priorities-2

17

The standard funeral does no justice for our friend. It's like we were all goingthrough the motions but that's it. The sky is dark, but there's no thunder or lightening.Am I the only one angry at her, for giving-up? She could have come to any of us forhelp, we would have tried. Now I've lost Holly, my life will never be the same, I won'tlet that go. It's time to fight fire with fire.The guests of the funeral are invited to Will's house. Leonardo's here but he didn'tcome with Sheila. he's standing with John and Jake, "Can I have a word?" I pull himaside. 

"How are you doing?" He asks concerned."Not well," I say honestly. "Are you still with Sheila?" I ask. "In a year," I remindhim."No, we ended it, I guess I always imagined my life with her," he says referring toCarrie."She had a gorgeous baby girl named Holly, she told me that she cheated on Hunterwith you, and that it could be yours. The last time she saw her, she said Holly lookedlike you. I kept her because Carrie wasn't ready to be a mom. Will confiscated the childfrom me. I think Holly should be with her father, you."His eyes ignite. "I want to see her. How will I know?""Right now, it's just a hunch, it could also be Hunters, you don't know unless youtest her. I just think she should be with her biological dad over Will, who is a completestranger to Carrie until recently.""Does Hunter know?""I'm sure Slasher's told him, we kept it a secret from everyone, passed the baby offas mine.""You must miss her," he empathizes."You have no idea," I tell him."We'll work it out no matter who the baby belongs to."Leonardo and I approach Hunter who's standing next to Elliot, who I haven't spokento for obvious anger issues on my part, "Hunter, can we have a word."

Hunter follows Leonardo and I into an office, "I don't know if Elliot told you or not, but Carrie confessed to cheating on you with Leonardo, do you remember that?" Hunter's eyes are black cesspools of anger, "Go on." "She intentionally told you she cheated on Leonardo to get you angry, because she wanted to hide her pregnancy from you. She didn't want anyone to know. We passed the baby off as mine, allowing me complete guardianship." "One of us has to be the father," Leonardo finishes. Contempt is all over Hunters face, "Where's the baby?" "Holly is with Will," I inform him. "What are you instigating," Hunter accuses me. "A custody battle, Holly's biological father should care for Holly, whichever one of you that might be! I see Slasher standing outside the French doors to the office waiting in line to speak to me, "If you'll excuse me," I leave the room to talk to him. He takes my hand and guides me to the backyard, "I'm sorry about Carrie," he says to me. "I feel like I can't breathe, I lost Holly too. Will took her from me." "She wasn't yours," he points out wrapping his arms around me. "She might as well have been," I answer irritated. "Holly should be with her biological father." "Who is?" Slasher asks stroking my hair. "I don't know," I admit, "It might be Leonardo or it could be your brothers." "Are you coming back?" he asks referring to the tour. It's all he seems to care about right now. I get even more angry. "Of course," I tell him. Ted and I leave the funeral. Our sadness for her loss bonds us together, and we stay in the living room consoling each other. She was well loved, but Ted and I were her family. I feel like I failed her. I express these emotions to Ted and he says he feels the same way, "There should have been more clues that we could have picked up on. We were so stupid!" "The majority of your time was spent touring with Slasher, you can't read emotion through emails and text messages. Don't blame yourself." Ted insists, but I'm not completely blaming myself, I'm blaming carrie for not getting help or coming to usbefore it was too late.