CHAPTER 29

“Pack your bags Michaela, we are leaving.”

“No we are not. You need to explain yourself. Right now!” she yells.

“Who are you? Who were my parents? What did you do to them?”

Edgar shakes his head in frustration.

“There is no time for all of this. Don’t you understand.”

“Am I his sister?”

Edgar’s eyes widen.

“What? No way.” He says with emphasis.

“She was not your mother Mickey. And god knows she never could be.”

“Tell me about my parent.”

“Michaela please. I....”

“We are not going anywhere until you tell me the truth.”

He sighs,

“Your mother was a beautiful, intellectual, brave and proud woman. Her name was Rachel Timothy Winters and she wore her heart on her sleeve. She died on fifth of November due to cancer. She loved you. She was a lawyer and she was good at her job. Now can we go?”

Michaela feels a deep sited resent for her father. The way he is narrating stuff as if it means nothing to him.

“Did she love you?”

Michaela dares him.

Edgar looks into his daughter’s eyes. He knew this was coming. He knew someday he’d have to tell her the truth. He had imagined it in his head for a million times, but now when he has to, the words refuse to come.

“Your mother loved me Mickey. Just the thought of her affection makes my heart ache for her. A million times she must have held me in her arms and kissed me as if I was the most precious thing in the world. She looked after me, cleaned my mess and made me more responsible. That was the kind of love we shared. That the kind of love I shared with my sister. “

He says, sitting down beside Michaela.

“ I am not her husband, if that is what you are asking of me. Your father was Timothy Walsh. He was a world class car racer. He died of heart attack when you were just one. I’m sorry Michaela.”

Michaela cries softly.

“So you are not my father.”

Edgar scoffs.

“Am I not. I’ve loved you more than I loved your mother. I’ve looked after you as if you were a part of my body. I laughed when you called me dad, I cried when you stubbed your toe, I slept with you and it was to your face that I woke up every morning. I may not be Timothy, Mickey. But I am your father. And nobody can take that away from me. Not even you. “

“You should have told me.”

“I’m sorry my love.”

Edgar holds his daughter in his arms, his face buried in her hair as she cries softly.

Michaela packs her bags as Edgar’s men load the car. The chilly air hits her face and her eyes sting from it. Cassy stands near the water, in the dark.

“Case.”

She calls out.

Cassy turns around, her eyes red from crying.

“ Why? “ she asks.

Michaela sniffles.

“We were happy. Why does this happen to us? Why? Every fucking time.”

Michael’s cheeks become wet as the tears continue to flow.

“I'm sorry Cassy.”

“ Don’t be stupid Mickey. You were just a baby. Andrew has told us all about it?”

It lightens her heart a bit. To know that someone understood her.

“Does everyone know? Nana and...”

“Shhh. They are at Gilberto’s. We will make up a story. It will break them. We can’t afford that.”

“Nate?”

Cassy shakes her head from side to side, making his dismay known.

“Let's go.” Edgar shouts.

Michaela walks towards the car but instead of approaching her father, she turns towards the house. The lights are out, from afar it almost feels as if no one's home, but as she moves closer she recognized Nate's dark figure as he sits on the porch.

She hasn't even made to the stairs before he speaks.

“ Leave.”

“Nate. Please.”

What does she want? Even she didn't know.

“ Go away. I don't want to have any association with that man. Not even you.”

“ I know. And I respect your decision. I just want to tell you something.”

But Nate has had enough for the day.

“Leave.” He yells at her.

Michaela loses her balance due to the shrillness of his voice. She staggers, but Nate continue to sit in the dark. It's as if the devil has possessed him.

She turns her back to Nana's, and with a heavy heart she walks out of his life.

As the car roars to life and makes it way to the city, Nate open the chit that Michaela had given to him. It is scrunched in his hand. And on the inside it’s written.

“I am pregnant.”