Lindsey and Aria are playing at the house before his show tonight. I desperately need to speak to my mother. I love my family more than anything and I'm in physical pain without them. I will be going back to California soon and I can't leave without saying goodbye.
"Mommy!" I say as she opens the door to the big house.
"TeeDee! You didn't have to knock, baby girl. Just come in" She shows me inside and she looks at me, studying me. Why does everyone do that?
"I have so much to tell you"
"Would you like some tea?" She asks. "Then we can come in here and talk. Make yourself comfortable, sweet girl" She goes to the kitchen and I follow her, just wanting to be around her. For the past year, almost, I have been with her everyday. It hurts that I will be leaving and will only see her when she comes to town. "So what do you need to tell me?" She asks, putting my cup of tea down in front of me.
"Mama, I'm pregnant again" I say and wait for a reaction.
"I know, my dear. Congratulations!" she tells me and I'm dumb founded.
"You know? Oh, you're just like Aunt Carmel!" I say, irritated that I can rarely share anything with this family on either side.
My mother laughs. "Baby, you're just different when you're pregnant. That's all I can say. It's beautiful to see, trust me. You will be that way too when your little girls have children"
I nod then let it sink in "Stop doing that!" I say, laughing now.
"I'm sorry, I'll stop" She smiles into her tea cup.
"I love you. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with me. There is something else I have to say and it's killing me" I feel the tears welling up, knowing what I'm going to say and she puts down her cup to hug me very close to her.
"What's wrong, honey?"
"We're going back up the mountain in a little while"
"You and Aria?"
"Lindsey, Me, Aria..."
"So you've worked things out? Are you okay?"
"I won't get into everything right now but Kristen faked the results to get to his money and who he is. The father of her child is the one she told Lindsey was her brother. He was taken for one heck of a ride." I say, both sad and angry. "He loves him, he takes care of him...that little boy means so much to him and it's all been a lie"
"Oh, TeeDee! I'm sorry this has happened. Perhaps the good that can come out of this is you will move on and get to be a family again"
"That's why we're going back home. I will miss you and daddy so much! I can't believe I won't see you everyday anymore"
"It will be hard, but at least I will know you are happy. We have the house up there so we will be visiting, especially when my grand baby is born. We don't have to be strangers"
"I miss it there but I don't want to leave!" I wail.
"Be with your husband, sweet girl. Do you feel like you're making the wrong choice by going back?"
"I don't know. That's our home and it feels good but then there is something about going back feels negative. It gives me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. Something's wrong"
"Tell Lindsey. Maybe he can do something. You two should make decisions together"
"I will. I love you mommy. Im going to miss you so much"
"Calm down, honey. I'm not going away. You can still call"
"At least I will hear your voice."
"Finish your tea. Dad will be home soon and we can share your good news with him"
"He's going to be upset about Lindsey"
"Tell him what has happened since then. He might still be upset but you know he loves you and he's just looking out for you. He doesn't want you to get hurt."
I stay for a while longer and my father comes home and to my surprise my brother is here.
"What are you doing here?" I ask Chris.
"Well nice to see you too, Sis"
"Shut up and hug me" I embrace him and he rubs my back.
"So what's up?" Chris asks.
"Uh, we will be going back home soon. Lindsey and I have decided to reconcile"
"What made you do that, baby girl?" My father asks.
"A lot of things have happened, daddy. It's a very long and confusing story but the woman who said Lindsey fathered her son was lying. She had the results fixed to get to his money and she just wanted to be with a celebrity. She told me herself. I came to Lindsey with the information and he ended up believing me. It all began to make sense to him."
"I don't like to talk about people at all, especially ones I don't know but she sounds like a real piece of work"
"Yeah, you're telling me" I reply
"He lied to you, Steves. Aren't you mad?" Chris asks.
"I was very angry, very hurt...but we have so much history, we have a beautiful family. Kristen tried to destroy us and I won't let her win"
"As long as you're happy." My father says with a warm smile.
"There's something else too and it has really brought us together"
"Oh?" Daddy asks.
"I'm pregnant" I tell him, smiling from ear to ear.
"Congratulations! Another grand baby!" He says, hugging me tightly. "You're a great mother to Aria, I expect the very same with another"
"Thank you, daddy"
"But how?" Chris asks. "Aren't you like...menopausal?"
"Enough, Christopher. That's very rude" My mother said, coming to my rescue. "Apologize to your sister"
"Are you sure?" Chris pushed forward in this questioning. "I mean, you're really...?"
"Yes, I'm sure. I've seen the baby myself. I'm just over 3 months pregnant. Don't you think I'd know?"
"And you're going to keep it?" His words cut me like a knife and I started to cry.
"I was excited to see you but now I have no idea why!"
"Christopher that's not nice. She shared some very personal and happy news with us and you have said such awful things. She loves you, she always protected you and done right by you"
"Don't worry, daddy. He was mean to me when I told everyone I was pregnant the first time. I don't know why I expected any different. I kind of understood it, because last time you and Lori were having trouble but you reconciled and had Sam. Why aren't I allowed to be happy but you are?" I'm ranting now and I'm in so much emotional pain. "I have to get out of here. I can't breathe" I push past him to get out through the closest door and stand on the porch.
"Don't! Wait, I'm sorry, okay? I'm just shocked" Chris says, following after me.
"I can't do this right now. Tell Mommy and Daddy I love them but I've got to pack up"
"Don't leave like this, Stevie"
"You can be so cruel sometimes. I love you but I need space. See you in NorCal" He tries to touch me but I move away, getting into the car that was waiting for me.
