Chapter 4: Melodie Returns

She stood there in her fancy, designer outfit with a stunned expression on her face. All the rage and smugness she had just seconds ago was gone. I didn't think she expected us all to be sitting there all together, eating a family breakfast. I think she anticipated we would be all gone and Uncle Bart would be here all alone.

Slowly her clear blue eyes turned to us all. They lingered mostly on my Daddy. She looked at him with a soft look but he glared at her then averted his eyes. When she looked at me her eyes grew. She had obviously met my grandmother and knew I looked very much like her.

Everyone was so quiet. No one moved or said anything. Melodie played with her hands, her eyes downcast. Then she looked up, opening her mouth. No one words came out, no sounds. She looked like a gaping fish.

"GET! OUT! NOW!"

Everyone at the table shook. I turned to glance at my Uncle Bart who was the brightest shade of crimson. His face was bursting with rage, his eyes bulging, so cold and full of hatred.

"Leave," he whispered viciously. When Melodie didn't move he began to yell again. "You weak, pathetic whore! GET OUT of my house!"

Melodie seemed as startled as we were. Fear crept into her face. Her eyes widened. She looked so vulnerable. She stood there as if not completely understanding the order my Uncle had given.

"I…I…" she stammered

"GET OUT! Get out! Get out! Get out! NOW!"

My Uncle was shaking now. Violently he pulled out his chair and with long strides walked to where Melodie stood. His dark black eyes were bulging SLAP. He slapped both her cheeks so that they had the red hand blotches.

Melodie grew even more frightened. She began to shake; her eyes flew around looking for something to protect her, save her.

"Please Bart. No" he whispered fearfully.

Finally she met my father's eyes. Silently she begged, pleaded, willed. I wondered. Why my father?

Uncle Bart raised his hand again. He was so enraged. He was ready to attack Melodie again but with more force.

"No Bart! Leave her alone."

It was my mother and not my father who came to this Melodie's rescue. Mommy scrambled out of her chair and rushed to stand between my Uncle Bart and Melodie.

"Move, Toni. She doesn't deserve your kindness. She's a pathetic, worthless, vindictive bitch."

"Bart, No. Look around you. Please think about your actions" my mother said in a firm, calm voice.

My mother's voice put Daddy into action. Quickly he wheeled over and held Uncle Bart's hand.

"Bart listen to Toni. We can handle this like adults."

"You of all people, Jory, forgive her?" Uncle Bart indicated Melodie. "That wretched woman?" he asked disbelievingly.

My father left that questioned unanswered. He gazed off as if deep in thought. But I knew he as remembering something from long ago. From the time he could dance and walk.

Melodie found her voice at that moment. "Jory" she whispered. "Jory I'm so sorry… I never meant… I was weak…I…I-"

This brought my father back.

"Melodie" my father said sharply "this isn't the time or place."

He turned to the dining table where Darren, Deirdre, a stunned looking Uncle Richard and I were sitting.

"Richard?" my father asked wearily. "Can you take Cathy, Darren and Deirdre up to their rooms and make sure they stay there?"

"Sure Jory." He got out of his chair. "Come on you three."

Slowly we got out of our chairs too. We made our way out of the dining room. Just before we left, I glanced at the breakfast we had barely eaten and then at the woman who interrupted it. Melodie gazed at me. Cathy she mouthed. I hurried.

Up the dual staircase we went. When we reached the top we saw Aunt Cindy come down the hall.

"Where are you all going with glum faces? Breakfast isn't finished already has it? Bart's angry at me for not coming down, right?" she asked.

"No, darling. Breakfast was interrupted."

"By what Richard?"

"Not what, who."

"Well than, who?"

"Melodie."

Aunt Cindy gasped. She was so very shocked I could tell by her expression. Her blue eyes clouded with worry.

"Oh no. Melodie." She whispered. "Jory. How is Jory? And Toni? And dear god Bart! He'll kill her. Damn it he will." She hurried down the stairs.

Uncle Richard looked torn. I knew he really wanted to go downstairs and find out what's going on. I suspected he knew something though, unlike us.

"You three will go to your rooms and not come out, right? I trust you three. I'll go down and help out."

Darren and Deirdre looked at each other and then at me. Who was this Melodie? Why did she cause so much commotion? I wondered, just as my brother and sister did.

"Sure Uncle Richard." Deirdre smiled, flashing her pearly, sparkling teeth. "But couldn't you tell us just a little about that lady?" she asked in her sweet voice.

