Garrison & Brooke

"Then why did you hide it? If it was no big deal, why didn't you just tell me about it? Do you tell him you love him too? He certainly said it enough times just in this one letter."

"I hid it because I knew you'd act this way. Jon's life hasn't been easy. He needs someone to talk to."

"I wouldn't have liked it, no, but I wouldn't have been this pissed off about it if you'd been honest since the beginning. But we've been married over two years and I had to find out on my own. Answer the damn question."

Garrison

"My personal life is my business, Garrison. Not yours. If we had something...anything then yes you'd have a right to know but you don't. I don't even know what you're talking about when you say you've tried to get close. When? When did that even happen?"

"The fact that you don't know proves that all you care about is yourself. I take care of you and Daphne. I don't make you lift a damn finger around here. Anything you want, it's yours. I treat Daphne like she's my own. And you think the way to repay that is to go around telling someone else you love them. When you wouldn't even give me a chance."

"Just because I haven't told you that, doesn't mean...it doesn't mean that I don't feel it. Before I came here my personal life was complicated and even more so now. And you're right. You've been amazing to us and I can't thank you enough I just...I don't know what to do anymore."

"Maybe... start with telling me who he is. Tell me about your life. Help me understand."

"After Barrister dumped me in the wilderness, I wondered around for days and that's when I met Jon. He took me back to camp and took care of me and taught me how to take care of myself. Then we became more than friends."



"I see. How long were you two together?"

"Years. And then we both went away for the winter to hunt and I got back before him. That's when I found Carter there and we...well you know the rest."



I nodded. "I guess I do." I looked out the window, watching Daphne play in the yard. "She doesn't look like you."

I felt myself glare at him "Your point? I wasn't aware that little girls had to be a spitting image of their mother in order to be related."



"Why are you getting so defensive? I just said she doesn't look like you. And she doesn't. At all. Makes me wonder, is all."

"Don't wonder too much, you may hurt yourself."



I scoffed. "Whatever Brooke. I think we both know she's not really yours. I'm not gonna say anything to anyone, but you can stop lying to me. And yourself."

"Seriously? How could you say that to me? She is my daughter."



"In every sense of the word, sure. But I don't think you gave birth to her."

"I think...I'm going to start dinner." I said and moved past him. Ignoring his statement.



I put my hand on the wall in front of her and stopped her. "I think you should stop avoiding this conversation and just tell me the truth."

"Her birth mother died." I whispered.



I didn't say anything for a minute. "Out in the wilderness?"

"Yes. Abigail and I took turns caring for Daphne."



"What happened to her? Daphne's mom? And why did you lie about it? Even to me? All this time... you could've told me."

"She died in childbirth. I'm sorry that I've kept things from you but I had to keep her safe. I love her so much."



"I know. I do too. Which is why... I don't understand why you didn't feel like you could tell me. Did you think I'd tell or something?"

"At first I was. Then I think the lies just became...normal. Part of my everyday life and I honestly thought we'd never have this conversation. I feel like such an idiot."

"Don't feel like that. You're not an idiot. You're a wonderful mother. And I promise, I'll never tell a soul the truth about Daphne. It's nobody's business."

I nodded "Thank you." I said "I guess I've been a terrible wife, haven't I?" 

"No more than I've been a horrible husband," I said and smiled a little at her.

"You haven't been. I promise." I smiled. "But I have given you... certain things when you've needed it. Don't forget that." I teased.



I chuckled. "Oh believe me, I never do. I hope you don't forget what certain things I've given you too," I said with a smirk.

"I'm aware." I said "listen, I know my future is with you. Under the circumstances I know I'll never be with Jon or Carter again. I've known that for awhile."



I sighed a little. "So does that mean you might be willing... to try to give me a chance? Or what?"

"Yes. If you're willing to forgive me, that is."



"Why wouldn't I?"

"You were pretty upset when I got here."

"Yes I was. Because you'd been hiding it from me. But we talked about it, you explained everything, and I'm not angry anymore."