Broken

Chapter Eight

I was nervous. I was afraid that Grandma would be mad about me keeping the letter a secret so long. I was afraid of what she would say about my dad. I was afraid of all the secrets she had kept from me. I knew I needed these answers though. I trusted that she would tell me the truth.

"Hello, Miss Hayley."

I smiled at the nursing home's receptionist. She was always so kind to me. I wondered how much she knew about my family. She wore a shiny nametag on her uniform that read Paula. I nervously bit down on my lip as she made out my visitor's pass.

"Here you go, Hun," said Paula with a smile.

"Paula," I said carefully. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," said Paula with a nod.

"Did you...know my parents?" I asked.

She sighed, "I went to school with both of them here. They were two very fine people. I suppose that's why you grew up to be such a good young lady."

"What did you think of my father?" I asked.

Paula narrowed her eyes, "Why the sudden curiosity?"

I shrugged, "Wouldn't you have wanted to know what your father was like if you never met him?"

"I suppose I would," said Paula. "He was good man. Smart like you. We all knew he was going to go on and do great things in life, just like you will."

I nodded slowly, "Thank you, Paula."

"Anytime," said Paula with a smile. I turned and walked towards the hallway entrance. She unlocked it and I passed through. I walked down the hallway thinking about what she had said. She seemed to really think well of my father. I hoped her opinion of him was a common one. I wanted to believe his words in the letter, but I was afraid of opening my heart up to the possibility.

I entered Grandma's room hesitantly. She was flipping through channels on her TV from her bed. She looked over at me as I neared. She smiled and immediately turned the TV off. I sat down in the chair next to her bed. I looked down at the letter I held in my hands. I need to get this over with.

"I need to talk to you about something," I said. "I want you to be honest with me."

"When have I never been honest with you?" asked Grandma.

"About my father," I said carefully. I could see her tense up. She tried to sit up in bed. She looked away from me.

"I would rather not talk about him," said Grandma.

"I don't really think we have a choice," I said. I held up the envelope so she could see it. "He sent me a letter."

Grandma narrowed her eyes, "Did you read it?"

I nodded, "Of course I read it."

"How long have you had it?" she asked.

"A while," I admitted. "I've been so confused. You've only ever talked about how great of a man he is, yet I was always under the impression he left me with you and Grandpa. How could that be possible though if my own father claims he just learned of my existence?"

Grandma was quiet for too long. I could tell she was thinking hard about what to say next. I looked down at the letter in my hands and closed my eyes. Why does my life have to be a tangled web of complications?

"I don't know what you want me to say to you Hayley," said Grandma.

"I want you to explain why your son doesn't know about me," I said. I bit down on my lip again. It was true. He must not have known of me or she would have already said otherwise. How could she have lied to me for this long?