Somewhere in Louisiana
She sat in an attic looking at a dusty box. She had wondered for years what was inside it and finally she was able to reveal what it was holding. Her mother had told her many years before that when she died her daughter could open it and now it happened. The Alzheimer's disease had overpowered her mother and before she had died her mother reminded her that the box was there. She told her that the box sat there, in that very position, for as long as she could remember. She told her that it contained memories, old and new, it held albums, scrapbooks, art, letters… she especially remembered the letters… the letters, she said were to and from her daughter and son's father. She particularly wanted her daughter and son to read the letters, it would reveal to them who their long, lost father was.
She sat anxiously waiting for her older brother to arrive and open the box with her. She felt like a little kid, waiting for this moment. As her brother entered the attic, he watched his sister fiddle with her fingers. He knew how is sister felt, this was the moment of truth, how could he not. He wanted to meet his father just as much as his sister did, if he was still alive. Maybe he had other kids, maybe his other kids lived near Louisiana, maybe his kids could tell them about the father they shared. However, he knew these were merely maybes… he knew these were hopes and that was all they were and probably all they were ever going to be.
"You ready, Krissie?" he asked walking to his sister.
"Yea", she said faking a smile.
"You want to open it? I know you do", he said trying to make the best of the moment.
"I'll open it", she said annoyed. She ran her hand over the soft yellow box, this was them moment she had waited for ever since she was a kid. Finally, she placed her hands on either side of the box and pulled the top off. As she sat the top down she saw a picture taped inside it. Her brother pulled it off hoping to see a name of the man on the picture on the back. He was right. The names on the back were Mary Anne, his mother, and Gordon Cahill. Gordon Cahill, he thought, could that be his father? She read the name as well and looked up at her brother. It was as if they knew instantly. They heard their mother say that name many times before, but she never said who it was and it never really crossed their minds… until now.
After a while of looking at the mysterious picture, she fooled around with the things in the box. She saw a photo album, which she looked through and found familiar people in the pictures. As they looked through the box they came across a smaller box. The box had flowers on it, blue flowers, beautiful blue flowers. She opened the box and saw it contained many letters, ten in counting. She was surprised to see that her mother had them, maybe they were letters from their father. She took hold of one of the letters. Opening the letter, a picture fell out of it. It was a picture of her and her brother. She picked the picture up remembering when they had taken that picture, many years ago. She put the picture down and began to read the letter.
My Dearest Gordon,
This is probably going to be my last letter because I know you probably won't write back. I know you have a wife and daughter and the last thing I wanted to do was break up your "happy" home, but I love you and I can't live without you in my life. You have brought the best out of me and I feel as if I owe you for that. The past summer was the best summer of my life, I never thought a man could ever make me so happy, but I was wrong.
You know, you've proved me wrong about many things and love just happens to be on the top of the list. I never thought I could love a man the way I love you. I just need you to know this. But… this isn't the only reason for me writing back to you. The real reason is because a few months after you left me I found out that I was pregnant. Right now I'm exactly 5 months pregnant and you're not here. I felt that you should know about it. I hope and pray to God that he sends you back to me, that one day we could see each other again and finally be together, but until then I need you to know that I love you.
Sincerely yours,
Mary Anne Jones
2 months later: Walker Ranch
"Angela and Cheyenne, we don't have all day", Alex called from the kitchen.
"Coming, mom", they said in unison.
"Mom, I need you sign this for me", Riley said handing her mom the note.
"What is this, Riley?" Alex asked opening the note, "You got an F on your History test".
"Yes, I did", Riley said.
"Has your father seen this?"
"No. I was hoping that you would sign it and give it back so I can retake it", Riley said trying to grab the note from her mother.
"Wrong answer young lady. Go get your father".
"But mom, I can retake the test", she argued.
"I don't care. Go get your father".
"Okay", Riley said knowing what was coming for her.
"Morning mom", Corey said kissing his mother on the cheek, "Did Riley show you her test?"
"Yes she did. How did you know about the test", Alex asked suddenly very curious.