"Deirdre I'd love too, only if I knew who she was. I'll go down and find out and you three go to your rooms like your Daddy wanted."

Deirdre scowled and pivoted off. Darren followed her. Only I stayed behind.

"Off you go now Cathy."

"Uncle, is she… she… who is she?"

He looked annoyed. "She is from you Daddy's past now go off to your room."

I ran off through the halls till finally I arrived at my Foxworth Hall bedroom.

I layed down of the comfy bed. It was already made up. One of the maids must have come up already, I thought.

Now more than ever last night didn't seem like a dream. She was here, Melodie was here. That woman in the flame dress that was in my Uncle's suite was Melodie.

I tried to recall what I heard last night. 'I want to see them Bart. There my children too…' Who were her children. Surely not Darren, Deirdre and I. Toni was our mother. Other than Deirdre and Darren having similar hair colour to that lady there were no other resemblance. Lots of people have that hair colour though. I knew that I looked like my Grandmother Cathy and that Darren and Deirdre looked very similar to Carrie and Cory my Grandmother's brother and sister. My dead Great Aunt and Uncle.

But then again she said something about being the birth mother. Suddenly I was very afraid, afraid of what this lady would do to our joyful lives that seemed so perfect till now.

I saw my door open and Darren stepped in. I poked my head up.

"Hey."

"Hi Darren, Sit on the bed if you want."

I sat up as my handsome brother came and sat on the end of my bed. All at once I knew where I wanted to go.

"Darren I'm just… going to see Deirdre. I need to ask her something."

Quickly I hoped off the bed and I was out the door before he said anything. Swiftly I went through the corridors before I finally came to the Attic's main entrance. I opened the door and slid in.

During the day the Attic looked less frightening. In fact it looked more welcoming, inviting. I walked through the paper flowers. Slowly I walked towards the schoolroom just as I had done last night. The window I had left open was still open. I sat down on the window still, then carefully I slid out.

It was still warm outside and I felt odd standing on the roof. I sat. I'm not sure what I expected. Somehow I thought something magical would happen but it didn't. I thought perhaps coming here, sitting on this roof, would give me some idea, who and what this woman, Melodie was. But it didn't.

Disappointed I looked off into the sky, staring, and thinking.

I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew I woke up to sounds coming from the Attic. I was scared I would have another experience like last night. Quickly I scrambled back inside.

"Cathy. Here you are."

"Uncle Bart" I said surprised.

"You're father couldn't find you. We searched around but then it occurred to me you would be here."

"Don't climb onto that roof. It's very dangerous. You could fall. I wouldn't want you too…" he stopped suddenly. He didn't complete his sentence like he was scared of saying the word die here were my Grandmother died.

"It's alright Uncle Bart." I sat down on the floor and he sat next to me.

"Your suit might get dirty and dusty" I warned.

"It's alright." He replied quietly.

We sat in silence for awhile. I waited for him to speak. I knew he was just trying to stall.

"I loved my mother very much. She died on that window sill" he indicated the window sill above us. "She was a very strong, loving woman. Sometimes I feel guilty for not loving her enough, for thinking so bad about her. I love Chris too. He was a good man, a good father. I never appreciated him enough." He sighed.

"Your father should be telling you this." He turned to me.

"I want to hear your version too Uncle Bart. Who was Melodie?"

"Melodie, Melodie," he said spitefully. "She was good for nothing."

"Yes. But tell me how you knew her."

With a bitter voice he began. "Melodie was your father's childhood sweet heart. She was a dancer just like Jory. Jory loved her very much but I doubt Melodie felt any love for him. She just needed someone to take care of her, that conniving, horrible, coward. They got married and made it to the top together. After your fathers accident though…well she couldn't handle it. She just couldn't face reality. Melodie drifted away from your father and after she gave birth she left. She ran away from all her responsibilities as a wife. She couldn't handle having a crippled husband. So she left Jory with Darren and Deirdre and she left. She's a pathetic, nasty leech." He stopped, breathless.

"Darren and Deirdre?" I whispered. "What about me? Am I Melodie's child too?"

"No like I said she left after she gave birth to Darren and Deirdre." He paused. "Look your father will be able to explain more."

Uncle Bart got up and left me there.

---

I went back to my room in a daze. So know I knew. Melodie was… she was Darren and Deirdre's mother. Toni wasn't. Oh god, poor Deirdre, poor Darren. I knew they hated lies, liars.

