Orchards and Moonlight - a Mialotte story (TNN)

Carly's truth

Carly's hands were shaking as she held the letter. The realization set deep within her. How did she not see it? How could she not know? Why? Why did Marjorie give her up? Why did she never tell her? Why? 

Carly waited until dinner was over and the dishes were cleared before she approached her parents. Her heart pounded in her chest as she sat down at the table, the letter from the attic clutched tightly in her hand. Her parents, noticing her serious expression, exchanged a concerned glance.

"Mom, Dad, I found something today," Carly began, her voice trembling slightly. She placed the letter on the table between them.

"I need to know the truth."

Her parents' faces paled as they recognized the handwriting on the envelope. Her mother reached for her husband's hand, her eyes filling with tears. Her father let out a deep sigh, his shoulders slumping as if the weight of the world had just come crashing down on him.

"Carly, we've always wanted to tell you," her father started, his voice heavy with regret.

"But we didn't know how. We didn't want to hurt you." Carly's eyes narrowed, a mix of confusion and frustration boiling inside her. 

"So, it's true? Marjorie... she's my biological mother?" Her mother nodded slowly, tears now streaming down her cheeks.

"Yes, honey, she is. Marjorie was very young when she had you. She wasn't in a position to raise a child, but she loved you so much that she wanted to make sure you had the best life possible. We were close friends with her, and when she asked us to adopt you, we couldn't say no. We loved you from the moment we held you." Carly's mind raced, struggling to absorb the information.

"Why didn't you ever tell me? Why did you let me grow up without knowing the truth?" Her father looked at her with deep sorrow in his eyes.

"We thought it would be easier if you grew up believing you were ours. We didn't want you to feel different or unloved. But now, looking at you, I see that we were wrong. You deserved to know." Carly's emotions churned inside her—anger, betrayal, confusion, and an overwhelming sadness. But beneath it all, there was a thread of understanding. Her parents had made a choice they thought was best for her, even if it wasn't the right one. She could see the pain in their eyes, the guilt they had carried all these years.

"And Marjorie," Carly asked, her voice softening,

"Why didn't she ever say anything?" Her mother wiped her tears, trying to regain some composure.

"Marjorie never wanted to interfere. She wanted to be in your life, to see you grow up, but she respected our decision to raise you as our own. It was the hardest thing she ever did, but she thought it was best for you. She's always loved you, Carly, more than you can imagine." Carly sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the revelation pressing down on her. She looked at her parents, seeing them in a new light—not just as the people who had raised her, but as two flawed humans who had tried to navigate an impossible situation.

"I need time to process this," Carly finally said, her voice trembling.

"But I do want to talk to Marjorie. I need to hear her side." Her parents nodded, understanding the enormity of the moment.

"Take all the time you need, sweetheart," her father said gently.

"We're here for you, no matter what." As Carly stood up to leave, she felt a strange mix of emotions—loss, but also a new sense of identity. She knew this was only the beginning of a long journey, but she was ready to face it, to uncover the truth about where she came from and who she really was.

"Can one of you please take me to her place?" she wanted to do this now. She couldn't wait.

Carly's hands trembled as she stood outside Marjorie's front door. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears, each beat echoing the uncertainty swirling in her mind. She had replayed this moment over and over since her confrontation with her parents, but nothing could have prepared her for the reality of it. 

Taking a deep breath, she raised her hand and knocked. It wasn't long before the door opened, and there stood Reece. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw her, his usual laid-back demeanour faltering for a split second.

"Carly? What are you doing here?"

"I need to talk to Marjorie," Carly said, her voice more steady than she felt.

"Is she home?" Reece's expression softened as he seemed to realize what this visit was about.

"Yeah, she's here. Come on in." He led her inside and called out for Marjorie. Carly noticed the familiar warmth of the house—the scent of freshly brewed coffee, the cosy clutter of books and knick-knacks, and the faint sound of a radio playing softly in the background. It was a place she had visited countless times, but now everything felt different, charged with a new, overwhelming significance.

Marjorie appeared in the doorway of the living room, her face lighting up with her usual welcoming smile. But as she took in Carly's tense posture and the look in her eyes, the smile faded, replaced by a mixture of concern and dread.

"Carly, what's wrong?" Marjorie asked, her voice tinged with worry. Carly took a deep breath, clutching the letter she had found in the attic. She stepped forward, her eyes locking onto Marjorie's.

"I know," she said, her voice trembling.

"I know you're my biological mother." The words hung in the air, heavy and charged. Marjorie's face drained of colour, and her eyes filled with tears. For a moment, it seemed like time had stopped, the world around them frozen in the weight of the revelation.

"Oh, Carly," Marjorie whispered, her voice breaking. She took a step closer but then hesitated, unsure of how Carly would react.

"I never wanted you to find out this way." Carly held out the letter, her hands shaking. 

"I found this in the attic. My parents... they told me everything."Marjorie looked at the letter, recognizing it immediately. Tears spilt down her cheeks as she reached out, her fingers brushing against Carly's.

"I've loved you every single day of your life," she said, her voice choked with emotion.

"Giving you up was the hardest thing I've ever done. But I knew... I knew I couldn't give you the life you deserved. Your parents—your mom and dad—they could."

Reece, standing off to the side, watched the exchange with a solemn expression. He knew this day would come eventually, but seeing it unfold was more painful than he had imagined. Carly's emotions were a whirlwind—anger, confusion, sorrow, but also a deep, aching understanding.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, her voice breaking.

"All these years, you were right there... Why didn't you tell me the truth?" Marjorie took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.

"Because I didn't want to confuse you, Carly. You were so happy with your parents, so loved. I didn't want to take that away from you. I wanted to be in your life, to watch you grow, but I didn't want to burden you with the truth. It was selfish, I know. I thought I was protecting you, but maybe I was just protecting myself."

Carly's eyes filled with tears as she listened to Marjorie's words. She could see the pain in her eyes, the years of longing and regret. Despite everything, Carly couldn't help but feel a deep connection to the woman standing before her—the woman who had given her life and then, out of love, had let her go.

"I don't know how to feel," Carly admitted her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm angry and hurt, and confused. But I also... I also understand why you did it." Marjorie reached out, this time taking Carly's hand in hers.

"I've always wanted what's best for you, Carly. I never stopped loving you, not for a single moment. But I understand if you need time... if you need space. I'm here for you, whenever you're ready."

Reece stepped forward then, placing a comforting hand on Carly's shoulder. "You're family, Carly. No matter what, you're family. We're here for you."

Carly looked between Marjorie and Reece, feeling a sense of both loss and gain. She had lost the simple, untroubled life she had known, but she had gained something too—an understanding of who she really was, and the love of a mother who had never stopped caring.

"I need time," Carly finally said, her voice raw with emotion.

"But I want to know the full story one day, Marjorie. I want to understand." Marjorie nodded, her eyes shining with hope through the tears.

"Take all the time you need, sweetheart. I'll be here, waiting."

As Carly left the house, she felt the weight of the world on her shoulders, but also a strange sense of relief. The truth was out, and while it hurt, it also opened the door to healing, to rebuilding relationships that had been hidden in the shadows for too long.