asked.
