Burned By Knowledge's Power? (Chapter Six)
Khyber Kitchen, Philadephia, Sunday Evening.
Shawn and Katy Hunter along with Alan, Amy and Joshua Matthews were seated on floor cushions around a table loaded with Aghani and Middle Eastern dishes beneath a tent.
"So, this Katherine Daly was your actual mother," Alan pondered as he looked at Katy's Smartphone with her late teen mother's pic on it.
"That's right, Mr. Matthews," Katy replied.
" You spent your whole life thinking you were someone else's child but now you're finding out the woman you thought was your mother was your grandmother. How are you taking it, Katy?" Amy asked- as Alan handed her Katy's Smartphone.
"I can't deny it's a shock and a very sad story but what's saddest is that Mommy never thought she could tell me about her," Katy sighed.
"Did she ever say or do anything to make you doubt her love for you or Maya?" Amy asked.
"Of course not. She was wonderful and helpful to us! She wasn't like Virn. .. I'm so sorry, Shawn," Katy groaned as she took his hand.
" I was dealt a losing hand in the mother department. Moving on!" Shawn snapped as he pulled his hand back a bit too abruptly for either Katy or the adult Matthewses to believe him.
"I'm sorry we have to have that in common," Katy sighed.
"Virna Cordini Hunter . ..whatever last name she goes by now isn't worth a tick's tear at a hound's funeral- and it's not about me this time," Shawn protested.
"Sorry, Shawn!" Katy gulped.
"It's OK. Anyway, she showed her true colors 16 years ago and that's it! Done! Finito! Babe, you just learned all this yesterday so it's raw for you," Shawn insisted.
"Did your . ..adoptive father ever give any hints?" Joshua asked.
"Not exactly. I barely have any memories of him and I found out he died a few years after he left but the last one I have was a doozy! He had an argument with . ..Mommy and said she could have the house and me but he was done!" Katy exclaimed as she started to cry.
"What did you do?" Amy asked.
" I clung to his right leg begging him to stay but he pulled me off and practically shoved me across the room. His last words before he slammed the front door in our faces were 'This whole farce was your idea, Charlotte. I'm done with it!' Did I mention I was five?" Katy sniffed.
"How awful!" Amy gasped.
"No wonder you wanted Maya to not want to feel rejected by Kermit even if it meant she needlessly thought worse of you," Shawn gasped.
" Yeah, Jordan Hart's words made no sense at the time but they're crystal clear now," Katy fumed.
"But he HAD agreed to be your new legal father and your biological one denied you were his so none of that was your fault," Amy pleaded.
" I know all that, Mrs. Matthews. At least, I know that now, but I can't say I didn't blame myself for him leaving Mommy for way too long," Katy sighed.
"But no point in punishing yourself for your past mistakes- especially since you're no longer making them," Shawn added while taking Katy's hand.
"Now that you know that who your mother was and that she had a tendency for addiction, are you now worried about Maya's possibly inheriting that?" Joshua asked.
" Joshua! You shouldn't be asking these questions!" Alan protested while wagging his finger at his youngest son's chest.
"Are you trying to justify throwing Maya's feelings back in her face by tagging her a potential addict?" Amy sputtered.
"No, Mom!" Joshua protested.
"No, Mr. and Mrs. Matthews. It's okay. I'm not offended and these are legit questions. Truth be told, it DOES worry me. It's like Original Sin,'Katy sighed.
"What do you mean?" Joshua asked.
" Everyone has the potential within for boozing or drugging as a means for a downfall but some of us have more means than others due to family tendencies," Shawn sighed as he pointed to himself.
"But you've been clean ever since those teen episodes and Mommy was clean my whole life," Katy pleaded.
" Gammy Hart also was an alcoholic? I never saw any drunken episodes or stashes of bottles," Shawn protested.
"She was what she called a recovering alcoholic and she was honest with me about that part of own past so I'd be careful not to get started. She also told me about young teens of friends of hers and young girls she'd grown up with who died in that state but I never imagined that she was actually talking about my mother Katharine while changing her name to those fake girls," Katy sighed.
"Well, if it's any consolation, as unconventional and rebellious as Maya is, from my brief observations of her, I've never seen any signs she's into that," Alan insisted.
"Nor have I and it does help to hear that . However, that doesn't mean we can't pretend it's impossible to happen to her or our future little one thanks to the genes,"Katy gulped.
"Genes are a bit funny. I mean who'd believe Cory wasn't adopted instead of taking so strongly after your own Eastern European Jewish father, Mrs. Matthews ,while Eric and Morgan especially have taken after their other three Viking and Celtic grandparents," Shawn laughed.
