I felt bad for asking, the fact that he went still just tells me how he's probably not ready to talk about it.
Carter stayed quiet and he avoided looking at me, "I'm sorry.... I didn't mean it in a rude wa-
He sighs, "Its fine"
I bite the inside of my cheek, "I guess I knew the question was coming one way or another"
I move a little closer to him, "Long story short it's to do with my dad" He says
I had a feeling
"Does he live here?" I ask
Carter shakes his head, "Not anymore"
I continue to listen, "My mom cheated on him four years ago"
I raise my eyebrows with surprise, I honestly didn't expect this from Melissa at all. "She was having an affair with some guy that she met at a conference, apparently it had been happening for months"
I do the math in my head, "So you were thirteen and Grace was two?"
He nods, "Anyway after my dad found out he obviously wanted a divorce. Mom didn't want one because she said it would create a bad look for her, this is back when her clothing line started catching a lot of peoples eye"
I've researched his mom before, she owns a lot of hotels and estates, as well as the clothing line. I frown, "So then how did they-
"Mom tried to bribe him, she wanted them to be together in the public eye but obviously get a divorce in private" He replies
"Damn" I say surprised
"My dad obviously didn't take the bribe, he tried hard to make things work for me and Grace but he couldn't stand her, so one day he just got up and left"
"Without a goodbye?" I frown
He nods, "Without a goodbye"
"So... legally they're still married"
"When people ask where he is she just says that he's on a business trip"
"You were definitely a daddy's boy then" I say amused
He gives a sad smile, "I was a mommy's boy actually"
I frown, "Grace however was a daddy's girl" He continues
I think I know where this is going, "She was always trying to talk and was loud when he was around, her first word was dad too" He smiles at the memory and I look at him softly
"Then obviously after he left Grace eventually stopped interacting with other people. Melissa would always say it's because she was two and that toddlers don't really talk but over the years it didn't get any better"
"And so Grace developed selective mutism" I realise
"Exactly, hence why I can't stand Melissa"
"You look like you need a hug"
He snorts, "I don't-
"You do" I wrap my arms around his torso and he laughs a little
"You know your mom probably blames herself already right?" I mumble
Carter sighs, "Yeah"
I lift up my head, "Do you still talk to your dad?" I ask softly, he shakes his head
"Then I guess they both have something to be held accountable for"
He hums in response
"Carmen!" Melissa calls out from downstairs
YOU ARE READING
Meeting the Millers
Teen FictionEveryone sees Carmen as a strong girl with a bold personality, but sometimes it's those that laugh the hardest who have the biggest secrets and choose to suffer in silence. Carmen unexpectedly finds herself a babysitting job for a little girl named...