Everyone has secrets, even the “honorable” citizens of Magdalena, and thanks to a very persuasive individual, those secrets are now in my possession. I am still surprised at how easy it was to obtain this “not to be repeated” information.
Lester Conroy has true talent, but perhaps it is more about his ability to instill trust that has gained him access to these secrets. He did exhibit a bit of remorse when he delivered these last reports and did not stay to share a drink as he’s done since our first meeting. Letting one’s conscience get in the way of doing a job is never a good sign. This bears thinking upon as it could be a sign of Lester’s faltering allegiance. We’ve never talked much about his “source” other than that it’s someone who has been born and raised in Magdalena and is as much a part of the town as the soil and the trees. Such a long-standing citizen would be privy to all manner of information and a man like Lester knows how to create an environment conducive to sharing. But if Lester Conroy has grown a conscience, I have other sources in mind who will be invaluable in exposing the ugly truth.
It appears there are secrets that have been buried for decades, one or two, a quarter of a century. I say, resurrect them now and place them alongside my grievous offenses. Then let’s see if the beloved Magdalena rallies to save its own.
The town views Nathan Desantro as a pillar of integrity and strength, a man who will do anything to protect his family, but what about the family he had before he married my daughter? I’m talking about his wife, Patrice and the unborn child they might have shared. When Patrice left Magdalena, she was pregnant with his child. While she miscarried weeks later, the question that should be asked is, “Did Nathan Desantro know his wife was pregnant with their child when she left town?” If he knew, why didn’t he try to stop her, or better, go after her? He does not seem the type of man to let anything get in the way of what he wants. And if he never knew, well, that is yet one more, sad testament to a bad marriage. I don’t really know what to think about a relationship like that. I will say I’m not thrilled my daughter is married to a man who might not be able to detect a relationship problem.
So, what is the TRUTH? Imagine Nathan Desantro’s life if a child had forced them to stay together—whether the child lived or not. Would duty have kept them together? I have no idea, but one thing I do know is that Christine would NOT be in Magdalena and I might still have a daughter who talked to me. I wonder what Christine will think when she learns about the pregnancy her husband might or might not have known about. He could tell her anything, but the question my dear daughter must ask herself is this: Is it the truth?
