Title: Lies My Father Told
Author: Ashleyt
Summary: How do you deal with the fact that the father you hated was loved by everyone else?
Rating: Mature
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Well besides this laptop and my DVD's.
Enjoy!
Chapter 1
"Hello? Maria are you home?"
Snapping out of her momentary daze, Maria Deluca offered a sheepish smile to her co-worker and sort of friend IsabelWhitman. "I'm so sorry Iz, I wandered into my own world again"
Isabel eyed her wearily, "Are you okay? I know it's a couple of months since your mother passed but-"
"I'm okay" Maria snapped, interrupting. "Really"
Hurt flashed briefly on Isabel face but she quickly smiled and nodded. "I was just saying that it's time to go home now. TGIF and all. Bye"
With that, Maria's only friend walked stiffly away and shame rushed through Maria as she watched Isabel'sretreat. She had not meant to be brisk with Isabel and certainly didn't want to push away the only person in the world that cared enough to ask how she was doing.
Sighing, she collected her coat and jacket and checked her desk once more before leaving the small insurance agency she worked for as their full-time receptionist. It was a job she had taken the job out of necessity when money had been tight at home Only now she simply had nothing that warranted enough attention to make her look elsewhere for employment. Plus the job didn't require much; she answered the phone, sent faxes and wrote memos for the office. Rocket science, it was not.
Not that she was any good at that either. Maria never fancied herself as a good student. Her grades were decent enough but she never found any of her subjects to be stimulating, well except for hermusic class. Besides, what was she going to be what was she going to do with that, become a professional singer? That was never in her cards. So when it was time to go to college, she'd opted for a simple general management course at a local college so she could stay close to her mother and help when she was needed.
Mom...
Maria's life had never been a very Brady one but she'd rarely had complaints regardless. Her mother, Amy Deluca, had worked hard to provide for the both of them and made sure to tell her little girl how much she loved her as often as she could. So what if they missed some Christmases and if she didn't get the latest "it" product of the moment for her birthday Amy was never short on hugs, kisses or words of encouragement when it came to Maria. Or evenadvice for that matter.
"Don't worry what others think of you, it's what you think of yourself that matters most"
"You can accomplish anything you put your heart into. How do I know? Because that's what I believe and I'm always right"
"In every situation there's a good and a bad. The only thing you should do is take the good and forget the bad. I got pregnant very young but that doesn't matter, because you are the good that came out of it. And for that I'll always be grateful"
Hearing her mothers warm and always gentle voice brought tears to Maria's eyes. She was all Maria had and after she had passed, there'd been this emptiness and lonely void surrounding her heart. Wiping at the tears gently, Maria tried to shift her sad thoughts and turned on some music. Music was an escape, and had been for a long time. Amy called it music therapy. Whenever you felt your emotions spiralling out of control, simply pick the song to best match your mood and sing along to it at the top of your lungs.
Knowing the CD already inside of her Jetta's CD player, Maria quickly selected song number ten. The smooth sounds of Kelly Clarkson drifted around her.
Hear me You gotta be out there
Hear me
You gotta be somewhere
Wherever you are
I'm waiting
'Cause there are these nights when
I sing myself to sleep
And I'm hopin' my dreams
Bring you close to me
Are you listening?
Making sure to pay attention to the road ahead of her, Maria lost herself in the lyrics. Her fear of never finding anyone, of being lonely and her never ending self-doubt exploded to the surface, and she sang at the top of her lungs word for word.
I used to be scared of
Letting someone in
But it gets so lonely
Being on my own
No one to talk to
And no one to hold me
I'm not always strong
Oh, I need you here
Are you listening?
The truth was that Maria was very much alone. She had never had close friends, spending most of her high school years working to help out at home. And the friends that she had were more or less artificial. It was hard to let people in when you weren't sure of yourself. That fear kept most people at a distance and ended most of the relationships she'd been in. But deep down inside Maria wanted to have someone, anyone that she could confide in. A person she wouldn't hesitate to keep things fromfor fear that she would alienate herself. Someone she had no doubt would love her unconditionally.
I'm restless and wild
I fall, but I try
I need someone to understand
Can you hear me?
I'm lost in my thoughts
And baby I've fought
For all that I've got
Can you hear me?
Pulling her car into her apartment complex, Maria directed her car to her underground parking space. Not missing a single lyric she pulled into her space and pulled up the brake.
Hear me
I'm cryin' out
I'm ready now
Turn my world upside down
Find me
I'm lost inside the crowd
It's getting loud
I need you to see
I'm screaming for you to please
Hear me
Hear me
Hear me
Hear me
Can you hear me?
Hear me
Hear me
Hear me
Can you hear me?
Oh, oh, oh, oh...
Hear me
Hear me
Hear me
Letting the last of the lyrics wash over her, Maria sat in silence. Her emotions were still shaky but she felt better than she had before. Felt a sense of release that came after a strong emotional song was finished. Wiping at the wetness on her face, Maria checked her make-up and feeling satisfied that her tears hadn't completely ruined her make-up she grabbed her stuff and headed for the elevator to the main level.
She hopped off the elevator grabbed her mail and than continued on her way to her apartment. She tossed her coat, mail andhandbag on to her sofa and hopped into the bathroom. After showering and putting on her pyjamas, Maria hung up her coat in the closet, placed her purse in her room and opened her mail.
Hmm...another credit card? Like I don't owe enough money!
A new Cosmo! 'Sex fantasies to spice up any relationship'...that's definitely a must read for later
Evans and Summers Law Firm?
Curious, Maria opened the letter with her handy letter opener unsure what to expect. She hoped she wasn't being sued, though what she would be sued for was a mystery in itself. Her eyes widening in disbelief and shock as she began to read.
Dear Ms. Deluca,
We regret to inform you of the passing of your father, Thomas Menton. Your presence is required in the reading of his will and estate in Roswell, New Mexico. Accompanied by this letter is an information sheet with the date, time and directions for both the funeral and reading.
Once again we express our sorrow deep condolences at the untimely death of Thomas.
Philip Evans
We regret to inform you of the passing of your father
Passing of your father Your father
Than everything went black.
TBC