Page 104 of What Comes Around

Today the Call Me Mommy podcast finally dropped their episode with Apple.

Knox was outside walking Titan, and I used the quiet to go to the bedroom and watch the whole damn thing. One hour of my life I was never getting back.

The host introduced herself with a bright, polished voice. “Hi everyone, I’m Marla, and welcome back to Call Me Mommy.”

The interview started with Apple promising to be honest. She said she had made mistakes, that she was ready to own up to them, but she also wanted to tell her side. That not everything was black and white. Then she said she had always struggled because she was the affair baby. That her whole life had been harder because of it. That she always felt less than.

I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt. “You lying bitch.”

She talked about how she found joy in playing the violin. How it gave her purpose.

The host asked about her achievements, and Apple launched into her Juilliard story, listing competitions, scholarships, accolades. Then she said she had to leave because of her mental health.

Marla cut in. “But you told your followers you wanted new opportunities. Growth. And there were rumors you poisoned someone before a concert.”

Apple gasped softly, all wounded innocence. “Those are cruel rumors. There is no truth to them. I don’t know why people make things like that up. And I didn’t want to burden my followers with my mental health struggles. I wanted to look strong. A survivor.”

Marla nodded sympathetically. “You’ve carried a lot of pain. Tell me about your survival story”

Apple lowered her gaze. “When I was eight, a serial killer kidnapped me from Walmart.”

The host gasped dramatically. “I’ve heard bits of that, but not the whole story. What happened?”

Apple launched into it. She said she had been in the store with her mother and me. That I had thrown a tantrum, and Mom had to deal with me, leaving Apple behind. She said she had been looking at a teddy bear she wanted so badly because she never got anything of her own. Because she was the affair baby.

My jaw tightened. Everything was twisted.

Marla interrupted. “Wait, do you and Ashley have the same mother?”

Apple shook her head. “No. Ashley’s mother is dead. Marissa is my mother. But Marissa felt so guilty for having an affair with Ashley’s father that she spent her whole life trying to make it up to Ashley.”

I let out a sharp, disbelieving laugh.

Marla nodded sympathetically. “I see. So what happened next, when you were looking at the bear?”

Apple said a man approached her and offered to buy it. That she was young and alone and followed him. She paused for dramatic effect.

Marla whispered, “And then? Only if you want to share.”

Apple stared into the distance. “He took me to a motel room and raped me.”

My breath caught. She had never told anyone what happened, but I always knew she had not been penetrated. Hearing her say it like this made my stomach twist.

Marla gasped. “And you were only eight?”

Apple nodded, wiping a tear. “Yes. I was with him for twelve hours before the police broke in and saved me.”

Marla murmured sympathy. Apple added that the man had kidnapped other girls before, and some had died. That she was the only one who survived.

I pressed a hand to my forehead. “This is insane. Nobody died.”

Marla said it must have shaped her life. Apple agreed. She said she had become an advocate for victims. That she wanted to use her platform for good.

Then Marla said softly, “You’ve had other tragic losses too.”

Apple sighed dramatically. “Yes. I have.”

Marla leaned forward. “You were very active online years ago when you were pregnant and later had a miscarriage. Can you talk about that?”