A/N: You guys are lucky - I didn't think I was going to update tonight, didn't even have anything written for this chapter, but I sat down at my computer and the words flowed out. Maybe it's excitement over the fast-falling snow outside! School delay tomorrow, I hope! So Happy...February. And Happy (Early) Valentine's Day, since I probably won't be updating again until after the holiday.
This chapter starts right where the last one left off!
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"Who are you?" Roger demanded, stepping protectively in front of his wife. Mimi pushed him aside impatiently.
"Calm down, Roger, this is Adrienne. She's…a friend." She turned to Adrienne. "What's wrong?"
Adrienne glanced behind her, into the hall. At finding no one there, she seemed to relax a little, and as her eyes roved over the startled people before her, her cheeks flushed pink from embarrassment. "There…there were these two guys chasing me. They scared me…" Her voice trailed off as her eyes fell to the floor.
Rachael crossed to the window and peered down. "There are some men down there. They're looking up…"
"Hey, baby! Why don't you come down here and hang with us for a while?" a raucous call came from the street, followed by kissing noises.
Rachael leapt back from the window and fled to her mother's side.
Roger's jaw tightened. "I'll go take care of it." He muttered darkly.
"I'll come with you." Maureen said at once, jumping up.
"Maureen, stay here. You're a woman, too, you know."
"Really? I'd forgotten," Maureen said sarcastically. "Relax. I'm not scared of them. Besides, they outnumber you. If I go with you and they make trouble, I'll get the chance to try out my Kung-Fu Kitty kick." And she danced out the door before the others could protest. Roger chased after her, rolling his eyes.
Two seconds after they'd left, there was a general rush to the windows. Only Mark, who still held Kate, and Adrienne, who looked extremely uncomfortable, was left.
Roger barged out the front door, Maureen at his heels. She hovered in the doorway, keeping the door propped open with her foot, while Roger stalked forward to meet the two guys, who looked surprised at their sudden company.
"Get off my property." He hissed. "Now."
"What're you gonna do about it?" the more brawny of the two sneered. He eyed Maureen appreciatively. "You gonna get your girlfriend to beat us up?"
Roger's lips peeled back from his teeth in a grin. "You know, I just might."
The other guy, who was rather weedy in appearance, seemed to sense a threat.
"C'mon, Jon, let's go." He said to his companion.
Jon rolled his eyes, not taking them off Roger. "He can't make us leave. Watch." He took a step forward. Roger didn't move.
"Oh, Rog, please be careful…" Mimi moaned, her face pressed against the glass.
"Look!" Angie exclaimed, pointing. A car was driving slowly down the street. It parked on the curb and two figures climbed out. "Isn't that…"
"Benny!" Maureen gasped from her position in the doorway.
Jon and his friend turned as Benny and Ben approached, Benny holding out an arm to keep Ben behind him.
"What's going on, Roger?" he asked nonchalantly, at the same time reaching into his pocket. His tone was light, but the intention was clear.
"Let's get out of here," Jon muttered, and he and his friend disappeared down the street.
Roger looked relieved, but he turned his glare on Benny instead. "What are you doing here?"
Benny chuckled. "You're welcome. I'm picking Angie up. She and Ben had a date scheduled for this afternoon."
"Oh." Roger turned without another word and returned inside. Maureen followed. Benny only just caught the door before it closed.
All those up in the Loft retreated quickly from the window and tried to act as though they had not just been watching. Adrienne stepped into a corner.
The door slid open seconds later. Roger slouched into the room, followed by Maureen, who swept Kate off Mark's lap and retook her seat on the couch. Benny and Ben were right behind them.
"We got rid of them," Roger said. "Don't worry-" he glanced around, searching for Adrienne. "What was your name again?"
"Adrienne," Adrienne murmured.
All eyes turned to her. The question was clear: Who the heck are you?
Mimi sighed unhappily. "I believe proper introductions are in order. Everyone, this is Adrienne. Adrienne, this is…everyone."
Adrienne squirmed, especially under Benny's penetrating gaze. His brow cleared suddenly, and his eyes flew to Mimi's, pleading for her to tell him it wasn't true. She met his look, then shook her head sadly. He closed his eyes tightly.
"Hi," Adrienne said in a small voice.
"Funny, Meems – she has…your eyes," Anna said slowly in confusion.
Mimi knew it was no use pretending. She only wished there was some other way to break this to everybody.
"Guys, I have a confession to make. Adrienne is my…well, Benny's and mine…daughter."
Silence.
"What?" Angie asked softly.
Mimi refused to meet Roger's eyes, knowing that the anger and hurt and shock she would surely find there would be like a physical pain to her.
"Twenty-two years ago, Benny and I had an affair, as I'm sure you all know. He was engaged to Alison at the time, so when the affair resulted in a pregnancy, we didn't know what to do. We decided we would have to give the baby up. I stayed inside for the later months of my pregnancy, taking a sick leave from work so no one would know. Those who did know didn't know who the father was. When I had the baby, Benny and I took it to the orphanage. And that was it. We never spoke about it again. I never expected to hear anything about my daughter since Benny and I left a request of anonymity, but only a week ago, Adrienne found me. And…well, here she is."
"Oh." Benny said simply.
"Why…why didn't you ever say anything?" Angie squeaked.
Mimi turned to her younger daughter. Angie looked shell-shocked at this new information. Her eyes were filling up with tears as she stared at her mother.
"Sweetie…" Mimi took half a step. Angie backed away.
"I…I need a few minutes." She choked. She turned and fled out the door, slamming into the apartment on the floor below.
Rachael hesitated, and then went after her friend. Ben looked as if he half-wanted to follow, but he stayed where he was, as surprised as Angie had been at finding he had a half-sibling. And perhaps deciding Angie did not need comforting from the guy she shared a sister with.
The tension in the Loft was almost physical, a presence that rooted them all where they sat or stood. Mimi and Adrienne stared at the floor. Everyone else, excluding Roger, stared at each other. Roger's eyes were on the window, but they were looking past it, not really seeing anything.
"Maybe we'd better go." Joanne suggested softly. She stood, pulling Maureen up with her. "We'll see you all later." Maureen didn't even protest, following obediently as Kate waved shyly over her mother's shoulder.
"Um…we should go, too," Benny said softly.
"Benny..." Mimi pleaded.
He shook his head. "Now is not the time." His message was clear: You and Roger need time alone before we talk about this.
She nodded, and the Coffins left. Adrienne edged toward the door, her eyes flitting nervously from her mother to Roger.
"I'll…just…yeah…" And she practically sprinted out the door.
Mark and Anna looked like they wanted to remove themselves from the room but could not find a way to do so, this being their apartment. Mimi bit her lip and looked up at Roger for the first time. He still had not looked at her. His stance was rigid, but his hands hung loosely at his sides.
"Roger?" Mimi asked tentatively.
He turned and looked at her finally. His expression was oddly tranquil, but his eyes betrayed conflicting emotions, hurt being the most prominent of all.
"I need to be alone." He said quietly. "Please don't follow me." He wrenched open the window, climbing out onto the fire escape and heading upwards out of sight.
Mimi swayed for a moment, then burst into tears and collapsed on the floor.
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A/N: I hope all the emotions in here were realistic. I did my best, but I have never been on any end of this scenario, so...Review?