MARRYING MY STEP BROTHER

h Blackwo

mahogany shelves and polished desk. The afternoon sun streamed through the

irl Helen was sleeping peacefully in her nursery down the hall. S

ething. The locked drawer on the right side-the

ept business documents in there. But if the lo

ust enough to push it shut

thick with contents, tucked

. Maybe old family photos? Jam

he door, then pull

ere phot

or seven months old, with dark hair and bright eyes. J

ed. "A nephew he

cond photograph,

in her mid-twenties. They stood close together, the baby boy held be

ked like

began t

s feeding the baby. The woman laughing beside him. The

ey looked happy. T

my chest tighteni

hotos over wit

d on the back

d them. Four months ago. S

been at home, believing my husband was working l

eathed, the words scraping fr

scattering across the desk. I gripped the ed

ery piece of trust, every moment o

empty room, tears streaming down my

breathe through the pain. The man I loved, the f

vows? Our dreams for the future? Th

li

vision blurred with tears, a

sing and falling with each breath. She was perfect. Innocent

r, and something fierce and

ld not grow up with a father who lived lies, who

if it meant tearing apart

my voice breaking but determined. My hands

er one more time, tears fallin

eaving t