Chapter Forty-Two

“Emily, your father is Orfeo.” 

As soon as those words were spoken, Emily’s past, present, and future had changed. Zach stood up and glanced from Emily to her aunt. His face was pale, and his hands were trembling. He didn’t say a word to either of them as he walked out the front door, got into his car, and disappeared into the night.

“Who’s Orfeo?” Emily asked her aunt. “And what does he have to do with Zach?”

“Em, it’s a long story, and I’m not sure you’re going to believe any of what I tell you, but everything I tell you here tonight is the truth.” *

Emily shook her head and waited to hear what was so bad about this guy, who was supposedly her absent father of eighteen years, and what would make Zach walk away without any type of goodbye. “Your father.” Aunt Maureen stopped once again and took another deep