Disclaimer: The characters in this story don't belong to me, they are owned by Erle Stanley Gardner's pen. I don't receive any economic good for them. I only write for the pleasure of doing it.
Many thanks to the incredible to tengland2 for helping correct this story and for always being by my side helping and supporting me.
All the errors are only mine.
Chapter Nine
After to tell Andrea the two of them would have a long chat, Margaret could realize the hospital was not right place to carry it out. It was then she decided they needed to find a better place where they could talk without interruption. So she sought out Della and Perry to tell them that she and Andrea would be going home for a little while, taking the girls luggage and make sure things were alright at both homes. While they were there, she would take care to collect the Dee's things she need for her short stay at the hospital. Paul offered to drive both of them, leaving the Masons there.
Margaret had indicated her husband that he only needed to drive them home and then he could return to his office and take care all his unfinished business. After they finished picking up everything Dee needed, they would return on their own account to the hospital. She didn't want Paul to be in the moment that she will confront their daughter with all her doubts and suspicions. However, he was far from imagining the serious conversation about to take place between the Drake women. During the drive home, Andrea couldn't help but notice how quiet her mother had been, making it wonder to herself what was going on with her.
Once both women arrived at their destination, Margaret didn't take her inquiring gaze from her daughter. Making Andrea begin to feel more and more uncomfortable and intrigued by her strange attitude. "Okay Mom! Are you planning to tell me what is wrong with you or do I have to guess?"
Margaret let out a heavy sigh, before answering her. "Andrea... Why didn't Lizzie tell us that PJ is Dee's father?" She stares into her daughter's eyes knowing asking directly was the best way to get an answer.
"MOM! What are you saying? Have you lost your mind?" Andrea responds trying to look surprised by the question.
"Andrea Paula Drake Steiner! Don't try to fool me by pretending you don't know what I'm talking about. I know very well if my suspicions are true you are aware of everything." Margaret pauses, "my daughter... please... just answer the question. Is Dee really a Drake?"
Andrea, stood there not knowing what to say or do. She had no idea how her mother found out the truth. Arming herself with courage she stared at her mom nodding affirmatively. Seeing the confirmation of the fact that Dee was her granddaughter, Margaret fell to her knees on the floor.
Andrea reached to help her mother get up. Once stood, Margaret asked her daughter. "Do tell me, how this could have happened? We certainly would have noticed if Lizzie and PJ were ever a couple. I admit maybe not your father and uncle, but Della and I would have. We always realized Lizzie harbored feelings for your brother, but we also knew nothing good would come of it. Because PJ was deeply in love with Gala, who only had eyes for her since the first day that they met in high school."
Hearing what her mother was saying, Andrea didn't avoid rolling her eyes. "Mom, you're right! The louse brother of mine is like clay in the hands of that arrogant. For him, there is no other woman on earth than only his wife, Mrs. Gala Crawley Drake."
"That's exactly why I don't understand, how could happened it?" Margaret asks, this was a question more to her than for Andrea.
"Mom, please stop! Don't try to find a coherent answer to your question, because it doesn't exist. What occurred between them was just a mean trick of fate, something it only happened one-time, they were just in the right place and time."
"Right time and place? Andrea, I don't understand what you're talking about? Explain yourself."
Before answering, Andrea took a deep breath releasing it slowly. "Alright Mom! I promise to explain it all to you, but first sit down, as this may take time. Do you want a glass of water?"
"No! You better pour me a glass of your Father's bourbon, I have a feeling I'm going to need it."
After pouring the drink and handing it to her mother, Andrea sat next to her on the couch. She remained silent for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts before beginning. "I really don't know where to begin this is so complicated. Not to mention I feel like I'm betraying Lizzie."
"Well... my precious... I recommend just start at beginning. As far as you betraying your shadow, you both knew this would come to light someday. As far as I am concerned, these past five years in complete ignorance have been enough."
"Mom, I just need you to understand that I felt bad about hiding from you and Dad that my brother was the father of my little naughty. I didn't say anything, because I have always thought the truth should be revealed by Lizzie. I guess that Grandma Mae felt the same way."