" Yeah, folks often wondered if there was a baby switch at the hospital but the DNA tests prove he's ours alright," Alan laughed.
"Alan, you weren't supposed to tell anyone we did that," Amy fumed as she swatted his right arm.
"Well, I'd have still loved Cory as our son if they'd proved otherwise but I just wanted to know in case we ever needed to get blood transfusions or bone marrow transplants!" Alan sputtered.
"Quit while you're behind, Dad," Joshua groaned.
" In any case, despite all these news and worries, you're doing okay with the baby, right?" Amy asked.
"Yes, right now it's just a little nausea in the morning and sensitivity in a few spots, but according to the OB, I'm doing fine and so's the baby as best she can tell now," Katy replied as everyone finished their meals.
"Isn't that great news! "Shawn gushed as he kissed her hand.
"It sure is!" Amy beamed.
" Are we done? We need to get home since I've got class tomorrow at NYU," Joshua pleaded.
" Joshua, you had all weekend here in Philly to do your homework and you knew the Hunters would be here today! Why did you put off starting it until late Sunday evening?" Alan fumed.
" Family tradition?" Shawn replied.
" Shawn, that was going to be my line," Joshua protested but then he and Shawn looked at each other and started to laugh as did Katy then Amy and finally Alan.
"OK, since you're so keen on all us cutting this short, you can get all our jackets and wraps," Amy insisted.
"Yes, Mom, " Joshua groaned as he started to stand up and walk out of their booth toward the coat rack but then made a troubled face.
"What's wrong?" Katy asked.
" With all these pomegranates, falafel and hummus on the floor,I feel like I'm walking in a swamp," Joshua protested as he looked down.
" I know. Cool, right?" Shawn laughed.
"Well, that's what you and Shawn got for your shoelessness, so I hope you're happy," Amy snapped.
"This wouldn't have happened at your old hangout- Chubbie's. Why didn't we go there?" Katy asked.
"No reason. No reason!" Alan sputtered while he, Amy, Joshua and Shawn gave each other alarmed looks.
"Can't I tell . .?" Shawn started to ask.
"NO! At least not in front of Mrs. Matthews!" Alan insisted with gritted teeth while jerking his head in Amy's direction while she deeply shuddered.
..
.
Topanga's Bakery, NYC, Early Monday Afternoon.
Maya, Riley, Lucas, Farkle and Zay were all in aprons in the kitchen trying to take the fresh-baked loaves, cakes, rolls, cookies,etc. out of the oven.
"Mom, I protest this child labor," Riley fumed.
"I already mixed the flour, kneaded the dough, greased and floured the pans, and put them in the oven. All you have to do is take them out of the oven put the baked goods into the display baskets and then start washing the pans so we can do this all over again!" Topanga explained.
"But Mrs. Matthews, why did you wait until we were out of school to ask us?" Lucas asked.
" I didn't know I'd be short on help and large on orders before then and Mr. Matthews has that after school teachers' conference," Topanga fumed.
"So, you're blaming Mom for New Jersey getting fogged in? Way unfair and uncool, Aunt Topanga!" Maya fumed.
" In actuality, considering that New Jersey is between the Delaware and Lower Hudson Rivers with the Atlantic Ocean on its east, it's surprising it doesn't get fogged in more often," Farkle noted.
" I don't know why you, Lucas and Zay agreed to this sweat shop," Maya snorted.
" Baking's one of the most awesome scientific transformations via using heat and the carbon dioxide of one-celled organisms that are neither plants or animals to achieve that goal. How could I possibly skip this cool phenomenon?" Farkle laughed.
"To say nothing of getting all the burnt-but still edible cinnamon buns to take home! YUM" Zay added.
"And getting to spend time with you!" Lucas added while looking at Riley and taking her hand.
"Oh, go on!" Riley laughed with a blush.
"Fine, Huckleberry! You and Petunia rub it in! This still sucks," Maya fumed.
"Didn't you get a text from Aunt Katy and Uncle Shawn when they'd be back?" Riley asked.
" Yes, they should be back before too long," Maya explained.
"Did they say Mr. Feeny told them anything?" Riley asked.
" They just said it was a good visit with the Feenys and the Matthewses- and all of them send us their love and will tell me more details in person," Maya sighed.
"So are you upset that they didn't tell everything they learned by text?" Zay asked.
"No, they didn't say that Riley's Uncle Boin. .. Uncle Joshua specifically sent me HIS love," Maya groaned.
" Come on! He has nowhere close to my IQ and stuck in college classes while I'm right here. What does he have that I don't have?" Farkle asked.
