by Ewing, A. B.
Lori Parks had better have one damn good reason for coming to her house and KC would have a hell of a time explaining what she was doing here with that woman.
****
Chapter 18
Neela pulled the small vehicle to a stop outside her house. Her knuckles that gripped the steering were turning white from the sheer anger which was bubbling inside her.
Staring straight ahead she inhaled more deep breaths than she really needed.
That woman had some nerve showing up at her house like this. What made her think she was welcome here? Just because Caleb was stupid enough to fall for whatever sad story she had dished out to him, didn’t mean that Neela was going to roll over and play dead. Lori was on her turf now and she would show her just how crazy she could be. If that woman knew what was good for her, she better not even breath the same air Neela was breathing.
Sucking in one last lungful of air, she opened the door. Extending long shapely legs, she exited the car, slamming the door shut.
Strutting past Lori, she threw her a deadly look from behind her sunglasses before approaching KC.
Yanking the sunglasses of her eyes she confronted her sister-in-law.
“Can you please tell me why you brought that woman to my house?” Neela pointed to where Lori was standing but never took her eyes off KC.
Hate emanated from her like a literal hand, slapping Lori across her face. If Neela had been looking, she would have seen the woman flinch.
“Neela, I know you’re angry but…” KC attempted to explain but Neela didn’t want to hear it.
“Angry? Oh no, angry doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel. That woman deliberately set out to destroy my marriage and fool that I was I made her chase me away last time.”
Turning on Lori, Neela barked at her. “If you know what’s good for you, stay away from my husband. You got him to claim your child as his, well that’s all you’re going to get, because this time Ms. Lori Parks, I am here to stay.”
“Look Neela…” Did that woman actually just say her name?
Gritting her teeth, she cut her off her with a palm in the air. Glaring at KC, Neela said “KC, will you please get this woman out of my yard before I snap.”
KC moved towards Neela, clutching the hand she held in the air. Bringing it down to her side, she commanded her attention.
Calmly, the younger woman said to a fuming Neela. “Please, just please give her a chance, give us a chance to explain about Craig.”
Hearing KC utter the child’s name with such compassion in her voice, sent a blood chilling shudder through her body. Why would KC feel so deeply for that child?
Completely ignoring Lori, Neela focused on the emotions moving across the younger girls face.
There was sadness and pain evident in the blue pools that were so much like Caleb’s.
What was she missing here?
“I know you hate Lori but please just give us a chance to explain. I promise you will understand after we do.” KC pleaded, her eyes misting over with unshed tears.
Neela’s heart went out to the girl, her own eyes stinging. Breaking contact with her, she slowly pivoted to look at Lori. The woman was looking at KC, a tortured expression on her face. But it was the silent tears that poured freely from the woman’s troubled eyes that disturbed Neela.
Something was utterly wrong and as much as Neela hated to admit, the only way she may be able to get a straight answer might be by listening to what they had to say.
It was such a challenge to witness KC this way. This was not the carefree teenager she left years ago.
The person that stood before her was a young woman with so much pain etched into her face.
“Okay Kace! I’ll listen.” She offered the comforting words to the young woman. Rounding on Lori one more time she forewarned. “But get this straight. I am doing this for KC. Not because I want you around me or my family. If you think this little episode is going to win you any points in my eyes, think again.”
Lori, a hand pressing against her chest only nodded in response.
“Good!” Neela went to her car, took the keys out of the ignition and headed for the large double oak door that graced the front of the large cotemporary styled house.
Opening the door, she stepped aside, motioning for the two women to enter. Lori followed KC inside, the woman fumbling a little as she crossed the threshold. Neela couldn’t help but smile while silently wishing she had fallen flat on her face. Shaking her head to dispense of the evil thought she entered through the door swinging it shut behind her.
***
Lori Parks was a beautiful woman. Underneath the neatly applied make-up was a woman well deserving of attention from the male specimen.
Was it her beauty that had made Caleb gravitate towards her continuously? Would that beauty make him go to her again now that they shared a secret?
Giving herself a mental slap, she turned away from the woman that was sitting on the edge of the single seater, eyes down cast.
KC stood behind her, hand grasping the back of the chair, tension imprinted on her face.
“Alright so I said I’d listen. You need to start talking.” She addressed neither woman directly. The platform was open for whoever wanted to start.
KC broke the silence. “Craig isn’t Caleb’s son” Tell me something I don’t already know.
“I already know that. Caleb told me.” Neela calmly announced.
Lori’s head shot up, confusion contorting her face. “He did? What else did he tell you?”
Neela wanted to snap at her and the temptation to fling the heavy ornament from the centre table at her was strong.
Battling the violent urges she answered evenly. “Don’t worry Ms. Parks. He kept your dirty little secret. He didn’t tell me anything else.”
“Are you going to leave my brother again?” The direct question aimed at Neela came from KC.
That was a question she didn’t know how to answer. A couple of minutes ago, she was all pumped to give Caleb another chance but now sitting in here, not sure what was going to be said, she was feeling rather perplexed
Holding her head high she answered truthfully, “I don’t know what I am going to do. But I am considering staying.”