"Aunt Mae, she knew? This can't surprise me. Of course, who else could it be the accomplice of the two of you? Now I understand her strange hints about the Dee's conduct that always reminded her of PJ. Now everything makes more sense to me. How could I be so blind and not realize? How could I think that Dee's gestures and behaviors so similar to PJ, were just a coincidence? That she was just a curious and naughty little girl, who liked to investigate without caring about danger. Just like you and PJ at the same age, quite the opposite of Lizzie who was a thoughtful and observant little one. I guess this kind of behavior this comes from your father, Detective Drake's blood."
"I want it to be on the record Grandma never agreed to hide the truth from the family. But she also wanted to respect Lizzie's decision and reasons. Even more so, after seeing the reaction to her pregnancy from Uncle Perry and Aunt Della. The strong ties of friendship between both families, they were the main reason so my shadow decided to take her secret to the grave."
"How could Lizzie think the friendship between us, it would be ruined finding out we both share a grandchild? Okay, the initial shock would be difficult, but we would all in time come to accept that your brother and Lizzie would form a family."
"Perhaps, all of you would have been willing to accept that fact. But are you sure my brother would have done it? "
"Andrea, are you implying that PJ knows that he is Dee's father and decided to ignore it?"
"No Mom, he doesn't know anything. When Lizzie found out she was pregnant she knew right from the start, the truth should not come out. They would never be a family, especially when she remembered what happened between them in Carmel."
"Carmel?" Margaret asked, surprise could be heard in her voice.
"Yes, Carmel, to be more exact Uncle Perry and Aunt Della's 25th wedding anniversary party. You could say that Dee became their unexpected anniversary gift."
"Andrea, please help me understand, at what point all this happen? If I remember correctly, at the party there were too many people for anyone to notice they were gone for any length of time. I also remember the next morning, your brother told us he received an urgent call from his office in London and he would have to left in a hurry."
Andrea snorted audibly. "Mom! That was just the pretext that louse of my brother used, because he didn't want to confront Lizzie. Especially after what had happened between them in the loft of the guest house."
"Andrea, I'm having difficulty believing what I'm hearing. My son would never behave like such a jerk to Lizzie or any other woman. Whatever the circumstances, he would never just have sex with a girl and then leave. Even, if they weren't a couple. Your father and I did not raise our children to run away from their responsibilities."
"Regardless of whether or not you believe it, your son was a complete idiot to Lizzie. Granted! He may have apologized to her for what happened between them. Damn, they didn't even sleep together, it was their first and only time. Lizzie once told me she will never forget the look of regret in PJ's eyes and that sleeping with him was the worst mistake of her life, except for her precious little girl." She pauses to try to calm the fury that was building up against her brother. "Mom... Do you know the first thing that came out of your son's insensitive mouth? It was the fact his wonderful Gala didn't deserve his betrayal. You don't know how much his words hurt my little sister. Although, it made her realize that to him, she would never mean nothing more than a mistake, caused by alcohol, something he always would want to forget. So when she found out she was pregnant, she decided that it would be best to hide who the father of her unborn child was."
"NO, I can't agree with that! Lizzie was wrong to hide the truth from us. If just your father and I had known PJ was baby's dad from the beginning. We would have made your brother do the right thing by her, we never would have allowed our grandchild to become an illegitimate child. Much less would we have overlooked Lizzie's shame at being singled out as a single mother."
"It was for that very reason that her decided to hide the truth. She knew that you would force my brother to marry her and that PJ would have done it out of respect Uncle Perry and Aunt Della. Lizzie didn't want that, as neither of them would have been happy. She didn't want to be the one to blame to ruin his relationship and future marriage to Gala. My shadow could not bear the fact of that PJ end up hating her and their child, for thwart his happiness next to the woman he loved. She knew to shut up it would be the best for everyone involved, especially for Dee."
"How the hell! Could it be the best option denying a child her father?" Margaret curses, leaving Andrea shocked at her mother's abrupt reaction. She had never seen her so angry, as she and Della were always the most equable people she'd ever met. Yet, right now, Margaret didn't feel capable of being. Because the mere thought Lizzie had lied to them, it made her increasingly angry. Wasn't it true that she and Paul had a right to know that sweet little girl was their granddaughter? Regardless of the circumstances that forced Lizzie to hide it.
