NEPO BBY

10

"And is it true, that you and Lily Rose blamed your mother for your father not visiting?" Camille asked.

"Yes, that is true. Lily more so blamed Mum than I did because I knew the true story," I remarked.

"And what would be the true story, Mr. Depp?" She asked back.

• • •

Mum wanted to protect both us and Dad. And that meant she would do it at the cost of herself. Dad would call often and make promises that he would come to France and visit us - but he didn't show.

Mum would say, "It's not a good idea right now. Maybe after the divorce is finalized."

"Are you kidding?" Lily shouted. "You're seriously not going to even try with him? And you won't even let him visit until all this is over? You're evil!"

I tried to sympathize that maybe it would be hard on all of us if we were all under the same roof whilst they were going through a divorce. But unlike my friends parents messy divorce, Mum and Dad split so easily it was almost as if they hadn't been married this entire time. And that really hurt me. Lily too.

Then Dad began dating Amber. And Lily and I found it strange that they began dating so quickly. But Dad assured us he was "very happy with her." And again, he promised to come visit. But he didn't show.

"I don't think he should come," Mum would tell us. "He should stay with Amber in LA. And we should continue on as normal."

Lily hated Mum at this point. And I was becoming just as confused.

And to make matters worse. Mum began dating Benoit. And Lily was the first to find out.

I had come home one evening and the house was empty. Or so it felt. Mum and Lily where nowhere in sight. I grabbed something to drink from the fridge and headed to my bedroom. Shortly after, Lily came into my room.

"You don't know how to knock?" I remarked. "What if I were jerking off?"

"You're disgusting!" She said tossing one of dirty shirts in my face. I laughed chucking it aside.

"What's wrong with you? Why does your face look so...so sour?"

"I caught Mum with Benoit," she breathed out as she plopped down next to me on my bed.

"What do you mean? You caught Mum with Benoit?" I asked.

She sighed, rolled her eyes and continued. "I caught them making out."

"You caught them making out? You caught Mum and Benoit making out? When?"

"Today! In the kitchen. I walked in and there they were making out. And I mean - making out making out! Like they've done this before. It wasn't a first kiss, Jack."

I sat there trying to digest her words. Mum. Benoit. Together. In that way? It was such a foreign concept that I'd never considered. But it made sense.

"Are you going to say something?" She asked.

I shrugged, "What can I say?"

She glared at me in disbelief, "Um...I don't know..maybe you can share my disappointment..my dissatisfaction..something?"

"I mean it makes sense, doesn't it?"

"Um..no?"

"Come on," I said. "They've known each other longer than Dad has known Mum. Benoit's always been there for her. Through every chapter of her life and she's done the same for him. It would only make sense that after she'd gotten a divorce with Dad that the two of them would hook up in a moment of weakness."

Lily continued to glare at me. She was so against Mum she would never see it this way.

"Dad's engaged to Amber. It's probably best Mum moved on."

"But with Benoit?" Lily remarked. "I can't see him as a step father. He seems like an uncle. It seems like this is some sick joke..it feels like incest. Like the two of them should not be doing this."

"He's not blood. It's not incest, Lily. Dad cheated on Mum and is now marrying Amber. It seems kind of fair that Mum hooks up with her best friend."

"And I do not approve of the engagement with Amber. I think he'll come to his senses soon. He'll realize he doesn't love her and Mum will forgive him and they'll get back together."

"There's not a chance that's going to happen," I said back bluntly. "Dad will marry Amber whether you approve or not. And Mum will probably marry Benoit whether you like it or not. Accept reality, Lily. They're not getting back together after everything that has transpired."

"How did you become so wise when you're the youngest?" She said resting her head on my shoulder.

"I had too," I replied back softly.

"I'm sorry, Jack."

"Me too, Lily."