Listen To Your Heart ~ Book One.

A talk with Claudia part 1

"You can't tell him now, Billie. We both got that meeting to attend...and you need to start your therapy."

"None of that shit is going to matter, if David refuses to father the baby, Finneas!"

"Want me to talk to him for you, Billie? Try to see how he feels before the two of you talk?"

"Oh...that's real fuckin' smooth, Claudia!"

"What's that supposed to mean? I'm just trying to help!"

"You're just using that as an excuse to see David, so the two of you can fuck some more!"

"Look who's talking! You're the one carrying your brother's baby!"

"That's enough from both of you. Billie...we really need to have that meeting with management...but first we should tell Mom and Dad about the baby."

"You're right...you're right. I'm sorry, Claudia."

"Hey...we're like sisters. No apology necessary."

(Billie and her brother leave to go over to their parents' house. Claudia leaves shortly afterward. Meanwhile, at Valerie Bertinelli's house. David's cell phone chimes. He brings up the text message and begins reading it. He leans against the wall with his head down, muttering a curse. Valerie walks into the living room.)

"Hey...are you okay? What's wrong?"

"Got the results back from my D.N.A. test. The baby...isn't mine."

"But you and Billie announced that you were the father."

"I know...and both of us really believed I was...you know. We were both on cloud nine, so happy together."

"If you're not the father...who is?"

"I don't know. Maybe Billie will be able to tell me when we talk later."

"I am sorry, David."

"Yea...me too. I was really looking forward to giving the kid a few piggyback rides...you know?"

(I begin walking away.)

"What are you going to do now?"

"I don't know. You still got that workout gym of yours set up?"

"Yes...up those stairs there and thru the wooden doors."

"Thanks."(Valerie watches me as I leave. She shakes her head. She had been praying that things would work out for Billie and me...and now this?)

(David goes into the gym area. He walks over to a heavy bag and begins punching it. Lightly at first, then his punches get harder and harder as his anger and frustration builds. Claudia enters the gym, after Valerie had told her where I was. She stops and watches me pound the bag, then I sink to my knees. Claudia sits on the floor facing me. I raise my head, and our eyes briefly meet.)

"If you came to tell me Billie's baby isn't mine, I already know. I just got a text containing the results of my test a while ago."

"I'm sorry. I mean that. I really wanted the best for you and Billie."

"Do you know who the father is?"

"Yes...but I think its best that Billie be the one to tell you, not me. This is between the two of you."

"It's her brother's...isn't it?"(I mumble.)

"David..."

"Figures. It's a shame in a way...you know? I already had a cute name picked out if it's a girl."

"What name?"

"Angelique."

"That's a pretty name."

"Yea. It's from a character in this old soap opera called Dark Shadows. She was a witch in love with a vampire."

"Any boy names?"

"I kind of like the name Joshua...but I guess it doesn't matter now."

(Claudia moves next to me.)