"MOM, Calm down! You know Lizzie made the right choice. Maybe, my brother would have chosen to accept his responsibilities. But in the long run, their live together would have been absolute hell, which wouldn't have been good for Dee. How do you think my little girl would have felt trapped with parents who hate each other? You and I know PJ has never loved Lizzie and he never will, as he's always been trapped under the clutches of Gala's spell. He would have ended up blaming her and Dee for taking him away from the woman he loved."
"Andrea, things shouldn't have turned out like this. I agree with you that PJ has always been under the influence of Gala. But it's just a spell, an illusion that one day he will wake up. I know that deep down he has feelings for Lizzie, even if he doesn't want to see or admit it. I believe that is the main reason what the things happened between them. I'm sure at somewhere along the way, he'll end up realizing truly that he's in love with her."
"Mom, please, don't be delusional! You know that will never happen. It would be easier for Uncle Perry to lose a case, than for PJ to ever leave Gala. He's never really seen Lizzie as a woman, except the night at Carmel and this only happened under the influence of alcohol. Even if you don't want to accept it, you know that she will always be the daughter of his godparents for him. That annoying brat who always plotted with his little sister to tease him." Andrea pauses, "Mom, accept it at once, hiding the truth was the best thing ever done."
"Maybe, you're right and it wasn't the right time to find out that PJ was the father of Lizzie's baby. Because doing so only would have caused more problems than solutions. I'm sure between your dad and uncle would have done, everything possible and impossible to force him to marry her. Regardless what Lizzie and PJ really wanted. But time has passed and each one has their own separate life. PJ in London with his wife and Lizzie taking care of her daughter, without needing a man at her side. Still, Lizzie has to understand that your father, Perry and Della need to know who Dee's dad really is. I am sure there will be more than a few choice words from your father. But especially your uncle's yelling will make the San Andres Fault to move." Andrea sighs, realizing that even if time has passed, telling the truth will be just as difficult for her friend. "I'm not sure your father and uncle will understand Lizzie's reasons for hiding the truth. We all know how Perry reacts to news that he is not prepared for or does not want to hear. On the other hand Della, my dear, friend, it will hurt her a lot that her daughter didn't trust her. But in the end she will understand the reasons and circumstances why she did. Yet, PJ may not escape all fury of the Mason temper. Even if Perry loves him like his son, he couldn't accept this fact so easily, because Lizzie is his princess, his precious daughter. Although I am sure that in the long run he will forgive him, as no one knows better than him, the problems that a night of alcohol can cause."
"Mom, you can't take for granted telling the truth will not cause any collateral damage. By any chance, haven't you thought about Gala's reaction when she finds out that her husband has a daughter? I can imagine what she will do when she finds out the woman and the child are Lizzie and Dee. First will gouge Lizzie's eyes out and then take revenge on her. But most important thing should remember is that she will concentrate all her fury against our little girl. Gala, has never been kind her, not to mention she cares little or nothing her existence. She even blames the kidnapping of Dee and Aunt Della, for the loss of her baby. As if it was their fault that crazy Laura Robertson ordered the kidnapping and that my brother decided to leave her in London to come help. Plus, what makes you so sure PJ will accept Dee as his daughter?"
"Andrea, I really don't care what Gala thinks. If she really loves your brother, she will have to accept the fact that Dee is his daughter. Like you, I'm sure she will cause more than one scene. Even she will make him chose between acknowledging his daughter and staying with her. I won't deny it will be an initial shock for him, but in time he will accept the fact he is Dee's father, regardless of what Gala wants or not. I can't imagine he won´t happy and proud to be the father of that sweet little girl." Margaret sighs, as she realizes that maybe she's wrong and PJ won't really be interested in being Dee's father.
"Mom... I really hope you're right. I really hope so..."
"My girl, you will see that I am right." Margaret replies, while looks at her watch. "Andrea, we better get back to the hospital, we've been gone far too long. Della will start asking questions about why we're taking so long. Plus, I have to find and talk to Lizzie to tell her that I know everything. I will give her a reasonable amount of time to tell her parents, otherwise, I'll be the one to do it. It's about time that everyone in the family know that Dee is a Drake too!"