Virginia C. Andrews - Cutler Family 3 Twilights Child

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MY POUNDING HEART TOOK MY BREATH AWAY, AND FOR A moment all I could do was speak in a loud whisper.

Come in and sit down, I said. Fern glanced at Jimmy, who looked absolutely stunned, and then walked quickly to the sofa in the sitting room of our suite. She unbuttoned her coat, scooped the sock hat off her head, and shook out her hair. I sat down, but Jimmy remained standing, his eyes locked on Fern. From the way he stared, I knew he saw Momma in her eyes and hair, Momma in her gestures. Some of my own precious memories of Momma came rushing back. They brought tears to my eyes.

It's pretty here, Fern said, gazing around. A friend of mine, Melissa Holt, stayed here once with her father, and I came to visit her. Her father took us both to dinner and then to the circus! Her parents are divorced, but her mother has a new husband, she continued. Melissa hates him. She wants to run away from home and live with her real father, she concluded.

Her lack of inhibition and her obvious comfort and ease in our presence brought a small smile to

Jimmy's lips. He finally sat down and folded his hands in his lap.

How did you find out the truth about yourself and us? Jimmy asked.

I snuck a peek at Clayton's important papers one day and found my birth certificate and the adoption papers, she replied with a shrug. I didn't know I would find those things. I don't snoop, she said, turning more to me, but I was bored doing tons and tons of stupid homework and just went exploring.

Weren't you afraid your parents would find you looking into their things and be upset? I asked.

Leslie was at her studio, as usual, and Clayton was at a dinner meeting with some clients.

They left you home alone? Jimmy asked.

Uh-huh. They do that a lot, because Clayton has to go somewhere and Leslie is supposed to come right home from her studio, but she gets so busy with her paintings, she forgets the time. Sometimes Leslie even forgets to eat! She forgot Clayton's birthday, too, and mine, and last week she forgot she left Snoogles in her bedroom, and he wet the carpet in three places.

Snoogles? I asked. Their poodle, Jimmy guessed.

Leslie named him Snoogles, but Clayton named me Kelly Ann after his mother, Fern said. She was dead before Clayton and Leslie adopted me.

Do you always call your parents by their first names? I asked.

They're not really my parents, she replied, her dark eyes bright with anger. So I don't care.

You mean you started calling them by their first names after you made that discovery? I pursued.

Oh, no, I always called them by their first names. It's what they wanted. They're... She paused to search for the term. As she did so, she ran her tongue over her lips, a gesture that widened Jimmy's smile. It was something Momma Longchamp used to do, also without being aware of it, whenever she was deep in thought. Progressive parents, she finally concluded. "They have loads and loads of these books on how to bring up a child and have studied up on it. I guess it's mostly Clayton, though. Leslie didn't read the books. She just listens to whatever Clayton says.

Clayton's always complaining about her, she continued, "complaining about her missing appointments or being late or not looking after the house and me.

That's one of his favorite complaints, she added, widening her eyes. They even had a fight about it after you left today.

What sort of fight? Jimmy asked.

He blamed her for what happened at school and told her she doesn't take enough interest in my education, she responded.

What did happen at school? I asked.

Jason Malamud's science project burned up in the lab. What? I looked with concern at Jimmy.

Well, it was something electrical, and it shorted out or something, only he claimed I did it, and the teacher believed him because he's the teacher's pet.

Did you do it? I asked. She returned my gaze firmly.

Absolutely not. And I'm tired of being blamed for things that other people do, she moaned. I hate that school. It's full of... spoiled rich kids.

Sounds like a complaint I once had about the Emerson Peabody School, Jimmy said, and he winked at me. He was pleased with the similarity of their complaints; it was almost as if he believed it was in their blood.

Why would Jason blame you, though? I

asked.

Because he hates me, ever since I told everyone how he made in his pants. He tried to hide it by saying he was sick and going to the nurse.

Jimmy laughed.

How long have you known the truth about yourself and us? I asked.

A couple of years, I guess, she said, shrugging again. I don't remember the exact date. It was before Christmas, think. Uh-huh, before Christmas that year, she confirmed, nodding. Clayton bought me a set of encyclopedias, but I wanted the dollhouse I saw in Macy's window.

"It's been years? Did you ever ask them about

it?"

Oh, no. Clayton would be furious if he knew I had gotten into his precious secret papers. He has them under lock and key, but one day I saw where he put the key. I never mentioned anything, she said, shaking her head, her eyes wide again.

Well, they are still legally your parents, I pointed out. They have raised you and provided for you, and.

I hate them! she cried. Especially Clayton. Jimmy's smile evaporated, and he leaned

forward, cutting his eyes toward me sharply and then looking at her.

He just wants what he thinks will be good for you, I explained. He seems like a very intelligent man and a successful man, so

He's mean and cruel, she cried. Ail my friends think so. They hate to come to my house. He asks everybody hundreds of questions and makes them feel bad. Then he tells me my friends are no good and too old for me, and he forbids me to go to their houses or go to the movies with them or

I'm sure he's just looking out for you, thinking of your best interests, honey, I said. Usually when a girl your age pals around with kids much older, she gets into trouble. I'm sure he's worried about you and trying to do the right thing.

She looked from Jimmy to me and then covered her face with her hands. He does bad things to me! she blurted out.

What? Jimmy nearly jumped out of his seat. What do you mean, does bad things? What sort of bad things?

She shook her head and started to cry. I went to her quickly.

Don't cry, honey, I soothed. "Tell us what you

mean. We can't help you if you don't explain," I said. I put my arm around her. She buried her face in my shoulder.

I can't, she mumbled. It's too... nasty. Dawn! Jimmy was on his feet. I nodded, closing and opening my eyes so

Jimmy would remain calm and let me question her more closely.

You know now that Jimmy is your brother, honey. I'm his wife, but we grew up together, and I took care of you from the day you were born until we all split up.

You did? she said, straightening up.

Uh-huh. You used to love when I sang to you. Momma became very ill, and I had to help out. I'll tell you all of it, how Jimmy and I thought we were brother and sister for years and years and how we discovered we weren't, yet we realized we were in love. We'll tell you all about your real mother and father.

What happened to them? she asked quickly.

Momma's dead, Jimmy replied. Daddy's okay, but he's remarried and has a new son, so you have another brother. His name is Gavin.

"Well, why didn't I live with my real father?

Why did he give me away?" she cried, the tears still streaming down her face. I took out my handkerchief and wiped them off her tender cheeks.