Josie and Lizzie
Lizzie stormed into the house like woman on a mission. Helena knew that face and honestly, she was a bit scared. Lizzie turned to her and spoke in an ice cold voice.
''Sebastian is coming for the baby and the twins. You can go somewhere else or stay in your room with headphones… Anyway, shit is about to get real.''
''I'm going upstairs to prepare things for the boys.''
Helena went and packed things for the boys. When she was done, she texted Penelope and told her that Lizzie knows and that she took the papers .
Penelope just answered with one word… Shit! She knew Lizzie saw it because of the call she didn't answer. She was not in a mood for Lizzie to tell her it was all her fault… But now, she was worried about Josei and how would that reckoning go.
Sebastian showed up and picked up the kids as his wife insisted and left the house. He had no idea what was going on and why Lizzie had a face like she was about to murder someone. She came back to the living room and could see that Josei was scared shitless of her.
''Lizzie…''
''Sit down Josette!"
Now, she was really scared.
''I've never imagined this day coming. I've never imagined saying the words that are about to leave my mouth… I am so ashamed to be your sister right now… And Satan should have left you with nothing…including kids.''
That hurt Josei… She never expected Lizzie to be on Penelope's side.
''She did something stupid and admirable… She got you a settlement you don't deserve… Not after what you did… Landon? Really? Out of all the people bird boy? We spent most of high school making fun of him Josie and now you end up fucking him and get pregnant?''
Josie was looking at the floor. She couldn't look at Lizzie.
''What happened?! Did you stop loving Penelope? What in the world got you to this situation Josie? Tell me? I am really trying here!''
''I didn't…''
''You didn't what?''
'"Stop loving Penelope… I still love her so much…''
Josie held her head and started crying.
''You have no idea how much I love her.''
Lizzie got the photos of two of them in front of the doctor's office and threw them in front of Josie.
''Yes, I see that… You love her so much that you smooch Landon on the street just a day or two ago.''
Josei took the picture and looked at Lizzie.
''Where did you get this?''
''Your wife sent it to you… Probably for the photo album!''
Josie flinched and Lizzie had very sarcastic tone and matching smile.
''To be honest, knowing her sense of humor and lever of sarcasm, she might have sent it to you to start a new family album. I know you have some of the photos like that in the album for the twins. I guess that Satan wanted the other kids to have the same. It's only fair… Your new kids would be so proud of mommy and daddy.''
Josie looked at the photos again…
''She sent them?''
''No, Santa did! What do you think Josie?! And there are some much juicier.''
''What?''
''There are photos of two of you fucking.''
Josie took the envelope and started looking at the content that were not divorce papers.
''Why would she sent all this? Why would she have all this? How?''
''Maybe she suspected you and wanted hard proof before she says anything and confronts you with the issue. There are so many possibilities Josie… Penelope is not stupid. She is lawyer and she wants hard evidence before she argues anything. You fucking Landon is pretty hard… And plus the fact that you are pregnant. We know that your wife is amazing in bed, but she can't get you pregnant…It takes one swab from the babies when they are born to prove that they are not hers unlike twins that are her kids without any doubt. That shade of green is Park color of the eyes. No mistake there.''
''What do I do Lizzie?''
''Nothing. You sign the papers and let her go. You have no right to expect her to forgive you.''
''She did…''
''And what happened?''
''Landon said I was on the way to ask for divorce and she saw these pictures.''
''Why did you kiss him?''
''It was just a moment… We heard babies' heartbeats… We were happy… No matter how much I love Penelope, Landon and I share two kids… It's different than it was with twins before… Penelope was not as enthusiastic as him. She was too rational during the entire pregnancy. I saw her having a reaction when they were born and she held them. Before that, she was like robot.''
''She had to work, take care of you and take care of Helena. She had no time to be emotional. She was scared until she heard from the doctor that it was finally over and that all three of you were ok. Last few weeks of your pregnancy were rocky and she had many scares, but she had to keep strong and rational for you. You were a mess Josie… Don't you remember?!''
To be honest, she barely remembered last two weeks of her pregnancy. She was terrified and she tried to forget how many times she wished it was over and how scared shew as for everything. Doctors took good care of her, but she missed Penelope… She remembered being jealous of Helena. She felt like she was taking Penelope away from her and from the twins.
''If I sign…it's over… She is gone from my life… We are over after I sign those papers.''
Lizzie had so many things to say, but she didn't want to rub too much salt on Josie's wound. She realized that after getting the papers, Josie realized that it was really over. In her mind, she hoped that Penelope would come back and they would work things out… This was slap in the face. Penelope was not coming back.