"She showed it to me", he said regretting the question he had asked.
"You know what Corey, I recall you having a History test, too".
"Oh yea, I kinda recall that, too", Corey said trying to leave the kitchen but is pushed lightly by his father, "Oh hey, pops".
"Hello, son", Walker said eyeing Corey, "Where are you going?"
"To school, silly", he explained trying to exit.
"It's not time to leave for school yet", Alex said tugging his shirt by its collar.
"Did you need me, Alex?" Walker questioned holding on to his son.
"Yes, Riley got her test back and has to get it signed", she explained handing the test paper to him.
"Riley, you got an F?"
"Well… yea. I got an F. But I get to retake it and I studied this time".
"I told you to study last time, Riley".
"I know but I was so tired last time".
"You had a week to study for it".
"I was tired the whole week".
"I think we need to have a little conference with your teacher, don't you, Alex?"
"Yes, I do", Alex said sitting at the table with plate in hand.
"I don't think that's called for", Corey put in.
"Me either, Corey. I think you should let me retake the test and then if I get an F this time go talk to my teacher", Riley argued.
"That's exactly what I think", Corey defended his sister.
"Nobody asked you, Corey", Alex said.
"Either we have a conference with your teacher or your grounded for not listening to what your father tells you to do", Walker explained with a serious face, "So I'll start over. I think we need to have a little conference with your teacher, don't you, Riley?"
"Yes", Riley said sitting down and eating her food.
"Bye, mom", Cheyenne stated walking out the front door.
"Bye", Alex called out washing the dishes in the kitchen when the phone rang, "Walker residence".
"Hello, may I speak with Alexandra Cahill", Krissie said.
"This is she".
"Um, I'm Krystal McDaniels. I know you don't know me, but I've heard a lot about you and your work in Dallas. And I've heard about your father. I know your probably my only hope to get out of this mess… I just need your help", she said trying her hardest not to cry.
"Okay. Uh… can you meet me somewhere? Where do you live?"
"Right now I'm in a hotel, but I can meet you".
"Good. How is 12:30?"
"12:30 sounds good", Krissie said satisfied.
"12:30 at CD's. Do you know where that is?"
"Yes I do".
"Meet you then".
"Thank you very much".
CD's: 12:30
She's been there for at least ten minutes. She waited patiently and that was exactly the way she looked, but opposite of the way she felt. She felt like she was going to blow. She was finally going to meet a family member from her father's side, her half sister. Her brother was right there with her, but he helped none. He was just as anxious as she was.
Alex walked into CD's looking around and wondering who she was looking for. Maybe she should've asked the woman what she looked liked.
"That's her, Aaron", Krissie stated to her brother nervously.
"Go get her".
"Okay", she said walking over to Alex, "Alexandra Cahill?"
"Oh, hi", Alex stated shaking Krystal's hand, "Krystal McDaniels, right?"
"Yes", she said leading her to the table, "This is my brother Aaron, Aaron this is Alexandra".
"Nice to meet you, Aaron", Alex said sitting down.
"Same here, Alexandra".
"Please call me Alex".
"Okay, Alex".
"Alex, I called you for a reason, and it's not the reason you think", Krystal stated.
"Oh?"
"There's no easy way to say this… My mother, she had an affair with your father over 47 years ago. They shared a beautiful summer together, at least that's what she said in the letters she wrote to him. After the summer was over, Gordon left and she was left pregnant with my brother Aaron. Gordon came back a few years later and they had me later, and he left again. Our mother just died about 2 months ago and we came across these notes", she explained handing the notes to a dumbfounded Alex, "You don't have to read them now, but we just wanted to meet our family and we wanted to meet our father. Our numbers are in one of those notes and thank you for your time".
Alex was surprised at this information. She didn't know what to believe. For years she thought she was an only child, but she could be wrong. They were probably telling the truth, though, her father did walk out on her and her mother, no telling what he could've been out there doing. He did have a record of walking out on the people who loved him, I guess this added on to it… if it was true.
END OF CHAPTER 1