The Family's Secret: A Love Consumed

ed dining table. The table was laden with food, but an e

slamming his fork down. "Does he thi

me," he said, his voice a fragile whisper. "I tried to be nice to him,

y fumed. "After we were gracious eno

r back, her face grim.

the hall to Jesse' s room. Ho

t out here

was no

eak this door down!

le

r foot and kicked the door. The cheap w

oor, curled in on himself

r to shake him. The moment her hand touche

hispered, her voice fill

blood crusted around Jesse' s nose and on his

s. Kennedy shrieked, her

ed Jesse into a blanket and rushed him to the hospital,

d doctor met them

y with accusation. "He has late-stage glioblas

lent denial. "You' re wrong. You' re not a g

lling every string the Kennedy name still held. She managed to g

ce impassive. He conducted a brief examin

firm. "In fact, it has metastasized. The cancer is in his s

esse stepped forward, his eyes bla

tempt. "The fever, the bleeding, the fatigue. Did you never once a

tor, her mind reeling. T

action. It wasn' t defiance. It wasn' t a trick. He couldn' t feel it. He physically cou

e force of a physical blow. She saw every cruel word, every slap, every

t have I done? What have I done?" She clawed at her own face, her nail

ks of shock and dawning fury. They had bel

ling with rage. "You saw him like this and you did nothing?" He

ven Jesse so many times before. The carefully constructed world of their lies had s