I heard noises that sounded distinctively like sobbing coming from the room across mine that belonged to Deirdre. I thought I could hear her yelling "How could they not tell us the truth".

I entered me pretty pink room. At my window was my daddy, he turned as the door softly closed behind me.

"Cathy I-" he stopped abruptly as he saw my facial expression. His cheeriness was gone. "Cathy. Your Uncle told you I presume."

I nodded.

"Come here Catherine" he said quietly.

Slowly I made my way over and sat down on the soft, plush carpet.

"I'm sorry Cathy your mother and I never told you and your brother and sister. We never meant to hurt you, only tried to protect you."

"Is it true daddy?" I asked hopefully. A little part of me still held on that it could all be a joke: that lady, waking up at night, everything.

"Yes. Melodie and I were married and she is Darren and Deirdre's birth mother. Cathy let me explain. Not doubt your Uncle went on about how Melodie was running away from her responsibilities and how that she was a weak selfish woman."

"Wasn't she? She ran from her husband and children. She ran out on you when you needed her most" I stated.

My father turned his head away. For a long we sat like that before he started talking again. "Cathy I am going to speak to you like an adult. I know you will not let this go until you hear the truth so here it is" he finally said in a weary voice.

"After my accident and after my finding out I will never be able to walk again I fell into a deep depression. When I was lying down staring at the ceiling willing myself to die I thought a lot about Melodie. I knew she wouldn't want me. No woman would. After all I would be no use to her without my legs. But after my mother pulled me out of my depression with her passionate speech she renewed my hope. I began to think that Melodie would become stronger, tougher under my mother's presence. But alas that wasn't the case. I saw in her eyes she saw me different. The love that was there was gone and her eyes were filled with pity: for herself and me. I gave Melodie a way out. There was no need for us both to be crippled. Melodie needed the dance. It was her life. I told her she could leave and at first she didn't want too. She felt she should stay on as my wife but later after the birth of our children she left. I was saddened of course. She was my love, my first and I thought my last. But my mother said that Melodie had left me the greatest gift she could: my children. And not just one like we thought but two beautiful twins. I was blessed."

"Then I met Toni. She had come to Foxworth Hall as my carer. Eventually I fell in love with her. Toni accepted the twins like her own. She even accepted my disability and that; we might never have children together. She was a mother to the twins. They loved her like one too. And when we had you Cathy it was another of the happiest days of my life. For I never expected in my life to have three beautiful children after I became crippled. Toni never treated you more special because you were from her blood and the twins weren't. She was the twins' mother for they had never known any other except her. I never expected to see Melodie again and I never expected she would want to see the twins. When she left, she left for good. So Toni and I decided we shouldn't bring up the past. Perhaps it was wrong of us to just assume the twins didn't want to meet their birth mother and vice versa. But I didn't want o see them hurt if their mother didn't want them."

All the time he talked I listened attentively etching each word into my brain so that I may remember them later on. "That's all?"

My father nodded, breathless. He wheeled past me and toward the door. "I'll leave you to think" and with that left my room.

But I didn't think that was all.

---

I lay on my bed for awhile. My father's words swirling in my head. I could hear Deirdre sobbing. I knew it must be pretty loud for me to hear it at all. Foxworth Hall was very soundproof. My door opened unexpectedly and my Aunt entered.

"Hello Darling, Richard and I are off now. We've delayed our flight already and we can't stay." She shoved an envelope into my hands. "Here. Its one of your birthday presents from me. You know there still sitting down stairs you should open them." She smiled.

Inside the envelope was two tickets to Los Angeles.

"Visit me any time okay honey. I thought you could come visit in the summer or over the weekend maybe. Don't worry, I've already asked your parents permission. So anytime you feel stressed you hop on a plane and come over okay? There valid until the end on the summer and that's a long way off"

She kissed me on my head. "Stay strong." And she was gone.

After I heard my Aunts footsteps fade away I got up from my bed. I stepped out into the hallway and then walked across and opened Deirdre's door.

The sobbing was even louder. I peaked in. There curled up on her bed was Deirdre her body shaking as she sobbed. Darren had his arms wrapped tightly around her. Tears slid down his face too. They hadn't even realized I was there. I felt like I was intruding so I quickly closed the door.

---

Downstairs I found my mother in the living room sitting with a box of tissues in her hands. She was crying too. She looked up when she heard me approach. She let out a loud moan that made me feel guilty even though I hadn't done anything. Quickly I ran into her arms.