" Do you really want her to detail that, Farkle?" Topanga replied.
" I guess that's one hypothesis that may be best left unsolved for now," Farkle groaned.
" I wonder if we'll find out more about my real grandmother Katharine. Hard to believe Gammy turned out to be my great-grandmother," Maya sighed.
"Considering that your Gammy Hart would have been far too advanced in chronological years to have safely born either of your biological parents, her being three instead of two generations removed from you came as no surprise to me," Farkle insisted.
" Why didn't you ever say anything?" Lucas asked.
"I was trying to be polite and not needlessly hurt anyone's feelings," Farkle admitted.
"Whoa! Robot Boy's got a heart beneath that hard drive after all!" Zay laughed as he, Lucas, Riley and Maya banged Farkle's back.
"We're back!" Shawn and Katy Hart Hunter exclaimed as they came through the bakery to the kitchen carrying the overnight bags.
"Great! Now can you tell me what you learned?" Maya asked as she hugged her parents.
"The Feenys were each able to flesh out who your grandparents Martin Alveira and, especially Katharine Daly were," Shawn replied as he put down the overnight bags.
" So was my grandfather Martin Alveira musical and was my grandmother Katharine a singer? Where did we get our height from and will my new baby sister or brother get it,too?" Maya asked.
"One question at a time, Baby Girl!" Katy laughed.
" It's a hidden generation I never knew about. Forgive my inquiring mind! It's a major deal!" Maya exclaimed.
" Not as much as to me. You knew Charlotte Hart was your Gammy and I'm your mom so finding out she was your great-grandmother and you had a secret grandmother can't have been as startling as my finding out my Mommy was really my own secret mother's Mommy," Katy sighed.
"Why do you think Mrs. Hart hid from you all that about her own daughter, your mother?" Topanga asked.
"We'll never know for sure but I guess she saw me as a replacement for Katharine and a last chance to be a mother- and she didn't want to chance losing me," Katy sighed.
"Why did Katharine Daly die so young?" Riley asked.
" Well, she. .." Katy started to say.
" Hadn't entirely recovered from becoming a mother. .." Shawn gulped while looking at Katy in uncertainty.
"Come on! Mom, Daddy! Let's not start out sugarcoating the truth," Maya scoffed.
"Arsenic may start out having a sweet flavor but, it will still ultimately poison those who consume it," Farkle added.
" Whoa!" Lucas gulped while Zay and Riley gasped aloud.
Katy looked at Shawn and he looked at her back then the two of them nodded.
"You're absolutely right, Maya- and your insights are astonishingly uncanny, Farkle. I could write a whole shelf of books about all the lies I got told by my so-called parents!" Shawn fumed.
"Shawn, Gorgeous, please. It's my side of the family and I'm the who needs to tell Maya and all our closest friends what we've learned," Katy sighed.
" I'm with you every step of the way, Babe," Shawn exclaimed as he took her right hand and kissed it.
"Thanks," Katy beamed.
"All we ask of everyone here is to use your discretion as to whom and how much to tell of the whole tale. This was a young couple who were Katy's parents, Maya's maternal grandparents. People. Not the latest piercing, streamed video or nail color to vlog into cyberspace fodder," Shawn insisted.
After Shawn and Katy explained in detail what they learned from the Feenys.
"It's so tragic! All I can think about is that pretty young girl who fought so hard for you to be healthy never got to see you take your first step, learn to talk or grow up- and never got to grow up herself,' Riley sobbed as she hugged Katy and Maya.
"I know- and I can't think about how sad and lonely Mommy. . Gammy Hart must have felt holding onto me at Katharine's funeral then holding onto her memories in that box but never feeling able to share them with me,"Katy sniffed.
"If Martin Alveira was living, I'd kill him for treating her and you like that just like Kermit did to you and me," Maya boiled.
"It's not about you, Maya," Topanga added.
"But it is- and it's also about Mom and Daddy's little one who will never meet either of them any of them," Maya sighed.
"How were Mom, & Dad Matthews and Joshua ?" Topanga asked.
"Oh,they all are fine and they send you and Cory their love. We had a great time catching up and sharing what we learned, "Katy replied.
"And the FEE-HEE-NAYS?" Maya asked.
"They were great! I think you might possibly bond with Mrs. Feeny if you get the chance to know each other," Katy laughed.
"What do you mean?" Maya asked.
" In March, Mr. Feeny's having his 90th Birthday and we're all invited for the party Lila's throwing for him," Shawn explained.
" Lila?" Riley asked while looking at Maya who shrugged her shoulders and shook her head.