Neela was stunned at the look of relief that flittered across Lori’s face. That couldn’t be real, she must have imagined it. Why would Lori of all people want her to stay?
“Is there a point to your question KC?”
“Please don’t leave him.” KC pleaded.
“Kace…”
“No no please listen. You have to listen. If the only reason you won’t stay is because of Craig, you don’t have to worry.”
“It’s not that simple KC. It’s not just about the baby. It’s the fact that Caleb doesn’t trust me enough to tell me. He would rather keep a secret to protect her than to save his marriage.” Why was she explaining this to a teenager?
KC came around the chair from which she was standing to stand before Neela.
“He’s not protecting her Neela! He’s protecting me!”
KC’s words briefly stunned Neela but she recovered quickly enough to ask in disbelief.“Oh come on KC, why would Caleb be protecting you?”
“Because Craig isn’t Lori’s son. He’s mine!” Neela was grateful that she was standing close to a chair. When her feet gave way she sunk to the seat.
“Your son? I don’t understand? How could he be your son? Caleb would have told me you had a child.” Neela was desperately trying to make sense of what she was hearing.
Sinking to sit at Neela’s side KC shook her head. “No he wouldn’t.”
“But why? Why would you keep that a secret? I can’t believe your parents would allow that.”
“They didn’t, because they don’t know.” The revelation flew past KC’s lips.
“Your parents don’t know you have a child?” a confused Neela queried.
“Well my father doesn’t know but my mother does.”
“Helen knows you have a child?”
KC smiled sadly before she said “No, Helen doesn’t know. My mother does!”
More words that didn’t make any sense
What the hell was going on? The girl was talking in riddles. Neela was more confused now than when the conversation started.
KC rose and reclaimed her former place behind Lori before announcing, “Helen is not my mother Neela. Lori is!”
Neela opened her mouth but when nothing came out, she shut it. She stood up but when she couldn’t decide where to go, she sat down again.
KC’s words were dancing around in her head but she just didn’t know what to do with it.
Shaking her head, she put a hand to it trying to put the conversation in order in her brain.
That baby wasn’t Lori’s own. It was KC’s. Helen wasn’t KC’s mother. Lori was! Oh God! The entire thing was just too much. Nothing was what it seemed.
Neela knew what she wanted to ask, but the words refuse to pass her dry lips.
Lori finally addressed her from the where she sat. This time her voice was much stronger, more firm.
“I didn’t come here expecting you to forgive me. What I did to you was wrong, but I can’t say I am sorry.” Neela felt that desire to slap her across that beautiful face rise again but tampered it down as the woman continued.
“I was angry as hell at you. For years, I waited, hoping Caleb would ask me to marry him. When he came back from Trinidad with a bride… with you I wanted to kill him, too kill you.” The woman paused, a distant look in her eyes. She seemed almost as if she was in the past. “I convinced myself that Caleb wasn’t in love with you. That it was just a phase. All I had to do was get him to see me as wife material, so I played on his friendship. I bided my time and when the opportunity came I struck.” She chuckled lightly as if she thought what she was saying was funny.
“When I first learnt you were gone, I was on cloud nine. And before you jump to conclusions let me assure you, I did not send those pictures. That was all your father-in-law’s handy work.” She emphasized.
“George sent me those pictures?” Oh God this was getting weirder by the minute.
“Yes. Daddy sent them. I heard him admit it to Caleb”
“But why would he do a thing like that?” Neela begged for an explanation.
“Because he wanted to make mama happy. In case you haven’t noticed Neela, mama has an iron grip on Daddy. She just has to say jump and he asks, how high?” KC answered.
“I don’t believe it.”
“When you hear the rest of what I have to say, you’ll believe it.” Lori was saying. Neela suddenly wasn’t sure if she wanted to hear the rest. Lori continued “I was happy when you left. But any thoughts I had of being the next Wilder bride went south pretty quickly. Caleb made it crystal clear that night was a mistake never to be repeated. That doesn’t mean I stopped trying but that stubborn man continuously put me in my place. It was only when he threatened to end our friendship, did I realize how serious he was. At the end of it all it finally sank in that he would never love me. Not the way he loved you.”
So Caleb didn’t lie to her. He never slept with Lori after that night. Neela’s heart soared at that revelation.
Applying her best poker face she questioned, “Okay so you have cleared your conscience. Good for you. Can one of you now please explain, this mother, baby thing?”
“I think I should explain that” Lori suggested.
“Of course you would, wouldn’t you?” Neela added sarcastically but she couldn’t wait to hear what the woman had to say next.
“Twenty-one years ago, when I was sixteen I had an affair with George. I know what you’re thinking and you have every right”
Do you know that I am thinking you are a home wrecking slut? Neela said to herself.
“I was young and obsessed. When I found out I was pregnant I was terrified, I didn’t know what to do. George wanted me to have an abortion but I couldn’t. Scared as I was I just couldn’t. He was worried about what this baby was going to do to his family. Caleb was only thirteen, Daphne a few years younger. When I refused to have an abortion he had no other choice but to tell his wife. That woman played me like a fine tuned instrument. She somehow convinced me that the baby would be better off with them.” These memories were evidently painful for her because sadness once again shadowed her face.
