Lies

Chapter 25: Epilouge

The Ranglewood name was talked about many times after my father secrets were put out for all to see. The town leaders debated whether or not they should rename the town. We of course fought them on this. Just because one Ranglewood had messed up, doesn't mean the rest will. So, the town name was kept.

My father was in almost every newspaper that I laid my eyes on; being ridiculed very unfairly. They even tried to attack us. But I wouldn't have it. My father was a good man despite everything he had done while he was not in jail. He seemed to want to redeem himself while in there and we helped him out as best we could.

Now, we couldn't see him all the time. Really only once a week because the police station permitted it. So, we made the best of times when we got to see him through the window and got to talk to him.

He seemed more cheerful somehow or happy like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders. His smile was from ear-to-ear and his eyes started to shine again. It was as if turning him in, was a way for him to finally release the dread that he carried and he carried a lot of it.

He did have his moments though as people do. I knew he wanted to be able to see his grandchildren but I was too afraid to bring them here. I had to explain to them in the best way possible why their grandfather was in jail and why they wouldn't be seeing him for awhile. He was in fact going to be in jail for the rest of his life.

Harper was troubled. She always loved her grandpa and wanted to see him all the time so when she heard the news, she was devastated. She had cried and wouldn't come out of her room for a long time. But I guess she was only three, taking on something that some adults couldn't even comprehend.

Ryan was unhappy; just like his sister. His grandpa was his best friend and not being able to see him was like a bullet to his little heart. He cried along with Harper at not being able to see their grandfather.

Nolan was too young to really understand anything too complex. We told him that his grandpa was going away and probably wouldn't be coming back. We let him know that my father loved him and he cried as well. It was one big sob fest at our house.

My siblings were different.

Beckham and Luna decided to not tell their children. Instead they told them the same thing that Nolan was told. They felt it was the right thing to do and I didn't know if I agreed with it. My father had to be talked about as a lesson; with the do's and don't's.

Nia and Jared didn't have to worry about telling their children anything because Nia was still pregnant. She told others though to say she wasn't ashamed and that she felt that our father changed and in a way he did.

Hendrix decided to move back to Ranglewood to be closer to us and to also help out my mom when she needed something. He was the new man of the house when she called him over.

Apollo moved him and his girlfriend back too. They lived in separate houses of course but got closer and closer as a couple. I could hear wedding bells in the near future and I let Apollo know that. He only shrugged his shoulders.

So, how was I handling all of this change? To be honest, very well. Having the trust of my father again was the best thing a daughter could ask for and the fact that no secrets were kept silent anymore. It was true my father didn't have any to tell but it seemed if he did, that he would tell it to us.

I guess I've changed since that fateful day when I saw my father walk out of the abandoned house that was now torn down. I felt different; a better different, that is, after all that happened. I'm stronger, almost as strong as my mother, making the right decisions in a split second. I'm definitely now more observant of people. I want to know that they are telling the truth and not feeding me with lies. I'm also more comfortable with change. I don't know why I would ever say that but this change had been for the better and has been easier to adapt to. I'm more open to love. I realized what my father was going through, could feel his pain, and wanted to keep my children away from that. I was hugging more, kissing more and spending more time with them because my father taught me not to take anything for granted.

And the best part about all of this was that the truth did come out. It maybe broke some hearts in the process but ultimately changed my family for the better.