''Josie, you knew she would leave as soon as she finds out about the cheating and kids. Who would stay after all that crap?''
''She wanted to.''
''She loves you Jo… There is no doubt… But I don't think she would ever look at you the same way… Two of you had that unique connection… Your love was different from any of us… You and Penelope never had to wonder about other people and if you were better than some ex… Not just when it comes to sex, but to everything. You had no one to compete with. You had each other and you grew up together… Being each other's first and only was huge… And now you tainted that… She knows that someone else touched you… You touched someone else….and I guess she feels dirty too…''
Josie looked at Lizzie surprised to hear her say something positive about her and Penelope.
''You slept with both of them…at the same time… And I believe she can't get over that. She can't get over the lies…''
Lizzie took a breath. She was angry again when she remembered that Josie lied to her too.
''I am not president of Santa's fan club… BUT I must give it to her. No matter how horrible she is, she never lied… She was always honest… She even had balls to tell me she hated my wedding dress and that I looked like wiener who is about to explode when I was pregnant and trying to fit into that nude dress I love. She knows I could have killed her and got away with murder due to hormones and all that shit that frees you at the end of the pregnancy and a bit after…but she said those things to me. She always said things and gave her vision of truth every time… even when all of you were too afraid to do so…''
Josie had to agree.
''So, now you are going to sign those papers and set her free… Maybe your love is some epic shit and you find your way back at some point. Maybe she meets someone else and realizes they are what makes her happy? Life is too long and full of good and bad surprises… But you don't have much to think about… You sign the papers and pray that she is civilized next time you see her. If you were my cheating wife, you would be in the street with nothing but what you are wearing right now…and that's just because you are pregnant and those kids are innocent. If you were not… I would have killed you and Landon without a doubt. Sebastian better never do this to me… They will search for his body for years… I would make those cocktail burgers out of him and serve them to that bitch he cheated with and all of you.''
Josie made disgusted face. She couldn't imagine eating Sebastian, but she could see Lizzie doing it to him. Lizzie got the pen from her bag and gave it to Josei.
''Sign!''
Josie took the pen and turned the page to the last one… There was Penelope's signature in her perfect handwriting. She touched her wife's name and started crying. She signed somehow and Lizzie took the papers.
''I'll call Satan and ask what to do next.''
''I can't believe we are getting a divorce!''
''Shit happens… Now it's time to move on and rebuild your life. Those two need a mother…and three other kids you are having need you too.''
''Helena will go to live with Penelope.''
''She should… By the look on her face when I told her to get the boys ready, I am guessing she knows.''
''She knew for a long time, but never said anything.''
''That kid is smart.''
''Just like Penelope… She knows and sees a lot.''
''Then how did she miss what you did?''
''I think she didn't want to see it… I think she didn't let herself believe I could do it to her.''
''I am still at shock. And I am beyond pissed. I can't imagine what Mary will do to him…and to you when she sees you.''
''I can't think of that now.''
''Well, you should. That is time bomb just waiting to happen. Your kids go to school together. You will meet eventually and I can't think of what she would do or say. She doesn't have Penelope's understanding or grace. She will fuck two of you up!''
Lizzie put on her coat and took the purse.
''I am going home. Tomorrow I will sent the papers to Satan's office and we'll see what happens next. Head up Jo… There is no going back now. New chapter starts and I hope you play this hand better. Welcome to the single mom world….''
She left the house and got into her car. She tried to call Penelope again. She hoped this time she would answer.
Penelope and Lizzie
Penelope stared at the name on the phone a moment more before she got brave enough to answer.
''Yes, Elizabeth?''
She closed her eyes and waited for the sea of insults, accusations and horrible words and names to be said. To her surprise, she was met with silence and someone breathing like they were trying to control their tears.
''Why?''
Bu the tone of Lizzie's voice, Penelope knew… Penelope knew Lizzie learned the truth.
''Are you ok Lizzie?''
There was another quiet moment.
''I am sitting in my car in front of your house and I can't move… I am so confused, disappointed and somehow I can't shake the feeling of not having an idea who that woman inside is. And that is actually what hurts me the most… Who is my sister?''
Penelope understood what Lizzie spoke about .
