Collision
Course,
Chapter 65
Chad
and Simone were at the Book Café.
” It’s been a wild day.”, Simone commented.
” Yep.”
“ So…you’re my brother.”
Chad
smiled. “ Yep.”
” That’s so…”
” Wild?”
” Yep.”
They both laugh.
” Do you think that one of Rebecca’s children will be a match for
Whitney? That
they’ll help her?”, Simone asked.
” I hope that one of them is a match, and I’m sure they’ll help. After
all, why
take the test, if it isn’t what you plan to do?”
” Makes sense. I’m so scared, Chad.
I don’t know what to believe or who to trust anymore.”
” You can believe in family, Simone. That’s what we are – family.
Always will
be. I’m your big brother, and I’m so happy about it. I know this sounds
crazy,
but a part of me is so happy right now. “
Simone looked confused.
” I don’t want Whitney to be sick, but right now, even though it’s the
middle
of a serious crisis, I’m so happy. My heart is so full. I always wanted
to be
part of a family, and I am. I love being here, with you Simone. Us,
together, as
siblings, worrying about our other siblings. That’s something families
do. And,
when you’ve been alone as much as I have..”
<>
Simone looked to see the tears in Chad’s eyes. She got up and
went
over to hug him.
” I understand big brother. And, I can promise you something else.
You’ll never
be alone again. You’ve got a whole group of people who are always going
to be
in your business, starting with your little sisters. And, I’m going to
try and
get on your nerves as much as I get on Whitney’s.”
They laughed.
” Thanks.”
” And just think. One day Mom will tell you all about your father, and
I bet
you’ll have brothers and sisters from him too. You’ll have family
coming out
your ears.”
” From your lips..”
” Well, why don’t we finish up here, and get
Whitney some of her favorite
muffins and head back to the hospital.”
” Sounds about right.”
Gwen, Ethan and Robbie sat at the gazebo. Nobody
said
anything for the longest time. Gwen was crying, but it was obvious from
her
body language that she didn’t want to be comforted.
Robbie got up and began to pace back and forth.
Gwen looked
at him.
” Robbie…”
“ What, Gwen? I feel like we’ve been overrun by a
truck
emotionally. It seems like YESTERDAY we buried Dad, and today, we’ve
lost our
other parent. I know, I’m an adult, but shit like this STILL hurts.”
” I know.”
” And now, we have a SISTER outta nowhere. We went to a hospital to
take a test
to see if either one of us could save said sister’s life. It’s bizarre.
I’m
hurting. I feel like we just got a big cosmic FUCK YOU and there’s
nothing that
I can do about it.”
Gwen sighed. “ You’re right.”
“ So, is this Whitney person a nice person? Would
I want to
get to know her?”
Gwen nodded. “ Despite being Theresa’s best friend, I have
nothing against Whitney. She seems like a very decent young woman.
…..I’ve
never had a sister.”
” Well, they can be pains in the asses, but all in all, they’re fun to
have
around.”
Gwen smiled at Robbie as she threw a twig at him.
“ Thanks.”
“ No problem. This young woman is our sister. We
know about
her. If we don’t try to have a relationship with her, what does that
say about
us? That Rebecca was right?”
Gwen shrugged her shoulders. “ She might not want to have
anything to do with us.”
” That’s true. But, then that would be on her. I don’t want to be from
our
side.”
“ I guess you’re right.”
“ Do you know anything about Whitney?”
” Outside that she’s an excellent tennis player, no.”
” Well, that’s somewhere to start. “ Robbie
whipped out his phone.
“ Robbie, what are you doing?”
” Our little sister likes tennis? Then, we should do something for
her.” Robbie
walked away and began talking into his phone. Ethan held Gwen’s hand.
” I know how hard this is for you.”
” Do you, Ethan?”
” To find out that your parent lied to you everyday of your life? Yeah,
Gwen,
as the saying goes, ‘ been there, done that.’”
Gwen sighed. “ Sorry, Ethan. Yes, I guess you DO
know how I
feel.”
” So, you cut Rebecca out of your life?”
” What else could I do, Ethan? She lied.”
” I know.”
” You think Robbie and I were wrong?”
” I’m not saying that. I just know Rebecca loves you.”
” Like Ivy loved YOU?”
” Yes, EXACTLY like my mother loved me. “
” Ethan, she threw Whitney away because she was the wrong color. Threw
her away
and didn’t look back.”
Ethan sighed. “ Gwen, CHAD’s
parents threw him away and didn’t look back. Rebecca looked at her
situation
and made sure Whitney wound up with her biological father. And a
wonderful,
loving and devoted mother in Doctor Russell. Whitney didn’t grow up
rich, but
she’s never known hunger. I bet if you asked her, she can’t name one
thing that
she NEEDED that she didn’t get when growing up. And, I also doubt that
there’s
anything she WANTED that she didn’t get. I doubt Whitney’s known or
seen
financial worries in her life. She grew up adored and worshipped, from
all
accounts by her parents, in a loving home, with supportive parents. You
think
growing up with a disgraced Rebecca would have topped that?”
” No.”, Gwen muttered.
” Look, I’m not saying that you HAVE to forgive Rebecca. But, she’s not
the
worst person in the world. She made a HUGE mistake. Just be open to
some sort
of reconciliation down the line. Forever’s a long time, Gwen.”