"Rebs, what is this about?" Tito asked.
"Yeah, you called us in from out of town and everything. I was in London." said Mike. Rebbie stood in front of her siblings.
"Guys, I'm worried about Mother."
"What's wrong?" asked Jermaine.
"Is she okay?" asked LaToya.
"Did something else happen?" asked Tito. Rebbie sighed.
"Well, I think something happened that we don't know about." Janet felt a lump in her throat.
"What do you mean?" asked Mike.
"I mean, last week, I came into the house one morning and I went around looking for her and she was downstairs in one of the basement closets. She said she was looking for something, but I swore I heard her talking and everyday since then, everytime I come over, she's coming from the basement."
"So what are you thinking? You think she's talking to someone else?" asked LaToya.
"Like cheating?" asked Tito.
"No way. Mother would never. Her and dad have such a great marriage." said Marlon.
"I don't think she's cheating, but there's definitely something wrong." said Rebbie. Janet stayed quiet.
"She has been acting weird lately." said Randy.
"Of course she has. Gabby was kidnapped after they were in a car accident." said Tito.
"No, even before that. Like almost since Gabby's got here, she's been.....different." said LaToya. "Like I swear I've caught her crying a lot of times and she always said she was fine."
"She also blames herself for the whole thing happening to Gabby." said Rebbie.
"So it's about Gabby?" asked Mike. "That doesn't make sense. She loves her."
"I think it's deeper. Maybe Gabby just.....enhances what she's already feeling."
"Like what?"
"I don't know, but whatever it is, it had to happen before we were born or when we were too little to remember." Janet felt her chest tighten. She didn't want to reveal the secret her mother told her, but she also couldn't let her siblings stress themselves out worrying about their mother.
"Janet, are you listening?" Janet looked around.
"Ye..yeah." Mike looked at her.
"Why are you so quiet?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, you live with mother. Have you and Toni noticed any weird behavior or know anything?" Janet sighed and looked down.
"Dunk?" She looked at her siblings.
"Guys, I think we should just wait until mother wants to talk. All of this......speculating is only going to make you guys crazy." LaToya leaned forward.
"What do you know?"
"Huh?"
"You know something."
"No, I don't." Janet looked away.
"Yes, you do or else you'd be just as concerned as we are." Janet rubbed her face.
"Why can't we just give her space until she's ready."
"But you know she's not going to do that. Mother isn't going to talk unless someone makes her." said Jackie.
"So what do you know?" asked LaToya. Janet closed her eyes and held her head back.
