Not sure if this should be posted here or in the Sandbox, so my apologies if I'm putting this question in the wrong place.... 
To set the stage: I have a 14 yr. old main character named Kacey in my YA “realistic fiction” WIP that has been physically and verbally (but NOT sexually) abused by her alcoholic father since she was born. (He was abused by his own alcoholic father in much the same way during his entire childhood, too.) Dad loves his wife and 6 yr. old twin daughters deeply, and he’s not abusive with them, it’s only ever Kacey that he takes things out on.
I’m 14 chapters into the novel, and I don’t use an outline, but I have a fairly clear idea of where I want the story to go from here. Anyway, I have it in mind that the reason why he’s only been abusive toward her is going to come out toward the end of the novel.
I think we’re going to find that Kacey’s mother actually had an affair and slept with another man (Dad’s oldest brother--Uncle Billy). I think it was a one-time thing -- she only slept with him that once.
Dad found out about the affair right after it happened, though he doesn’t know who she had the affair with -- either that or she just gave him some random guy’s name and didn’t tell him it was actually with his brother (who Dad has always been very close to). Mom got pregnant as a result of that affair. Kacey isn’t his daughter (though Mom never told Uncle Billy that Kacey was his daughter, either. Uncle Billy has no idea that Kacey isn’t Dad’s. And Kacey also has no idea that Dad isn't her real father.
The only two that know about it are Mom and Dad....).
Dad was devastated by all of this, but he loves Mom and said he's forgiven her. But he has never actually forgiven her. And instead of punishing Mom for her mistake, he takes everything out on Kacey. Mom is loving with Kacey, yet she turns a blind eye to the years of abuse and pretends like it’s not happening (with a few exceptions here and there) because she feels so guilty and knows everything is all her fault. Plus Dad does it behind Mom's back a lot, usually when Mom isn't home, and for certain reasons Kacey hides the abuse from her mother -- from everyone.
Okay, so having said all that -- I need help. . . .
Why would Mom have an affair not long after they were married? And what’s a good way for Dad to find out about it. And then what would be a good reason for them to know the baby isn’t his? And THEN, what could happen at the end of the novel where all of this is finally revealed, and Kacey finds out the truth about everything.
I’m thinking maybe Mom and Uncle Billy loved each other, but she was already with Dad, and maybe after they were married he went out of town to a business conference for a week or something. One thing led to another and Mom and Uncle Billy ended up in bed.
Or maybe I should make it so Dad was out of town for more than a week -- like two or three months for job training or something? When he comes back, Mom is pregnant, and Dad’s been gone so long, there’s no way the baby’s his?
Does any of that sound plausible? Anyone have any ideas / input you feel like tossing my way?
To set the stage: I have a 14 yr. old main character named Kacey in my YA “realistic fiction” WIP that has been physically and verbally (but NOT sexually) abused by her alcoholic father since she was born. (He was abused by his own alcoholic father in much the same way during his entire childhood, too.) Dad loves his wife and 6 yr. old twin daughters deeply, and he’s not abusive with them, it’s only ever Kacey that he takes things out on.
I’m 14 chapters into the novel, and I don’t use an outline, but I have a fairly clear idea of where I want the story to go from here. Anyway, I have it in mind that the reason why he’s only been abusive toward her is going to come out toward the end of the novel.
I think we’re going to find that Kacey’s mother actually had an affair and slept with another man (Dad’s oldest brother--Uncle Billy). I think it was a one-time thing -- she only slept with him that once.
Dad found out about the affair right after it happened, though he doesn’t know who she had the affair with -- either that or she just gave him some random guy’s name and didn’t tell him it was actually with his brother (who Dad has always been very close to). Mom got pregnant as a result of that affair. Kacey isn’t his daughter (though Mom never told Uncle Billy that Kacey was his daughter, either. Uncle Billy has no idea that Kacey isn’t Dad’s. And Kacey also has no idea that Dad isn't her real father.
The only two that know about it are Mom and Dad....).
Dad was devastated by all of this, but he loves Mom and said he's forgiven her. But he has never actually forgiven her. And instead of punishing Mom for her mistake, he takes everything out on Kacey. Mom is loving with Kacey, yet she turns a blind eye to the years of abuse and pretends like it’s not happening (with a few exceptions here and there) because she feels so guilty and knows everything is all her fault. Plus Dad does it behind Mom's back a lot, usually when Mom isn't home, and for certain reasons Kacey hides the abuse from her mother -- from everyone.
Okay, so having said all that -- I need help. . . .
Why would Mom have an affair not long after they were married? And what’s a good way for Dad to find out about it. And then what would be a good reason for them to know the baby isn’t his? And THEN, what could happen at the end of the novel where all of this is finally revealed, and Kacey finds out the truth about everything.
I’m thinking maybe Mom and Uncle Billy loved each other, but she was already with Dad, and maybe after they were married he went out of town to a business conference for a week or something. One thing led to another and Mom and Uncle Billy ended up in bed.
Or maybe I should make it so Dad was out of town for more than a week -- like two or three months for job training or something? When he comes back, Mom is pregnant, and Dad’s been gone so long, there’s no way the baby’s his?
Does any of that sound plausible? Anyone have any ideas / input you feel like tossing my way?