"Mommy"

"Oh Cathy, darling you don't hate me do you? Do you?"

"No Mommy."

"I went up to Deirdre's room to comfort her but she yelled at me and said… and said" she let out a few more sobs. "She said she hated me and that I should just leave because I wasn't her mother."

"Mommy she didn't mean that. She's just hurt."

"I know and I know." My mother blew her nose. Her voice became more audible. "But oh it stung when she said that. Your father and I never meant to hurt you. We didn't."

We sat like that for a while. I comforted my mother as she cried all the tears in her body. Finally her sobs died down and she blew her nose for the last time.

"I guess it does no good me sitting here crying." My mother sighed.

As she was about to get up her eyes filled tears again. In a husky voice, "I'm so sorry darling."

I began to open my mouth. Ready to tell her I forgave her and that I still loved her again but I realized she wasn't looking at me, she was looking past me. I turned around there in the living room doorway stood a disheveled Deirdre.

She stared at my mother, an angry expression on her face. They stood like that neither saying a word. Tears started to slowly drip down my mothers face. Her lip quivered. Immediately Deirdre's face changed. She looked more hurt and lost. Before the first tear fell down onto my mother's palm she rushed over.

"Oh, mommy" she cried running into my mother's arms like she was a child and not a full grown woman of twenty.

They both hugged and cuddled repeating their "sorrys". They allowed me to join and suddenly they were both smiling tears were forgotten. We were all sitting on the soft living room couch, Deirdre and I on both sides of my mother. Mommy was running her hand through Deirdre's hair when Darren walked in. To see us all sitting there brought a weak smile to his face.

"Darren" my mother whispered. And there was more hugging.

It seemed for the time all was forgiven. But I knew it wouldn't be forgotten.

'Let's go find your father and then we'll have a late lunch and then-"

"We'll go home" Deirdre cut in.

Darren nodded in agreement. "Home"

---

My Uncle Bart was devastated that we were going home. I think he hoped that with this new drama we would stay for another day. He protested saying we were in no condition to leave being so emotionally distraught but eventually he gave in.

"You all must promise to come and have lunch with me next week though" he commanded.

We all screamed yes just so he would let us leave. But I was flattered to think my Uncle enjoyed our company when he could be spending his time with important clients.

"You'll come won't you Lady Catherine."

"Of course Uncle Bart."

We packed off as many of my birthday gifts in the car as possible. I had opened all my families' presents.

From my mother and father I received a gold locket and a beautiful charm bracelet. My Uncle Richard had bought me a new light blue summer dress with a matching sun hat and shoes. I could tell immediately my Aunt had picked it all. My Aunt bought me the tickets to Los Angeles and a new make - up kit. It was so large and there was a whole range of colours. Darren bought me a new heart shaped white gold watch with saphires and Deirdrebought me all the new CDs of my favorite singers. And a few she thought i'd like.

My Uncle had also bought me a laptop. It was yellow. "I had that custom made. There is no other one like it."

Finally we were in the car and driving home. The feeling I had been having for these past two days was a low grumbling feeling. All the way home everyone was quiet lost in their own thoughts. My thoughts mainly revolved around the Paper Flowers in the Attic and Melodie.

I gazed at Darren and Deirdre. I knew that Melodie had shaken the wall of trust they had between my parents. Though the wall was repairable it would take a while to rebuild. Something like finding out your mother wasn't your birth mother and that your real mother had ran out when you very young wasn't easy to shake off or forget.

I was scared though that this was only Melodie first appearance. I was scared she would keep coming back till all our walls were just ruble. I shuddered.

My thoughts then led to my Grandmother. I knew immediately she wouldn't have liked Melodie. She wouldn't have tolerated Melodie and her weakness. I wonder what Grandpa Chris had thought about my father's first wife?

I sighed. The drive home was taking long and my muscles cramped. Slowly light left the world as the sun went down. Darkness entered.

When we finally drove down our street I was excited, happy to be home. Tonight I would sleep under my yellow covers I thought.

But alas that wouldn't be the case.

All my thoughts escaped my head when up ahead in the distance I saw bright red-yellow flickers dancing in the night.

---

So that's it! I wrote this earlier on the week but I haven't yet had a chance to post till now. Please READ & REVIEW. I realize there are probably mistakes in this because I really couldn't check it myself.