Leonard literally went crazy. He was following the rising prima donna closely through the photos that were posted online. The last ones he had seen were from Harry's daughter's christening and they all showed Daniel with her.
He couldn't shake the strange feeling that had lingered since the day he'd met her. He didn't even know what made him insist, maybe it was his wounded pride because she had resisted him, or maybe it was the idea that she was the right woman for him.
He had an episode of desperation when he called Marcus to force him to find her and convince her to return to the theater. His friend refused and he exploded in anger. He had all the tracks cut off and Crusher stood in the middle, blocking his way.
He was tired of waiting, he had done his part and nothing was going his way. He got in his car that afternoon and parked it in front of Crusher's house. A completely risky and brazen act. He didn't even know what he would achieve by going there. Maybe see her from a distance.
When he realized what he was doing, acting like a crazy stalker, he laughed. The woman, with her total lack of interest, had managed to make him completely stupid. He couldn't believe it. He started the car, convinced that he was getting older, when he saw her coming out of the house.
She was wearing a white dress and holding the little boy's hand. They got into a car and he wondered why not? Crusher wasn't going with them, so what did he have to lose by snooping around? Hopefully, he could even fake a chance encounter. Reed was approaching a point of no return.
But the car she was in didn't stop downtown, it continued a few miles further east into the city. He knew that area, even though he had not driven there in many years, his old college was there. Finally, the car they were in stopped at a small restaurant, and she and the boy got out to go inside.
Leonard's throat closed up and the sweat on his forehead became profuse. Suddenly, a woman appeared from around the corner, carrying several shopping bags, and entered the place as well. His pulse quickened and his skin crawled. He was sure he was going to have some kind of seizure, he had trouble concentrating and breathing.
He was trying to regulate his breathing when someone banged on the glass of the door. He looked, trying to get his vision to stop returning double images, but to no avail. He thought he was going to die right there. Deanna's grandmother was watching him with a worried expression on the other side of the glass.
She had seen him park and not get out for quite a while, she was curious because those kinds of cars were not common in their area, and she crept up behind the vehicle. But when she saw him trying to get some oxygen, his eyes lost and visibly agitated, she realized that something was happening to the man.
But Reed didn't answer her, he couldn't. He opened his eyes wide and tried to activate the glass to lower it, he felt he had run out of oxygen.
-Are you all right? - she asked him.
He only made movements with his hands.
-My God! -
The old woman tried to hurry to the other side of the street, calling for her daughter. The first to come out was Deanna, who ran to the car as her grandmother told her what had happened.
-Leonard? -
When he saw her, he clung to her hand as if he were drowning, and Deanna was the only lifeguard left. Behind her, Philippa ran with the phone to her ear, calling for an ambulance.
But as she looked into the car to see the condition of the man her mother had told her was dying, she was the one who felt her soul slipping from her body.
The paramedics brought him back to normal without taking him to the hospital, it was a panic attack. Deanna took him inside, he couldn't drive in that state. Strangely, Leonard said nothing, apparently his experience had left him in shock. Philippa watched him at another table while her daughter offered him a glass of water.
Reed's eyes went to her and then to Philippa.
- What are you doing here? - she asked in disgust.
- You look the same... you haven't changed much... - he replied.
- Do you know each other? -
Deanna was confused.
- Now I understand...
- Understand what? -
- She looks like you - He answered looking at Deanna again.
- What do you want? -
- Mom, do you know him? -
But there would be no answer from Philippa. Anger and rage were in her eyes.
- I know your mother, Deanna... But I haven't seen her for many years... How many years? 25? Maybe more... -
- Do you know who he is? - Philippa asked her daughter anxiously.
- He's a benefactor of the theater where I studied with Professor Marcus, Leonard Reed... can you tell me what's going on, Mom? What were you doing out there, Leonard? -
- If I answer that, you're going to freak out...
- You'd better go... Philippa stood up.
- You're her daughter.
- Yes, I am.
- So you got married...
Deanna felt the hostility emanating from her mother, but Reed didn't flinch, seeming to sink into the chair with no intention of moving.
- Go away... -
- No, I won't go away... I haven't heard from you in a long time, at least tell me how you've been... I see you had a daughter and you're still here... Did you get married? -
- What do you care? You have no business being here, I want you to go away -
Leonard took Deanna's hand.
-I will leave only if you come with me," he told her.
Philippa bristled like a dog about to attack.
- Don't touch her! - she shouted at him.
- I knew there was something that drew me into your orbit, I knew it from the moment I met you, from the moment I saw you... I could never understand it until today... You're her daughter -
- Let her go, Leonard! -
- Why?! She's not you, but she looks like you...
- She looks like...? -
Philippa felt a huge weight crushing down on her.
- What have you done, you fucking bastard?! -
- Mommy! -
- Get out of here! -
- Mom, don't scream! What's going on?! -
Philippa's eyes filled with tears, she was furious. Leonard stood up and dragged Deanna by the hand until he stopped in front of her mother.
- You got married?! - He raised his voice and looked her in the eyes with Deanna's hand in front of him.
- NO! –
- Is she mine? -
Deanna froze. What? She looked desperately at her mother, but Philippa looked away.
- Is she mine?! Answer me! -
- Why should I?! -
- Answer me, Philippa! -
- Deanna...
- ANSWER ME! - The scream echoed through the small building.
- YES! -
- What?! - Deanna was pale.
Leonard let go of her, grabbed his head and sat down on the first chair he could find. Oh, my God! He almost...
Philippa could no longer hold back her tears, and she shed them silently.
And she just stood there in disbelief. Was this man her father? Was this awful, ruthless man who had been trying to seduce her all this time her father? Bile rose in her throat and she had to fight back the urge to vomit.