Sam stopped in his tracks and looked over to TC. " What did you say?"

" I said I am the asshole. Grace is having my baby."

It took a few moments for Sam to compute it all, but then it sank in. TC was waiting for him to say something, but he didn't. It was almost in slow motion - Sam coming up to him and punching him out. Before he knew it, Sam was on top of him, and they were fighting.

" I…..can't…..believe…it….you….fucked…my…wife?", Sam would say a word in between the punches. The men were rolling on the floor. TC tried to defend himself, but Sam was getting in lick after lick.

The men were still going at it when the door slammed, and there was a screaming voice:

" SAM, STOP IT! HE'S NOT WORTH IT!"

Both men looked up, and saw  Eve standing there. Sam punched TC again, but got up off of him.

" He's not worth it, Sam."

" You know?"

" Of course I do. Who do you think did all of this damage?"

" How the fuck could you sleep with MY wife?", Sam said, looking at TC.

" Oh, it JUST HAPPENED!", Eve said sarcastically.

" People would have had to kill me before I would've believed that you would do this to me. KILL ME, TC! How long have I know you? You were my BROTHER!"

" I was his WIFE, but that didn't matter either."

" Was it worth it, TC? Throwing away our friendship? Was it worth it?"

Sam didn't wait for a response and left out of the room.

" Well, I guess everyone knows.", Eve said.

" Eve.."

" TC, we really have nothing to talk about. I don't want you in this house. I want you gone now. You destroyed everything that we had. Please don't force me to be tortured looking at you anymore. You disgust me. "

" Eve.."

" Do the girls know? They are the only reason I came back."

" I told them."

" Where are they?"

" I don't know."

" Oh, this is priceless. You tell our children and then you let them deal with this by themselves? Are you insane, TC?"
 

" Eve…."

" Or is your only concern now, the baby that you're having with Grace? Have we been written off altogether?"

" I love Whitney and Simone!"

" That is doubtful, considering how you've destroyed their family. But, don’t worry, I'll be here for our daughters."

" I love them too."

" Then do what's best. Leave, TC. Leave now."

TC went upstairs and began to pack. Eve was sitting down on the couch, looking around at what used to be her living room.
 

"Reese, I don't know about this.", Mr. Durke said. Reese and his parents were sitting in the family den.

" Dad, Simone needs a place to stay. I offered the blanket."

"Reese, this doesn't look proper."

" Dad, her family fell apart. It's not for forever, but it will give her breathing room. A safe place to get her head together."

" What do you think about this?", Mr. Durke asked his wife.

" I think that Reese is being the young man we raised. He's a gentleman. Her parents will be notified, but she needs a free space. We have to contact her parents, but for a little while, I think it would be ok."

Reese smiled at his mother. " I'll call Simone on her cellphone."

Reese left the den, and his father turned to his mother. " She really MEANS something to him, doesn't she?"

" Yes. I think Kay Bennett is long forgotten."
 

" I'll call you and tell you where I'm staying.", TC said, bringing down the last of his suitcases to the door.

" Leave it with my answering service. I want as little contact with you as possible. "

" I know you don't believe it, but I'm sorry Eve. I never meant to hurt you."

" Just words, TC. Just words."

TC nodded and left the house.

Eve sat on the couch crying, when she heard a noise. She looked up, and saw

" Simone?"

Simone looked at her mother and ran to her, sitting on the couch.

" I'm sorry, Mommy. I know you're hurting."

" Baby, are you OK? I'm sorry I left. You must have been so worried about me."

" It's ok, Mommy. I know you were hurt very badly by him. I can't believe it. It's really true, isn't it?"

" Yes, it is. But, I'm glad you're here. Simone, do you know where Whitney is?"

" No. I assumed she was at Theresa's. "

" Where were you?"

" With a friend."

" Kay?"

" Not Kay."

" I'm glad you're back home."

" Mommy, I can't stay here."

" What? You're going with HIM?"

" Oh, HELL No. I'm going to move in with a friend."

" Simone.."

" Mommy, I need some space. I'm in shock. I don't want to leave you alone, but I really can't deal with this. Not right now."

" Where are you staying?"

" With Reese."

" Reese Durke?"

" He was kind enough to offer."

" I….I didn't think you knew one another well enough for that."

" We've gotten closer.", Simone said softly, leaving it at that.

" I…I want you to do what's right, Simone. I can't ask you to stay here. But, it's only for a bit."

" I know, Mom. Just until I get through all the shock."

Simone and her mother sat there, holding hands for awhile. Simone in her mother's arms.

" Mom?"

" Yes, honey."

" Do you know who the other woman is?"

Eve stopped rocking her daughter. " You….you don't know who she is?", Eve asked.

" No. Daddy only told us that there was another woman."

" I don't know if I should tell you."

" Mom, if you know who this whore is, I wanna know. I wanna know who the slut is that broke up our family. I want to know who I should hate."

" Simone, I don't like hearing those words out of your mouth."

" Tough, Mom. Cause I hate HIM. And I'm GONNA hate HER! So, tell me who she is."

" I suppose it will be out soon enough. The woman pregnant with your father's child is Grace Bennett."

Simone untangled herself from her mother's arms and looked at her in shock.