An Unforeseen Turn of Events

Chapter Fifty-Three

Tim and Trudy remained at the kitchen table and sat in silence. Normally, Trudy would clean up dirty pots left in the sink, but dirty pots couldn't have been further from her mind. Tim sat staring at the table, not even attempting to talk. He occasionally glanced at the photo but found it too painful to let his eyes linger on it for too long. It was so unlike them—they always were able to discuss everything.

Was I too hard on Mom? Trudy wondered. It wasn't right for her to keep this from us. We have a living, breathing, extremely wealthy father and she didn't even let us know. Or even let him know. Did she actually think she was making the right decision? How could she do this to us? And even keep it from Dad?

Trudy glanced at her brother, who was wiping away an imaginary stain on the table with his thumb. He still didn't look up; she had never seen him so absorbed in his own thoughts. It dawned on her that she really didn't know her mother. What she went through when she was younger had made her a complex, guarded person when it came to anything about her private life. She would talk about models and business but as soon as she was questioned about her earlier life, she clammed up. Trudy had never thought too much about this because she always knew her earlier life was a subject she never discussed. But now that they all know about Ryan Monti, where does that leave them?

Ryan probably cheated on Mom. She knew her ever loyal mother would never forgive that—she doesn't even chuckle when I tease her about the retired engineer with the big front garden always gaping at her whenever he sees her! Whenever I brought home a boyfriend, Mom would give him the third degree. She hasn't exactly helped my social life or Tim's. She acts like such an old fogey about that stuff.

Her mind wandered back to earlier that day when she met her biological father at the ice cream store. She was bursting with smiles and couldn't wait to tell her family, but when she arrived home, her father looked so weak and frail, that the joy of the incident vanished from her mind. She wondered what Ryan Monti was doing in town. She figured he must be preparing for a movie role. She thought briefly that maybe he was looking for her and Tim but dismissed that thought.

That wouldn't be likely. It was just a coincidence. He doesn't even know we exist, but Tim saw a stranger at basketball practice. Did he actually want to see us?

"Trudy?" Tim said, interrupting her thoughts.

His eyes were downcast and his expression pained. "How did you find out? How did all this come about?"

Trudy wiggled around in her chair. "I overheard Mom telling Dad. He didn't know either."

Tim met his sister's eyes for a moment but turned away, saying nothing more.

Trudy put her hand under her chin and shifted her position in her chair. "At least we know now our father is not an ax murderer or some other totally despicable character." Her chuckle was hollow.

"I wonder what would happen if he found out about us?" Tim wondered out loud. "Would he want to meet us or would he just want to forget about us?"

"But you saw a stranger studying you at basketball practice. Could that have been him?"

"I honestly don't know, but I'm worried the effect this is going to have on Dad. He doesn't need any disturbing news while he's fighting this damned sickness," Tim said, slamming his fist on the table.

"I don't know," Trudy confessed, shrugging her shoulders. "All I know is with Dad so sick, we could sure use some help now. Who knows? He could be a good-for-nothing and not want to know about us. At least we're lucky to have Dad."

Tim didn't answer. He was tracing imaginary circles on the table.

Trudy felt like saying now that they know who their father is, nothing will ever be quite the same again, but seeing her brother so quiet and uncharacteristically introspective, she kept those thoughts to herself.