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 Eleven
It was Saturday and it had been just over a week since Paul and Margaret had rushed Dee to the hospital. That same afternoon her doctors would release her. Margaret had kept her promise not to say a word to what she had found out. But she had warned Lizzie that once Dee was at home safe and sound, she would have to confess the whole truth to the rest of the family.
Throughout the morning Dee had been excited to finally be to return home with her mom and grandparents. To the happiness of his mother, but especially his Wawita, Tom had informed the family he had decided to stay one more week. Meanwhile, Diana had left for Boston to visit her parents. Margaret, Mae and Andrea agreed that Dee should have a welcome home party, so they put Tom and Paul to work on getting things ready and so to be ready to welcome the smallest member of the family.
Tom, had done a good job hanging various colored balloons along with the welcome home sign for his beloved Wawita, while Paul had been sent to the party supply store with a long list in hand. Mae had gotten up early to make her great granddaughter's favorite cake and Margaret taken it upon herself to call caterer.
Neither Della nor Perry had wanted to leave the hospital, yet every night Lizzie had to throw them out and force them to return home. But as soon as the first of morning sun's rays appeared, the Masons were more than ready and willing to return to the side, of their little angel. On the other hand, Dr. Richard had allowed Lizzie to stay every night with her daughter. Giving her some relief, as in this way there would be no possibility of being alone with her Aunt. During the time Lizzie was there, she had managed to avoid crossing paths with her, but she knew this luck was running out. Because, as soon as she returned home to Dee, Margaret would remind her that the time to confess the truth was near.
Lizzie wasn't sure how she would do it. She was afraid of her parents' reaction, but what really concerned was knowing that her mother would be disappointed in her again, as once again, she had shown her that her daughter did not trust her enough to tell her all her problems. She knew there was no going back, that after the party she would have to muster up enough courage to confess the whole truth. She felt great relief remembering Tom would stay in Los Angeles all that week, as once again her older brother and protector would be her biggest support, through this difficult task.
During the course of the week, PJ and Gala had arrived in Los Angeles from London, to finally stay at the Drakes'. After PJ found out what had happened to Dee, he felt sorry for her. Despite that he couldn't help but feel relieved the little girl was not at his parents' house, as in this way his wife would be more comfortable without Dee hanging around the house. But, he couldn't overlook his mother's strange behavior and the fact she seemed anger and frustrated with him. Although he wasn't sure why his mother was behaving this way, he eventually attributed it to their last phone conversation.
As expected, Gala hearing about the party, decided this was the perfect time to visit her parents. This move made the entire family happy, as the least they wanted was for the cocky behavior of young Mrs. Drake to ruin Dee's welcome party.
Everyone was happy and excited when their little girl finally arrived at Masons' house. Especially Della, who was deeply relieved to see that her granddaughter had fully recovered. Making any dark thoughts go away about what her life and everyone's would have been like if something bad had happened to her little angel.
The party had passed without any mishap. As always Dee turned out to be the center of attention of the whole family, while Perry and Paul kept fighting for their granddaughter's attention, who in turn only had eyes for her Uncle Tom.
XXXX XXXX XXXX
Realizing there was no more ice, Lizzie got up from her seat and headed to the kitchen in search of more it. Seeing her leave Margaret decided to follow her to talk to her alone for a moment, as they both hadn't done it since that afternoon at the Delicatessen.
Once in the kitchen, Lizzie opened the freezer to remove the ice trays. When she turned to place them on the counter, she was startled when she saw Margaret standing in the doorway. "OH, Auntie! You scared me! Did you need something?" She asks, still a little startled to see her aunt there.
Margaret nods, "Lizzie... honey. I need a moment alone to talk with you, as it seems like you've been avoiding me for the last few days."
"Aunt Margaret, that's not true! You know well that I've spent all time with my little one and had no head to think about other matters."
Margaret rolls her eyes, while stepping into the kitchen. "Lizzie, please! Don't try to fool me. I've known you since you were a baby, I know how you act and think. You're as much my daughter as PJ and Andrea are and if I'm here. It's to tell you that..." She pauses, "Lizzie…. my child… You have to confess the truth soon. My girl... Please... Just do it!"
"I know... Auntie... I know! I am well aware that I have to talk to my parents. But I need you to understand me, it is very difficult for me to stand in front of them and admit that I have lied to them for the last four years. How am I going to tell their granddaughter's father is not a complete stranger? When in reality is someone they know very well, their own godson! Aunt Margaret, I am afraid, very afraid, afraid of tell them!" Lizzie responds starting to feel like her tears trickling down her cheeks.
