HER SECRET 36

'You were never in touch with any of us. We were like little toys you played with when you were at home. I don’t think we were ever a part of your life,’ Matt said, tossing his cigarette to the ground and crushing it out with his boot heel. ‘All I ever wanted to do was be able to love you, and you gave me reason after reason not to. Well, yes, you won. I don’t love you. God knows why, but Ma did. All I can do is believe there was something good in that.’

‘Things were tough when you kids were growin’ up, Matt. There’s things you can’t understand.

‘No. The problem is, I always understood too much.’

Lester pulled a box of cigarettes out of his shirt pocket. He flipped it open, offering one to Matt. Matt shook his head. ‘Lost my taste for ’em. Do you have a pen? I want to go ahead and sign this check over to Leeann so I can leave first thing in the morning.’ He glanced at his father’s face and saw nothing of himself in it. ‘You should be with your family tonight. If you’d asked me, I coul