''If you have asked me yesterday, I would have sworn that you were the one to cheat or at least hypothetically cheat on Josie. I was sure she adored you that much that she would never cross the line… She was always they quiet one and the one that was timid. You, on the other hand… you flirt and joke about entire universe wanting you and thinking inappropriately about you. You joke that you wouldn't refuse a good looking client and make insinuations that you would cross the line…''
Penelope understood what Lizzie was saying. She was loud, flirty and she did make a lot of insinuations and comments. She would also put money on herself if she was Lizzie. No one would ever think Josie would do something like that.
'' She never made a comment about other people in front of me… Ever since you started being friends when we were kids, it was only you… It made me sick to my stomach how much she spoke of you all the time. Penelope this…. Penelope that…. I love her…. She is this…. She is that…. She looked you like you could cure cancer and you did the same when it came to my sister… I never liked you, but to be honest.''
Penelope smirked on the other side of the line. She knew Lizzie never liked her.
''I was jealous of you. You too much space in Josie's life and before you came along, I never had to share her. Mom and dad were not too present in our lives. They had school to run, they had some other things to handle….and I was used to their absence and lack of time with them. Until you showed up, Josie was mine… And I didn't have to share her with the world. I hoped your thing would pass and things would go back to normal. She would be back to being only mine and you would go your own way… But it didn't happen. You stayed and took more space each day… She loved you and she wanted to be with you more than she wanted to be with me.''
That time now was something that looked so long ago to both Penelope and Lizzie. Both women wondered what happened with Josei to change and cheat on Penelope.
'' I know I made some mistakes when it comes to me and Josie, but I always believed she would tell me things that go on inside of her head. I was sure she would have told me about the affair and babies… I've never imagined learning all that after Mary threw pictures in front of me. It took me some time to believe what I was seeing…''
Penelope was silent… She was listening to Lizzie, giving her some space to went and process. She knows she needed that time too.
''How long?''
Penelope had an idea what the question was about.
''How long have I known?''
''Yes…''
''I've learned everything on Friday when she had an accident.''
''Is that a reason why she ended up in the hospital?''
''Not really… That happened in no direct relation to me.''
''What does that mean?''
''She was on the way to my office to tell me she wants a divorce and she wants to leave me for Landon when car hit her. So, indirectly, it's my fault.''
''No, it's not! You can't be blamed for something you had no idea of.''
''Thank you Lizzie.''
''So, how did you find out?''
Penelope told her about the call from the hotel, about the card issue and how she was in the car at the hotel when she got the call from the hospital… She also told her that is how she found out about the babies.
''If you found out on the Friday of the accident… How come you have old photos?''
''My boss. She was following out family members. She wants to make some new security measures and she had detectives following us and our family to establish out habits and weak spots... I saw all the pictures yesterday, before I sent the papers…. I didn't know all the details…for long.''
There was a silent moment.
''I would have killed them both…''
Penelope smirked.
''I know… You would skin them alive.''
''Mary might.''
Penelope remembered that Mary told her Lizzie came to see her and that's how she found out. She wanted to know what got Lizzie to go to Mary.
''How did that happen?''
''That is my fault.''
''How?''
''I took papers away from Josie and went to Mary to ask her to check if you are trying to rip Josie off somehow. She is a good lawyer.''
''Your husband is too…''
''Nah! Sebastian would say he doesn't want to meddle.''
''And you have to meddle…''
Lizzie just rolled her eyes.
''She is my sister and you've been my enemy number 1 for years… Did you think I would miss an opportunity to fuck you up?!''
''I am sure you are disappointed it's not my fault.''
''Oh, don't worry… I will find a way to blame this on you.''
Now both of them had hints of smiles on their faces. Lizzie continued talking.
''I didn't know why you would be such a low life to leave her when she is pregnant… And why would you exclude two of your kids from alimony. Mary said you were generous with the money you would give her and then she found pictures, bank statements and all I didn't see…''
''And now all the hell is lose.''
''Well, Landon is with the boys visiting some cousins. I hope she will not kill him in front of the kids when they come back.''
''I will defend her.''
''I bet you would Park! She would be doing the dirty work for both of you!"'
Penelope had another line and she had to end the conversation.
''I have to go Lizzie. I have work to do.''
''Ok… Just tell me what to do with the papers?''
''You can take them to my office. Ask for Jenny or Tucker… And I will give them instructions.''
''Ok… Have a good night.''
''You too Lizzie.''
Penelope ended conversation with one Elizabeth to talk to the other. Her boss wanted her to go to prison again with her so they could talk to the client before the court appearance. She gave Penelope a list of things they might need for tomorrow and told her to prepare bunch of petitions for the court. The trail of their life was starting tomorrow and if they played well, they might even be lucky enough to win it.