Secret Survivor

Chapter 41: The Truth Comes Out

          Released from the hospital four days later the Careins all home, things between Jason and Palmer have been tense ever since they returned. Palmer still hasn't been honest with her kids about their grandfather because she cannot bring herself to say it even though Jason thinks she should.

          Jason is laying on the couch, his leg propped up and watching TV. He does not like that he is confined to the couch for a couple of weeks with his injury. Palmer is sitting on the chair beside the sofa, reading a magazine and occasionally talking with Jason to make sure he is alright.

          "Have you talked to them yet?" Jason asks.

          "Not yet."

          "Palmer you'll have to tell them."

         "Why? They don't need to know J."

          "Okay Palmer," is all Jason says, looking back at the TV.

         "Don't okay Palmer me, you know I hate that."

        "Well you know I hate when you get shitty with me too."

          "I'm not getting shitty with you. I'm just saying I don't want my innocent children to know their mother was raped as a child by her father."

          "What?" Max says, walking in at the wrong time. "Who raped you?" he asks you.

         Palmer looks ashen.

         "Max, go upstairs and do your homework please," Jason sighs.

          "Who raped you mom?" Max stands there refusing to leave.

          "Please man."

          "Dad seriously?! You guys want me to pretend I didn't hear that someone raped mom?!"

          Payge comes downstairs.

          "Oh my god I can't do this," Palmer sighs.

          "Palmer..." Jason pulls her to him. Palmer looks like she is going to cry.

          "Come on," rubbing Palmer's arm. "Payge, Max come sit down."

         "Jason they are children," Palmer sniffles.

         "They are old enough."

         "Mom, what's going on?" Payge asks.

         Palmer sits down and looks over at her husband, shaking her head.

         "Mom?" Max sighs. "You can't hide it from us now."

         Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, Jason lightly rubs her shoulder.

        "Mom we're not gonna think any less of you. Just tell us what's going on," Payge says softly to her mother.

        "Well, you know your grandfather, my father?" Palmer begins.

        "You mean your father?" Max clenches his jaw. "He's not a grandfather."

        Palmer swallows hard with his cold comment but knowing her oldest is right.

          "Well, you don't have to worry about him anymore. He's dead."

          "What?" Payge asks confused.

         "He was shot and killed."

         "By who?" Max asks.

          "I did it," Jason butts in, not giving Palmer a chance to answer.

          "You killed him?" Max asks his father, eyes wide.

          "Jason no please," Palmer begs.

          "He had a gun pointed at your mother. It was self-defense," Jason defends.

          "I didn't know you had a gun daddy," Payge says.

          "Yeah I've had one since Max was little," he nods thinking about the incident where he was kidnapped and beaten.

          "Your grandfather was a horrible human being," Palmer begins taking a deep breath. "My parents weren't married very long because my father was a mean man. He was also a drug runner and did them himself," she swallows hard. "He was verbally and physically abusive to your grandmother..."

          "But he molested you?" Max blurts out asking.

          A little surprised Palmer nods. "Yes, he did, until I was eighteen and moved out."

          "Why didn't you call the police and report him mom?"

          "He said he would kill me," Palmer swallows, recalling that moment.

          "So you did drugs?"

          "Max..." Jason looks at him.

          "No, it's okay," Palmer says, sliding her hand on Jason's. "Just get it all out right?"

          Jason winks at her and leans in to kiss her temple.

          "Yeah I did for about three years," she nods. "I didn't want to tell you kids."

           "Why?" Max asks.

          "Because I didn't want you guys to think I was a bad person. I wanted to keep that part of my life out of your guy's thoughts."

          "Mom you're amazing," Max smiles. "We don't think you're a bad person."

          "Yeah mom," Payge nods agreeing with her older brother.

          "I'm glad we never really met him, or I should say had a relationship with him," Max says. "After you telling us this I'm proud to call you my mom."

          Palmer smiles tearing up, absolutely loving her kids.

          "I love you guys so much," Palmer says through tears.

          Max and Payge rise from the couch and walk around the coffee table to embrace their mom in a much-needed hug.