“Christ.” Will’s eyes closed. “I ne

“Christ.” Will’s eyes closed. “I need a minute.”
“Thought you might.”
I leaned back against the sofa, struggling not to freak out. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. I could have explained things without giving him a name. But I didn’t want to keep lying to him, not when he deserved more.
“Did you know about my connection to . . .” he seemed to struggle for the right words. “To Senator Reynolds?”
“I saw the picture of the two of you the night we went back to your place. That’s why I stopped things. I realized who you were, and I knew you guys were connected. I try to stay away from anyone even peripherally affiliated with my father. There’s a lifetime of bad blood there.”
“We’re not close at all. He knows my grandfather, and I met with him a few times when I was thinking about declaring my candidacy. He was one of the party members who convinced me to run. He did it as a favor to my grandfather. I know his daughter, Blair, the best. She and my sister, Monica, went to college together and are close.”
So he did know my sisters. I wasn’t surprised by the political connection between his grandfather and my father, but I still didn’t like it. But I liked Will too much for it to make a difference.
“That’s why you don’t get involved with politicians, isn’t it?”
I nodded. “Partly. But there’s more to it. My father is merely one in a long line of politicians my mother’s been with. There’ve been some decent guys, but most have been exactly like my father: married, seemingly upstanding citizens with perfect families, who keep a mistress on the side. I didn’t want to be a part of that. I didn’t want some guy to think he could make me that. If I’m with a guy, it’s on my own terms. I don’t let anyone use me. Not like she does.
“My background makes it impossible for any politician to get involved with me. It would be political suicide for them, and it would kill my consulting career. So, yeah. That’s why.”
“I’m sorry.” Will shook his head. “I’m so sorry you had to deal with this. I had no idea.” Again he seemed to struggle to find the right words. “I never thought—I mean he just seemed to be—”
“Everything he pretends to be?”
Will nodded.
“Yeah, he’s not. I doubt my mother was the first woman he fooled around with, and I don’t think she was the last. His perfect family is built on a tower of lies, and my existence is the piece that could bring it all crashing down.”
Will stood up from the couch, pacing around the living room. “And you’ve never talked to him? He’s never acknowledged his responsibility to you? Never taken care of you? Are you sure he even knows?”
“He knows. There was money when I was younger, a fixed sum he gave my mother. But that ran out pretty quickly, and she signed away any rights to come back for more.”
“He could have paid child support. Something.”
“He would have ruined her if she pushed for more, if she went public with my paternity. Plus it would have definitely cramped her style. What politician would have gotten involved with her after she single-handedly brought down a man’s career? It would have been ugly, and messy, and in the end, what would it have accomplished, really?
“He probably paid more than what she would have made in child support. It wasn’t his fault that she has a taste for the finer things and a poor grasp on reality.”
“And you never demanded more from him?”
“Like what? Went after him for money? Blackmailed him?” My voice dripped with scorn.
“I’m not saying I think you’re capable of that, it just seems wrong that he got away without taking responsibility for what he did to you.”
I shrugged. “I was angry with him for a long time. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that part of my motivation for joining Capital Confessions was a chance to expose some of his lies. I’ve leaked enough to take some of the shine off of his reputation.” And enjoyed every minute of it.
“But I’m not going to risk my career because of my father. I think we both know not to antagonize each other too much. He’s left me alone. I doubt he’ll blackball me because I’m sure he realizes if he does, I’ll hold a press conference exposing his secrets. And I’m not going to out him because the second I do, my career will be over. It’s not worth it. He’s not worth it.”
“And what about you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you okay? It has to hurt.”
“Not anymore. This isn’t a new development for me. This is my life. When I was a kid, I would ask about my father occasionally, but it wasn’t like I missed him. And then when I realized who he was, realized the kind of person he was, I hated him.”
“Do you have any interest in the rest of them—in your sisters?”
“No.”
“I’ve known Blair for years; she’s a good person, Jackie. And Kate’s nice.” He hesitated for a second. “She’s your age.”
I laughed bitterly. “What, we’re all going to be one big happy family? Please. Do you really think they’re going to accept me—their father’s bastard? I’m pretty sure I’m the last thing they want.”
“You could try.”
“I don’t need them. I’m fine without them.