Dirty Laundry

Chapter 24: Let it Flow

Toni
I stood by the stairs with my suitcases in hand. I looked around at the place I've began to call 'home' but it was time to go home, my real home.

I felt the tears pierce my teary eyes, I took my first step and walked towards the door. I placed my hand around the doorknob and turned it open, I slowly pushed the front door open.

But Will's voice stopped me in my tracks. "Where you going Toni?" He asked.

I turned to face him as he stood above the staircase.

"Home--"

"But this is your home."

I shook my head at his words, "no it's not, it's your home. There's not a dime in this place that belongs to me." I said sadly.

He sighed, "and your leaving so soon?" He asked again.

"Yes. I have no reason to be here anymore... My grandpa's gone, our relationship. Was fireworks, you made me feel things no other man has ever made me feel, and something way more..." I trailed off.

He came downstairs and walked towards me, he was so close to me, he breathed down on me, and I felt like losing it right then and there. I didn't even realize that I was crying, he reached up and wiped away my tears, caressing my cheek. I closed my eyes and inhaled his strong manly scent.

"I guess I can't stop you then." He said barely above a whisper, "I'll mail you the divorce papers." He said.

My heart almost popped out my chest, "I didn't want things to end like this Will--" he cut me off with a simple kiss to my lips.

He pulled back and pecked my lips again.

"Be safe baby girl."

*********************

Will
I'm probably the stupidest man in the world for letting Toni leave just like that. I drank a glass of Hennessy and relaxed back just staring at how the water was flowing.

Dylan came walking out on the deck and sat beside me, he looked over at me and held up a pamphlet. I looked at him crazy and took it from him.

"It's true." He said.

"What?" I scrunched my face up, I began to scan threw the paper.

"She's my daughter."

I looked up at him, "who?" I asked again.

"Toni." He added.

"Are you kidding me?" I raised my voice at him. "You got a DNA test without my permission and behind her back?" I asked furiously.

"I'm sorry. It's just... Her grandmother Gladys is Michelle's mother, and because Michelle had told me a few days after we started dating that she was the only child, I figured... Toni had to be my daughter, she looks just like her mother." He said.

I looked up at the sky and back down at him. "She's really your daughter?" I asked again.

"99.9%." He added, nodding his head. "I need to tell her, but she'll probably hate me. Her grandmother probably told her all those mean nasty lies about me--"

"Listen, she will love to hear this."

"Okay. Where is she?"

I looked away and sipped on my Hennessy, I lost a great woman, one that I actually fell in love with. Should I go find her?

"Where is she?" He asked again, looking down at me.

I looked at him, "she's where she belongs--"

He scrunched his eyebrows up at me.

"What?" He asked, clearing his throat.

I swallowed my saliva and looked at the water. "She's gone home." I said again.

"What?" He raised his voice.

"She left Dylan! She's gone! She left because she has no reason to be here anymore! She's gone!" I yelled out in frustration.

"Goddammit shes fucking gone!" I yelled, smashing my glass of Hennessy onto the floor.

I got up and walked away.