Blurred Lines

Chapter 37 - Lullaby

March 1, 1993

Isabella & John Black Loft

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They didn't have you where I come from

Never knew the best was yet to come

Life began when I saw your face

And I hear your laugh like a serenade

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Brady opened his mouth wide, his little hands shook with the excitement of a ten month old child desperate for food. John attempted to get another spoonful of pureed chicken noodle into his son. He couldn't help but laugh loudly as Brady quickly turned towards the sound of the telephone, smearing his food across his cheek. "Look at this mess, little man!" Wiping his son's face, John tossed a tea towel over his shoulder, muttering, "Yeah, yeah... I'm coming. I'm coming."

John lifted the telephone receiver, balancing it between his ear and his shoulder, while walking back over to Brady. Brady was very obviously working himself up to a loud wail. "I'm coming, slugger." He pushed the spoon back into the little boy's mouth with a sigh, finally saying into the telephone, "Hello?"

"Hello," came a soft feminine voice. "My name is Julia Wainwright. I am trying to reach John Black."

John used the spoon in his hand to get excess food off of Brady's chin, and replied, "This is him."

Julia "I am the lawyer representing the estate of Danielle Tremaine, and I was hoping to meet with you in regards to her bequeathment–"

Shock. Complete and utter shock. He stopped moving, and Brady started screaming. "What?"

"I'm sorry," Julia said quickly. "I thought you knew. Danielle passed away a few days ago from pancreatic cancer. She's left the bulk of her estate to you. I need to meet with you in regards to that."

His mind was still grappling with the pain that was lancing his chest. Tears streamed down John's face as he remembered the last time he saw Danielle. She'd smiled at him as she ducked out of the window to evade the police. She'd attempted to reach out to him months later. She'd written him a letter saying she was ill. John took a shuddering breath. She was gone, and he'd told her to stay away. Guilt wracked him.

Isabella came down the stairs, carrying Brady's diaper bag, completely oblivious to John's predicament. "I've packed his bag with everything he'll need," she said loudly. "I know it's just a few hours at the pub, but I wanted to make sure he had all of his favorites." She glanced towards John when he didn't respond, and she was taken aback by the tears rolling over his cheeks. Brady continued to wail. She set the bag down, and reached for Brady's jar of baby food, and resumed feeding him.

"Cancer?" he asked softly. "Did she know she was sick?"

Julia hadn't expected that John would be caught so unaware. From the way Danielle spoke about him, she'd thought he knew about her illness. "She knew she was sick, but she... she refused treatment."

"Why would she do that?" John wiped the tears from his face, but they continued to fall.

"I was hoping that we could meet this afternoon to discuss her will, as well as her estate," Julia said. "I can answer all of your questions then."

His heart was breaking, and he barely understood why. John felt that there was a deeper part of him, the part that housed the memories he couldn't recall, and it was mourning. It was mourning hard. "What time?"