Sidney recapped things for viewers just tuning in, also introducing Dale, who was brooding on the other end of the sofa.
“So Dale. “Sidney leaned in, just like she had with Tyler, using that same, kind, soft voice that meant, tell me everything, I’m your friend. “How do you feel about everything you’ve heard so far.”
“It’s bullshit,” he snapped. “This man is a liar and a coward. I don’t like him, I never have, and I’ve spent most of my life trying not to be like him. I’m ashamed that he’s my father. I wish he wasn’t. But wishing doesn’t make things true.”
I knew, somewhere, Greg Richer was having a heart attack. He’d set this whole thing up, I was sure of it, to clear Dale’s name and dissociate him from Tyler as much as possible. This was television—they could make everyone believe a lie. It was easy.
“How do you know, Dale?” Sidney Clare asked gently.
“What?” Dale glared at her. “How do I know he’s my father? My mother told me so. She told me everything. The affair started before me and my sister were even born.”
“Your sister?” Sidney Clare prompted. I glanced at the screen overhead and sure enough, the camera was on Chrissy. They planned it all.
And now Dale was ruining all their plans, simply because he couldn’t stand by and watch Tyler sitting up there and telling more lies, denying everything Dale knew to be true. If Dale had just kept his mouth shut and gone along with it, the world would have believed Tyler Vincent. He was a consummate actor, a master manipulator.
I could hear Greg in my head. What are you doing, Dale? What the hell are you doing?
But there was no way to stop him. Dale was going to tell the truth and force Tyler to tell it too. Finally, a lifetime of secrets would be over. I knew he was putting his career in jeopardy. I knew he was risking the tide of public opinion turning against him, seeing him as a young moocher, trying to take the shortcut to become some sort of rock star. I knew, if the execs at MTV got wind of it and decided to take back Black Diamond’s win at the Battle of the Bands two years ago, it would mar Dale’s career as a musician for the rest of his life. The consequences of telling the truth now were huge.
And I couldn’t have been more proud of him for walking out there and doing it.
“So tell me again, how do you know this man’s your father?”
“My mother,” Dale said simply. “She told me herself. She even left my father for him.”
“Dale, listen to me.” Sidney Clare leaned forward. “I understand that’s the truth you’ve lived with. But what if what Tyler says is true?”
“It isn’t.” Dale shook his head, adamant. “My dad—John Diamond—he’s the best man I know. If I could a pick a father out of all the men I’ve known in my life, it would be John Diamond. I’m proud to have his name. And I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to be raised by him.”
I felt my eyes stinging with tears. The camera showed John, eyes glistening. Next to him, Debra took his hand. Chrissy was on his other side, tears sliding down her face as she leaned her cheek against his shoulder.
“But the truth is, John can’t have kids.” Dale sighed. “My parents had problems having kids early in their marriage. They had all the usual tests. My dad has a low sperm count.”
The audience gasped. I blinked in surprise, looking from the Dale on stage to the Dale on screen. He’d never told me that. No wonder he was so sure that Tyler was his real father?
“My mother showed me the lab results when I didn’t want to believe her—when she told me Tyler was my father,” Dale said. “She never told my dad—John. Damn it, he’s my dad. He’s the man I’ve called dad all my life and I’m not going to stop now.”
“Of course not,” Sidney Clare soothed.
I wanted to run out there on stage and put my arms around him. He was so brave.
“So John, the man who raised you—he didn’t know any of this?” she prompted.
“My mother didn’t want him to know about Tyler,” Dale said. “And neither did I. When I found out my younger sister knew, I swore her to secrecy. When they divorced, I thought it would finally come out, but it didn’t. No one talked about it.”
“So you were protecting John?” Sidney asked.
“Yeah.” He looked out into the audience, finding his dad, their eyes locked. “That’s what you do for people you love.”
Now I was really crying, tears just streaming down my face.
“You’re right, son.” Tyler put a hand on Dale’s shoulder. “That’s exactly what people do when they love someone. No one likes to watch someone they love in pain.”
Tyler calling Dale “son.” I felt a lump rising in my throat. Was he saying that he was there, trying to protect Dale?
“Your father loves you.” Tyler pointed out into the audience.
The camera zoomed in on John. He looked so different without the beard and all his long hair! I wouldn’t have recognized him. I frowned, something clenching in my belly as I looked at his face filling the screen. I had a moment of déjà vu or more like a sudden flash of memory or recognition.