No one expected my 14-year-old son to challenge his dad’s new wife in the middle of the wedding.

The old man’s face drained of color.

“Aunt Fen, you told me not to be dramatic.”

Fen backed toward the door, tears streaming.

“Oh God…”

“Uncle Potter,” my son said next, “you told me I should be grateful.”

Potter buried his face in his hands.

“Jesus Christ… I thought you were joking.”

Then my son looked at his grandmother.

“You said boys can’t be raped by women.”

She collapsed back onto the couch, clutching her rosary.

Whispering prayers.

The Secret About Tommy
Lauren’s parents were whisper-fighting now.

Her father hissed under his breath.

“Not again, Patricia. You said she was better.”

The word again hung in the air like poison.

But then my son spoke again.

“But that’s not why I hit her.”

The room froze.

“What do you mean?” I asked slowly.

His voice trembled.

“Last week… I saw her coming out of Tommy’s room at two in the morning.”