"Alright, sweetie, take it easy! I promise I will wait a few more days for you to recover from what happened to Dee. But you have to promise me that you will tell them, before you return to Bolero Beach. Agree?" Lizzie nods feeling how her tears continued to fall. Margaret reaches out to pull her girl into a comforting hug. "I promise you that everything will be fine." She whispers as kisses her goddaughter's jet curls.
As both women were engrossed in their conversation, neither of them noticed the kitchen door slowly opened and closed.
XXXX XXXX XXXX
Della had gone to the kitchen in search of finding her little angel a drink. She was about to enter there, when she suddenly heard her daughter's voice saying to Margaret about PJ being Dee's father.
After she heard Lizzie, Della had to bit her lower lip hard to suppress the gasp about to let out. This shocking confession had shocked her strongly. She had often wondered who Dee's father was. But she had never thought it was her godson. The sweet little boy she had seen grow up and who loved as her own son. It was very difficult for Della to assimilate the truth, in the same way the realization her daughter would never trust her enough. Once again, her daughter had chosen someone else, to confide her most intimate secrets. Della felt a surge of jealousy towards Margaret, even knowing she shouldn't. Because if Lizzie never trusted her, it was solely her fault, as she had preferred to leave her baby in the care of her friend, while she followed her husband on all those crazy adventures. Now she would just have to resign that she would live with that guilt and resentment for the rest of her life.
Without realizing it, Della, found herself back in the middle of the living room, Lizzie's words still spinning in her head. Suddenly, she felt a tug at her hand, "NANA! Didn't you bring my juice?" The small voice of her granddaughter brought her turn away of her thoughts. Lowering her head she could see at a set couple of hazelnuts, staring her curiously.
"Oh... My treasure!" Della says as she bends down to pick up her granddaughter. "My angel, I am so sorry. Nana forgot! This old grandmother of yours, it's starting to forget things. You forgive me?" Hugging Dee tightly, Della tries to hold back her tears.
"Nana... Nana! Why are you crying? What's wrong?" Dee asks, sounding scared.
"NO, nothing happens to me.!" Della replies as shakes her head, "Don't be scared my sweet girl, I'm just fine! It's just this old headache of mine that it has come back to nag me again. Will you excuse me for scaring you?" Della looks at her granddaughter, while trying to smile her.
"GRAND-DEY, GRAND-DEY!" Dee calls out Perry, very scared. "My nana is not feeling well!"
Hearing Dee, Perry quickly gets up from his seat and walks to where his wife stands, holding their granddaughter. "My lady, what is happening with you?" He asks, as takes and gently stroking her elbow with his thumb, looking at her with concern.
Della gives her husband a reassuring smile. "Mr. Mason, you don't have to worry, nothing's wrong with me. Just one of my old migraines wanting to find its way back. I assume, it's due to the stress of the past few days. Right now, I'll go up to our room to take a couple of aspirin and I'll lay down for a moment. I assure you I will be fine shortly." Della smiles, handing Dee over to her grandfather, who he gladly accepts her, giving a smile at both of them.
At that moment, the doorbell rings, Tom gets up quick to go open it, being surprised to see PJ there. "Mr. Drake! I thought you would be happily enjoying your Saturday at your in-laws' house." Tom says mockingly, as he extend his hand to greet his friend.
"Yes! I was. But the visit was becoming rather tedious with the ongoing conversation between Gala, her mother and his brother's wife. So, I decided to leave to my dear wife with her family, while I came to spend time with mine. Sure, if there is no problem with it?
"Of course there is no problem!" Tom smiles. "Although sometimes you seem, to forget that you are a member of this family. You, Mr. Drake, will always be welcome in the Mason home." Tom steps aside, letting young Drake into the house.
At that moment, Della looks in the direction of the door where she sees Tom talking to PJ. Seeing him, an irrepressible anger seized her making her clench her fists with such force, her knuckles turned white. Without thinking, she walks quickly over to where her godson was stood to stop in front of him.
Seeing her, PJ smiles as reaches out to hug her and say hello. Great was his surprise, when his dear aunt Della instead of hugging him, she pushed him roughly away. "DON'T TOUCH ME!" She screams angrily.
PJ was stunned by the strange behavior of his godmother. The kindest woman, he had ever known. "Aunt Della... What is happening? I don't understand..." It was the only thing he could say, while trying to get close to her again. But suddenly he was stopped by Della's strong slap. Not knowing yet why she acted like this, he just stood there looking at her, rubbing his cheek.
"HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO DO THIS TO MY DAUGHTER?" Della shouts, falling to the floor on her knees, while the rest of the family stared thunderstruck the show, not sure what just happened there.