" That's what Mrs. Feeny asked your Uncle Shawn and me to call her but at least wait until she suggests it before any of you teens try to call her by her given name, please," Katy pleaded.
" Don't tell me you said we'd be there before you even asked me?" Maya snapped.
"Not exactly but surely six months' notice is plenty to save the day for it!" Katy replied.
"So when did you have the chance to get new Capri flats in that funky tie-dye pattern, Mom?" Maya asked as she looked at Katy's shoes.
"I didn't. At the Afghani restaurant, there was a bunch of hummus, falafel and pomegranates on the floor which stained all our shoes," Katy fumed.
" Joshua Matthews and I didn't have that problem!" Shawn smirked.
" Why didn't you take her and my in-laws to Chubbie's?"Topanga asked.
" We couldn't have done that!" Shawn protested.
" Afraid some old girlfriends would show up?" Maya asked.
"No, it wasn't that. Chubbie's doesn't allow pregnant women!" Shawn explained.
"That makes sense," Katy sighed.
"Except it doesn't- and it's discriminatory. If they'd refused you service, you could have called me and I'd have filed a suit faster than anyone's head could spin," Topanga boiled.
"But we still would have had to have found somewhere else to eat," Shawn protested.
"Yeah, Daddy! That's majorly uncool of them to do that to Mom and other pregnant women," Maya fumed while Katy and Riley nodded.
" It's not my call. It's Chubbie's and the Philadelphia Board of Health's. The last pregnant woman who ate there was. . . Mrs. Amy Matthews when she was carrying Senator Eric," Shawn explained.
"Yikes!" everyone else gasped.
"You think they could have served a large number of Capitol Hill's mothers when they were carrying them?" Zay pondered.
"It's possible," Shawn shuddered.
"Sorry that teachers' workshop dragged on longer than I'd guessed," Cory apologized as he walked into Topanga's Bakery kitchen and put down his briefcase.
"It's okay! We can catch you up on everything!" Shawn replied before they did so.
.
"How does that make you feel to learn all that, Maya," Cory asked after hearing the news.
" Uncle Cory, I have to admit that it's daunting to know that I've got the tendency for addiction from Mom's mom's side as well as Daddy's side," Maya sighed.
"You know you're my daughter until the day I die but I can't pass on that tendency from Chet to you. That's one tiny benefit of not your being born a Hunter," Shawn sighed.
"Daddy, I know all that. I also know that Gammy Hart herself was a recovering alcoholic AND that Kermit and his side weren't immune to that either. My baby sib's going to have your DNA so anything from Chet's side will have to be considered," Maya explained.
"Such wisdom, it's no wonder I'm proud that she and Riley are my ladies!" Farkle beamed.
"Farkle, Riley's not. .." Lucas fumed.
" Let it go for now, " Riley sighed.
"Topanga, how did you not know Chubbie's has barred all pregnant women ever since Eric was born? I thought everyone in town knew that!" Cory laughed.
" So that's why you wouldn't let me jaunt back to Philly during either of my pregnancies- and why you threw out that cheese steak I'd ordered and had Fed Ex'd from Chubbie's," Topanga laughed.
"If we all pitch together, we can make this bakery shine in no time!" Cory insisted as he took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves while nodding to Shawn who, after giving Cory a momentary dirty look, did the same.
.
.
Later that evening in Riley's bedroom window.
"It's almost time for me to get back home, "Maya proclaimed.
"You don't think Aunt Katy will stay on your case about the addiction genes, right?" Riley asked.
"I'm not sure but there's lots of good benefits of knowing our ancestors. I guess," Maya shrugged.
"Now that you know your real grandfather was a cool Latino named Martin Alveira instead of that dud Jordan Hart, maybe you should try to connect to his side," Riley pondered.
" I don't know. He didn't do right by Mom or Grandma Katharine," Maya scoffed.
"But that was over 30 years ago. Besides, he may have had some brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews who might be worth knowing," Riley insisted.
" Maybe someday. .." Maya started to say.
"Oh, you're going to be the goody-goody girly-girl who waits until the grown-ups tell you it's safe to cross the street on your own?" Riley taunted.
" I don't want trouble and now's not the time to," Maya scoffed.
"When is the time? When you're old enough to be a ma'am that everyone is expected to wait to see if it's okay to use your given name instead 'Ms. Hunter,?'"Riley sneered.
"Well. .." Maya gulped.
" Come on! Where's your sense of adventure! You're part Portuguese!"Riley insisted.
"So?" Maya shrugged.
