“Stay in control,” I whisper, as I open the door.

“Jesus, you’ve been crying. What happened? No one will tell me what’s going on.” She wraps her arms around me, and I kiss the top of her head, inhaling her scent as a way to pacify my soul.

“We need to talk, but in private. Can you wait ‘til we get home?”

“Only if you tell me everything’s okay.”

“With the accusation, yes. I’m not being charged with anything.”

“Oh, thank God,” she sighs a breath of relief. “But there’s something else?”

I close my eyes and nod.

“Are you okay?” she says softly. “Are we okay?”

“Yeah. You and I are fine. Let’s go home for a while and talk. The Scarlett will be open soon and I need to get my shit together, and this isn’t the place to do it.” I kiss her lips so she feels comforted and doesn’t push the conversation. I can tell she’s distraught over the allegation from Ivy, and the thought of losing me to a system she’s often heard me say can fuck an innocent man in the ass.

We wait outside for Haverty in an unfamiliar state of silence. He senses our discontent as soon as we enter the vehicle, and mentions only that the cops stopped by to speak with him, not pushing for any further information.

It starts to rain as he stops in front of our building. He helps Sophia to the front door, holding an umbrella over her head for the five second walk.

“That was nice of you, thanks Haverty.” My eyes close and I tilt my head back to feel the cold drips on my face in an attempt to clear my head. How am I going to start this conversation with Soph? My fists haven’t relaxed in hours and my knuckles are bone white.

“I have a feeling the two of you had a rough afternoon. You alright?” he asks.

“Yeah. Do me a favor and keep an eye on the Scarlett tonight. I may be a little late.” I reach my hand to him and he pulls me a step closer to his body.

“You off the hook?”

I nod and look back to Sophia who’s waiting in the lobby of our building.

“Listen, Buddy,” his tone serious and direct. “Don’t fucking think about heading to Kaitlyn’s place tonight. Not after this thing with Ivy. Give it a rest for a while.”

I nod again and he releases my hand.

“My mother will be around this evening, and I’ll send Sophia in as well. I need some time alone after I talk to her.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” He stares into my eyes, which are probably still red from tears.

“Someday, maybe.”

“Well fuck. Just let me know when I can call you a dickhead again. The past twenty minutes have been hell.” He taps me on the shoulder and I send him my most appreciative smile; then head inside to my wife. I think both he and Soph can sense the severity of whatever happened at the station, but I’m stunned that they haven’t put my hand in a vice to get me to talk. My entire day feels like I’m trapped in another dimension.

With my arm around Sophia, my head in a knot like a twisted piece of metal in a tornado, and my palms still sweaty, we ride the elevator never saying a word. Thank God we don’t run into my parents along the way. I held back from hitting my father, and I cringe just thinking it even entered my mind; that I could be in such a rage that I would actually punch him, and yet the thought is still foremost in my mind.

I head straight for our kitchen and down a shot followed by a cold beer from the fridge.

“Cove, I can’t wait any longer. My stomach hurts and I’m having panic attacks trying to figure out what’s wrong. Talk to me, please.”

“Take a seat by the window and I’ll be right over.”

“Are you leaving me?”

“Soph, don’t be stupid right now. Sorry to be so blunt but you know I’d never leave you, and again, this isn’t fucking about you. What’s with the lack of confidence all of a sudden? It’s driving me mad, and I’m furious with my father right now, but also trying my best not to take it out on people around me, so do me a favor and don’t give me any ammunition for flying off the handle, alright?”

“Sorry,” she whispers. It’s clear by her body language as she drags her feet to the sofa that she’s concerned and hurt, and I could kick myself for being a dick to her. Plus, I think she’s got some PMS going on, at least it seems that way.

I hand her a beer and we take a minute to view the St. Louis Arch from our corner window sitting area. My fingers interlace with hers, and I kiss the back of her hand as an apology.

Haverty’s voice enters my head as I stammer to find a good way to begin. Fuck. Just grow some balls and say it. “My father cheated on my mother,” I whisper.

“What? You mean again? You told me he confessed his infidelity to you years ago, but it was just that one time.”

My eyes blur. I was strong the entire drive home; not wanting to be a pussy in front of Haverty, but if Soph and I are gonna spend a lifetime together, I’ll need to subject her to my weaker, lesser self from time to time.

“Cove?” she says, wiping my cheek. “Babe, please don’t cry.”

“This was years ago. Probably when I was just a little kid.”

“Whoa. What? I don’t understand. Why did this come out today?”

I chug my beer in a pathetic effort to halt my feelings. No fucking luck. I’m shattered.

“Hey... hey,” she kneels on the floor between my legs, sets my beer down, and takes both of my hands in hers. “Look at me. Stop drinking and talk to me, or I’ll act like a bitch and piss you off to get you to open up. I know you talk non-stop when you’re angry at me, so if I need to...”

“Ivy dropped the charges because the DNA sample from her rape kit matched mine. They pulled her birth certificate and it had my father’s name on it. My fucking father’s name, Soph. Goddammit, that fucker,” my tone changes from a whimper to a rage as I stand and pace.

“What?” her voice barely audible as the words escape her mouth in a ghost-like puff of air. “What?”

“Ivy’s my half-sister.”

“What?”

“Exactly. What the fuck? Right?” The fury that builds inside feels bottomless, as though I could scream at the top of my lungs for days and still never feel any respite from the pain.

Her face changes quickly from one emotion to the next. Confusion... disbelief... sadness... and finally an eruption as crazed as mine. She’s at our main door in less than a second, and by the time I process her target, she’s halfway there.

“Soph, don’t.”

She races to my parent’s loft and bangs on the door.

“Wait.” I catch up to her, and clutch her wrist before she has a chance to knock again. But it’s too late. My mother opens the door and stands before us, appearing as bright and welcoming as ever.

“Sophia? Oh, Cove. Honey. It’s all over; everything’s going to be okay. You look so upset, both of you, get in here and talk to me.” I watch Sophia’s eyes soften as she realizes her mistake. She’d never hurt my mother, and now we’re in a tight spot.

“We had a difficult day,” Sophia whispers. My mother frowns and nods, then pulls her into a hug.

“I know, sweetheart. But, it’s over. Ivy came forward and did the right thing in the end. Poor girl. She must have been scared to death.”

“I just wanted to ask for some tissues. We’re out,” she requests. Good save. I’ve taught her well.

“Of course.” My mother disappears and I give my wife a look of agony as to where we are.

“Here you go. It’s a new box.”

“Thanks mother. I’ll be late tonight. I need some time.”

“Of course. You should take the night off. I can handle things with Haverty, and you don’t need to be at the Scarlett every hour it’s open, dear. But let’s do talk soon about what happened today. Coffee tomorrow afternoon? Or dinner?”

“Sounds good.” I feel like shit looking at her; keeping this secret. She’s always been so kind and supportive of me throughout my life. So well put together.

Her makeup and dress are classy, maybe even a little extravagant, with a plethora of gold rings, bracelets, and other accessories worn at all times; a modern day Elizabeth Taylor, the type of woman who ages gracefully and gets better looking with each passing year.