Neela could not imagine ever having to give up Adam or Melody. For the first time since this entire thing started Neela felt pity for this woman.
KC squeezed the older woman’s shoulder offering her encouragement.
For a moment, silence echoed across the large room as unspoken feelings played out.
Drawing a deep breath Lori continued, “Helen convinced my dad to let me take a year’s vacation with them and since my father and George were friends it was a no brainer. Gone for a year, no one knew the truth. When KC was born, I gave her to Helen and George. When we returned every one simply thought that KC was Helen’s daughter. I was never allowed to see her again. As I got older the need to be a part of her life festered inside me but Helen refused to let me see her. George wasn’t about to cross his wife again so he agreed with her. I think that’s when I became obsessed with Caleb. I thought he would be my chance at having another Wilder child. Turned out there was to be no other child for me. The doctors said that I would never be able to have any children again.”
From where she sat, Neela observed as the woman struggled with her own inner turmoil. Lori brought her hand up to squeeze one of KC’s hand that was resting on her shoulder, a long shudder vibrating through her body. The events of the past had obviously affected her more than any one was aware off. To lose her child would have been trying. To know where that child was and never be able to tell her you were her mother would be torture. But the idea that she would never be able to have another child was gut wrenching.
How was it possible to feel compassion for someone you hated? What should she say?
So much had been explained but yet still there was so much to be answered.
“I know you are probably wondering what all this has to do with Craig.” KC stated.
Honestly, Neela answered. “Yes. I am”
“Ever since I was a child, I had this uncanny habit of listening at doors. I know it’s bad but it is the only way I could know anything in that house. I overheard mama and daddy arguing about two years ago. Daddy wanted to tell me about Lori but mama kept refusing. She kept saying that Lori was not my mother. She was.” KC paused, one brow arching so much like Caleb when he was in deep thought.
“Let’s say I didn’t handle the news well. For a while I went off the deep end. I started drinking and partying. Sometimes I would disappear for day on ends. One night I got so drunk I could hardly remember anything. When I woke the next morning, I was naked in bed with a complete stranger. He appeared to be as stoned as I was.” She laughed pathetically at herself. “Imagine I was so wasted that I couldn’t even remember losing my virginity.”
“Oh KC…!”Neela cried. What this poor child had been through.
“No it’s alright. I am alright now. At first I didn’t say anything. But when I found out I was pregnant, I didn’t know what to do. I thought about having an abortion but it just didn’t feel right. Killing an innocent baby because of the mistakes we have made was not right. So I did the next best thing. I went to Caleb. It turned out he didn’t know that mama wasn’t really my mother either. He almost lost it but after I begged and pleaded, he agreed not to say anything. After that everything seemed to fall in place. When Caleb asked me what I wanted to, do I told him. I wanted to give my baby to Lori. To say he was stunned would be an understatement. He tried to convince me to do otherwise but my mind had already been made up. What mama and daddy did to her was wrong. This was my way of making up the past to my real mother.” KC sat on the arm of the chair which Lori occupied releasing a deep breath as if finally laying the weight of the world from her shoulder.
Lori picked up where her daughter left off. “At first I refused. I was thrilled that KC knew the truth but I couldn’t take her baby, but then George had another one of his heart attacks. Knowing the truth about what happened to KC would kill him so I finally gave in. I agreed to keep Craig when he was born but on one condition. Caleb had to stand as his father. He already had a harsh beginning so I wouldn’t allow him to be labeled a bastard. It was a difficult decision for Caleb because he always believed that you would return. But he also knew that his father’s life was on the line. Knowing that his daughter had been raped and was pregnant would be too much for George. So Caleb reluctantly agreed. As to the question why Caleb couldn’t tell you? The answer is simple, I swore him into secrecy. To tell you the truth about Craig’s parentage would have meant dredging up the past, reliving what KC went through and I wasn’t going to allow that.” Lori finally concluded her speech.
Neela quietly absorbed everything that had been said by both mother and daughter. Deceit, betrayal, lies had all been weaved into this story. The question was how was this going to affect her marriage?
“So why tell me this now? Why swear Caleb to secrecy and now tell me?”
“Because I heard daddy and Caleb talking today. Caleb believes you are going to leave him again. I can’t let that happen. Too many people have been hurt by this secret and I won’t letter my brother suffer any more over it. I’m a big girl now and even though I am still not going to tell mama and daddy the truth about how Craig was really conceived I am going to tell them about him. It’s time I also tell them that I know the truth about Lori. Daddy seems to be doing a lot better and the doctor says his chances of having another heart attack are slim so I think he can handle the news that he has another grandchild.” KC paused, drew breath and continued.
“I think my brother knew that this day was going to come sooner or later. If anyone ever listened to Caleb carefully when he spoke about Lori and Craig they would notice that he has never once referred to Craig as Lori’s son. He always says things like ‘since the birth of her son.’ He never says ‘since she gave birth.” KC chuckled softly.
