The Secret

“Okay guys let’s get a pic and then we need to be off to the Gumbo Kitchen to meet your crew,” my mom said.

She started to back up to get us all in the frame when the door opened and she ran into Mr. Patts. My mom looked visibly uncomfortable and she stammered as she apologized.

“I-I-I am so sorry Jared. I didn’t see you. I was just leaving and umm…” my mom started.

Mr. Patts cut her off, “Melissa we are so thankful that you were here last night for Kee. Please don’t apologize. Thank you so much for being there,” he said, hugging her.

My mom didn’t hug him back. She looked stunned. She looked at Kyren to try to gauge the situation, but she looked just as stunned as my mom. My mom pulled away from Mr. Patts. She nodded in acknowledgment of his thanks. She was having trouble making eye contact with him. This whole situation seemed so odd to me. I need to find out what the three of them aren’t telling us. However, that is for another day.

Mrs. Kyren ran over to Keegan and kissed his hair softly. She stroked his head and held him close. He buried his head into her shoulder and nuzzled her. Mr. Patts stayed by the door. Why isn’t he running to his son? His behavior was so very off to me. He eventually walked out into the hallway. I also felt like I needed to sit due to these heels that were self-purchased torture devices. I excused myself for a moment while the others told Mrs. Patts the tragic tale from the night before. I rested on the bench across from Keegan’s room. It felt so blissful to sit down. I put my head back against the wall and rested my eyes. A few minutes had passed when I heard what sounded like Mr. Patts’ voice. I assumed he was talking to me because his voice was so close. I opened my eyes to realize he was around the corner on the phone. At first, I didn’t think much of the conversation. There was talk of meeting times and places and addresses shared. This is what Mr. Patts does for a living, so it was kind of boring. But then I heard it, the words that kept ringing in my head over and over: I am, baby. I just need more time to tell my wife.

My heart sank. Was Mr. Patts having an affair? Who was on the other end of that phone? I had to find out. What would this do to Keegan? His heart would be broken. No way I could tell him this. My head was spinning. I started to get so hot. Where was my mom? I needed to get out of there. I texted Casey and Baylen. SOS! They both came running out of the room.

“Brees. What’s wrong, Squirt?” Baylen asked as I held my chest.

He grabbed my arm and used his body to hold me up. I felt like I was having trouble breathing.

“Breesy girl, you are having a panic attack,” I heard my mom’s voice say.

She counted down my breathing and coached me through the attack. I felt better, but I still wanted to leave. This secret would rock all of our worlds and I could not be the only one to carry it. I told Baylen as we walked to the car, about what I had heard.

“Brees, without proof you cannot tell anyone else this,” he warned.

He was right. I needed proof. Mr. Patts was definitely cheating, but who would believe me? Poor Mrs. Patts, poor Keegan, and his sisters. This was so awful to know about. I still needed to get through my homecoming dance, knowing what I know. And I didn’t know how I was going to do it. Keegan Patts’ family is falling apart and I hold the key to this secret.