"The same folks who were the first Europeans who sailed around Africa to Asia and had colonies in Brazil, Africa and Asia until the end of the 20th Century! Yes, I picked that up from Dad during one of our naps," Riley scoffed.
"But I'm not sure how," Maya pondered.
"It's not like you have to go to a library and scroll through microfilm and bound archive books. We're just a few clicks away!" Riley beamed as she held up her laptop.
" Great! You're going to give the Portal to Infinite Dimensions Speech like Farkle once did," Maya sighed.
"Here's Martin Alveria's obit. See? Aged 22, December 12, 1985. Martin Peter Alveira. Survived by parents, Henrique and Maria Alveira, brother Miguel and sister Gloria.' So, let me do a few more clicks and then ..Hmm, their parents each have since bit the big one but your Uncle Miguel is still around and runs a dry cleaner's right in Philly- and look at his picture!" Riley beamed.
"He's my Great-Uncle,50, married and nowhere close to Joshua Matthews's league so no Uncle Boing for you, Honey,"Maya protested.
" He's good looking in a middle-aged way but you really think I'd throw off Lucas for him?!" Riley scoffed.
"Well, if you don't want to call him then there's no reason for me to call, Little Nut Job," Maya half-laughed.
" Come on, Yama! Do it and show you're as brave as any Portuguese explorer and any Hunter man!" Riley insisted as she tapped Miguel Alveira's phone number on her Smartphone.
"OK, Riley. Here goes nothing. I'm connecting to my great-uncle Miguel. Nothing to it!" Maya half-heartedly proclaimed as she connected to the number
" Hello," a man's voice cracked.
"Miguel Alveira?" Maya started to say.
"Yep! Goodbye if you're a telemarketer or survey taker," Miguel Alveira started to say on the other end of the Smartphone
"No, sir! I'm not. Do you know anything about Katharine Daly? . .I'm. ." Maya started to say.
"That lying, little slut wrecked my big brother's life and he'd be alive now if it weren't for her and her bitch mom muddying his name over that bastard baby!" Miguel Alveira boiled on the other end of the Smartphone while she and Riley both gasped.
"But. ." Maya sputtered for a moment before Miguel Alveira ended the connection leaving her holding Riley's Smartphone in shock.
"How could he talk about Gammy, my grandmother Katharine and Mom- his own niece like that?" Maya sobbed.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for this to. ." Riley sobbed.
" It's not your fault, Sunshine! You didn't know he'd be such a. I can't even," Maya shuddered through her tears.
" Well, we can never ever tell Mom or Aunt Katy. .." Riley gasped as she hyperventilated.
"Too late, Riley and you're in SO much trouble!"Topanga boiled as she opened Riley's door with her left hand while revealing herself hugging Katy (in new tears ) with her right hand.
"Mom, I didn't mean. .." Riley sputtered.
"We'll discuss your punishment later. Right now, we're going to get Aunt Katy's and Maya's wraps and quietly walk them home like real friends are supposed to do," Topanga fumed.
"But I was just trying to hel. .." Riley protested.
"Just don't say anything else to them or ME the rest of the night. I don't even want to look at you right now much less talk to you," Topanga hissed as she led a stunned Maya out of Riley's room while she and Katy wordlessly clutched hands walking ahead of the Matthews women.
"Mom, don't you love me anymore?" Riley sniffed.
"Oh, Riley. You're my daughter and no matter what happens or what you do, I'll always love you!" Topanga beamed as she hugged Riley and looked her in the eye with undiluted maternal love.
"And I love you,too, Mom," Riley quickly replied and hugged Topanga back before Topanga broke their embrace.
"But right now, I don't LIKE you and it's going to be a long time with a lot of effort on your part before I do again, " Topanga exclaimed as she again looked Riley in the eye while Riley tried to avoid her glare.
"Mom.. ." Riley sniffed.
" Just don't say anything else until tomorrow morning at the earliest and walk with me, your Aunt Katy and Maya," Topanga commanded in a voice of stone before the four women silently walked out of the Matthewses' apartment towards the Hunters' apartment not saying another word (which startled Auggie and Ava who were in the living room).
To say that Katy and Maya were offended and shattered by Miguel Alveira's condemnation of Katharine Daly, Charlotte Lubotsky Daly Hart, and Katy Hart Hunter herself would have been a major understatement. Neither they , Topanga Lawrence-Matthews or Riley Matthews were looking forward to what Cory Matthews's reaction would be upon the news of that ill-starred 30 second conversation and Riley's role- to say nothing of Shawn Patrick Hunter's. But they knew they couldn't avoid telling either of them forever much less the rest of the night as they reached the Hunters' apartment a few blocks away in Greenwich Village.