Revelations

Chapter 2

It was after ten PM when Bridget got home to Brooklyn from dinner in Manhattan with her new friends from work.

One of them was from Stanford University where she went to college and majored in journalism and who got her the entry job at the NY Times.

Bridget had picked Brooklyn to live in because it was what she could afford at the time, which was a one bedroom place.

Her parents wanted to help her out from the start, but she was headstrong like her mother and insisted she would make it on her own.

She did accept her mother's old loft furniture, which kind of suited the place.

Over time, she'd added a few pieces here and there until it started to feel like a real home to her.

Putting her purse down she went to change into her pajamas and then went to check her messages.

There were only three from earlier that afternoon.

The first was from her father.

"Hello, Darling...Ahh, we really should stop these phone tag things. It's rather irritating. Anyway, I just called to ask if you perhaps remember our last conversation about the film fest coming up in a month with Bogie? If you have the time, I'd like to hear from my favorite girl. You and your mother of course are both my favorites but you know what I mean, eh? Anyway. Give me a call when you get a moment, all right? Love you."

The message clicked off and then the next one came from her mother.

"Hi, Sweetie. I just wanted to find out if you'd still like to attend the opera with me? I'll get the tickets but I need to hear from you soon because they're selling out fast if you can believe that. Don't worry. Your dad graciously bowed out from our night claiming he'd already seen "Othello". A likely story, ha, ha! Well, I know how busy you are but give me a call when you get a sec, all right? I love you."

The message clicked off and then the third call was from her managing editor, Stu.

Hey, Bridge. Got a piece I want you to do in Detroit on the up and coming social hangouts. Okay, okay. The bars. Wanna get a vibe for what's hip nowadays. Should only take you a weekend...Ah, screw it. I'll foot it for the week. Let me know what's good for you, But if you don't get back to me by tomorrow morning at ten, I'll give it to Robin..."

The message clicked off and Bridget sighed shaking her head.

Nothing like giving me ample notice and letting me think about it, Stu!

Geez, what a prince!

Going to her closet she shrugged thinking, I have enough clothes to last me at least until the end of the week before doing laundry.

Going back to the living room she thought, And he is footing the trip...

Shrugging as she went to get a glass of white wine she answered out loud, "You're on, Stu."

But when she got on her phone and dialed him, there was no answer and she groaned, "Get your stupid voicemail fixed!"

When she first started at the Times he'd had trouble with his new cell phone which she helped him with and he promised to set up his voicemail right away.

Shaking her head as she hung up she put her cell down on the coffee table and went to get the envelope out of her purse.

Going to her couch she set the drink on the coffee table and opened the letter.

It was dated in March.

A month before Mildred died.

It began:

"Dear Bridget,

I never thought this day would come when I'd have to write this kind of letter.

I'd been after your parents for years to talk to you about this, but they said that when you were old enough to understand, then they would tell you what they needed to.

But as the years went on and they still didn't say a word, then I decided to take the bull by the horns recently and confront them.

I asked them straight out, What were they waiting for?!

Supposing I wasn't there to cover for them if they got in a tough spot like they did before they got married? What then?!"

Bridget frowned thinking, Tough spot? What kind of tough spot, Aunt Millie?

Pondering this for a moment she then groaned thinking, Don't tell me Mom was pregnant with me when they got married?!

Shaking her head immediately she thought, No. Mom was too smart for that. Besides, it's not like she had no way to support us if it happened that way. She had plenty of money from the agency and Dad would've helped her whether they married or not.

She went on reading and was shocked at the next lines from Mildred which stated: "If your parents hadn't gotten married, your poor father would've been sent up the river! Well, I mean... Not up the river, but at least deported. And your poor mother would've lost everything she built her life around. Including him!

Oh, it was such a mess! You see Honey, your dad was not actually Remington Steele. Your mother made him up.

But at the time, she had a reason for doing what she did! See... Sweetie, in those days they didn't take women seriously who wanted to start their own careers. Even if they did go to college and get degrees.

She did open her own agency, but no one wanted a woman detective.

So, she decided to put a man spin on her agency idea and created Remington Steele Investigations.

Her business boomed after that and she and the people with her at the time helped her continue the ruse until...

You guessed it. Your dad showed up! He planted himself in the Remington guise and from then on, your mother had no choice but to keep him there because she would lose her license as a detective and go to jail for fraud!

But knowing what she was up against he decided to stay and help her keep the agency going while she gave him an identity to live with because he didn't even know his real name.

All we knew about him was that he was born in Ireland and raised in London.

In fact, they hadn't found his real father-your grandfather-until after they were married.

His name was Daniel Chalmers and he was a con man-much like your dad was in the early days, but your dad never knew that was his father until the man was on his deathbed.

And then it was too late. But he had your mother. And Honey, I think they loved each other from day one. But I didn't meet them until the year after he showed up.

See, I had a job with the IRS and was sent to find out why they hadn't filed any tax returns for the year before.

Anyway...In the beginning, I was hoodwinked left and right by your folks until finally I lost my job with the IRS and then your dad convinced me to join the firm.

Honey, I know this is a big shock and believe me. I know how much they love you and they didn't want to hurt you for the world, but I happen to think that you would've understood in time because of the love that you have for them also.

But I suppose now that I've told you, you won't think much of me either at this point.

Well, it doesn't make a damn bit of difference because no matter where you go or what you do, your Aunt Mildred's always gonna be there for you in your heart. Got it, Kiddo?!

Love always,

" Aunt Millie"

Bridget finished reading the letter and slowly put it down on the coffee table feeling overwhelmed by a myriad of emotions!

She felt betrayed by the people she had loved most in the world...Her parents.

And Mildred she of course loved also but realized then had only kept quiet for their sake, but to what end?

She could've told her any time she damn well wanted!

Why tell me now when you're gone?!

Shaking her head, she saw her glass of wine still sitting on the coffee table and picking it up finished the contents and slowly walked to the kitchen to rinse out the glass and suddenly threw it against the fridge in a fit of anger yelling, "Damn you to hell!"

Sobbing, she left the glass mess and going back to the couch curled up with her throw letting out her pain and frustration of all she had just learned that night!

After a while when she had calmed down she went to blow her nose and wipe her eyes and then going to her cell phone dialed a number and when the party answered she replied, "Hey, Stu? It's Bridge. I'm packing right now and I'm heading for JFK...What? Uh, n-no. I'm okay. Think I'm just getting a cold. It's nothing though. All right. Talk to you tomorrow. Thanks, Stu. Bye..."

Hanging up, she went to the bedroom to pack for the Detroit trip...

TBC