Curtain Call: The Characters (Pt. 2)
Kathryn the Woman Scorned
When her mother left it had been a blessing and a curse. She still blamed herself for her mother leaving which ultimately caused her father to die. For that, yes, Kathryn blamed her. It wasn't something as simple as a broken heart; it was stress, anxiety, and a heart attack over what Tiffany would do when she found out that he had contradicted a decision of hers. Her mother was used to getting her way. But Kathryn's beloved father had finally developed a backbone and let nature run its course- to hell with his wife. And it proved to Tiffany's chagrin that he loved Kathryn more.
Kathryn still remembered how hard it was to bring up the subject and with her baby brother dead less than 5 days ago…but she had to.
Four years ago, 5 days after Andrew's death…
"Daddy? You know what mother said about that thing…"
"What Kathryn? I'm just so tired. I just want to sleep. Can this wait till tomorrow?"
"That's the thing, Daddy. Do you know what tomorrow is? What I have to…"
"Honey, it's okay. Don't cry. You're so young. You won't ever remember it. It'll just become a faded memory." He held me in his lap and stroked her hair.
"Please. Mom's gone now, and…Andrew is ddd…gone too."
"Ok, Let me think about it."
"Alright."
So, even though her mother had already decided that Kathryn should get it done; her father was the only one around during that time-so he decided to let Kathryn make the choice. He thought it would be less traumatic if she had some control over the situation. And she was also his little girl, the one that he had given innumerable piggyback rides to and the one who was always at the door to enthusiastically greet him when he came home. She was the last person he wanted to disappoint, and he could not bear to let anything hurt her. With his wife away on her impromptu trip, it had been easier to do what he felt was right. Still though, he worried about what would ultimately happen when Tiffany came back. He wasn't dumb; he knew that his thirteen-year-old daughter would eventually have to give up what society wouldn't let her have. His heart ached for her, and he was petrified of what his wife's reaction would be when she found out he broke their united front.
They had already discussed their daughter's situation and had decided that the "treatment", as Tiffany called it, would be the best plan. Edward had needed some convincing to agree, and now that Andres was dead Edward was reluctant to force his only other child to suffer another loss. He wondered what his Kathryn would be like in the coming years as a result of Tiffany's need for the illusion of perfection.
A lifetime ago, Kathryn felt she had fallen into a hole that she would never be able to get out of. She felt isolated and numb. Her mother had returned after her father had died suddenly. Tiffany had taken one look at her daughter and given her a look that Kathryn had later learned to emulate: a condescending look that is able to break the strongest person's self-esteem. And at that time, Kathryn was 180 degrees from the cold-hearted person she was today.
From the Mouth of Babes4 years ago, 6 months after Andrews death, 36 hours after Kathryn's father's death…
Kathryn didn't go out much anymore, not that she had to. The staff at the place she was staying at for the past 5 months, on Long Island, provided everything she needed or wanted. She lived in the mausoleum-like estate of her father's longtime friend, Howard Tuttle- who happened to be conveniently on an indefinite vacation with his family in the south of France. It felt even more empty and hollow now that her father was gone. She stared out at the ocean view through the glass wall of the observatory contemplating the turn of events that lead her to be hiding from the Upper East Side (and all of high society for that matter).
Kathryn heard the old door slowly creak open, and the light tapping of stiletto heels on the brick walkway.
"I was wondering when you would get back." Inside Kathryn was on pins and needles about this confrontation. She didn't turn around right away, delaying the inevitable. Then again, her mother probably already knew; Tiffany was always in control of every little thing. Well, except obviously for one thing- Kathryn- she had never been able to predictably control her.
"Well, I thought it was the right time to come back, seeing as to how my husband has died and my daughter has been missing for 5 months."
"Oh, so you only came back to play the bereaved widow and caring mother." Kathryn waited for her mother's reprimand but was surprised by the silence. "Why did you come back?" She felt her mother walk towards her, and she closed her eyes as she breathed her mother's familiar scent. It should have been comforting, but the spicy, thick scent brought up stomachaches and memories of the scoldings and criticisms that her mother had always given her. Kathryn never felt she was good enough or lovable enough for her.
Tiffany opened her arms to pull her in a hug, but hesitated and instead stood next to her and adopted the same stance while looking out at the view. "The funeral's in 5 days." She waited a moment. "You won't be going, of course. There's no reason to ruin your reputation."
"You mean your reputation. Good to see that nothing's changed mother. You still have no heart," Kathryn said, turning towards her mother as she crossed her arms under her chest and above her burgeoning belly.
"My God Kathryn, look at you!" And there was that look.
"Don't act surprised; you're the first I told about the baby."
"How could you do this to me? Things would have been fine if you had just followed the plan and gotten the treatment as planned. Now…well it's not all ruined, perhaps-"
"Mother. I'm keeping him."
"Honey, you're only a child yourself, and I think as the responsible adult…I'm only thinking of your future."
"NO, no, no. No! I'm keeping him. I don't care what it does to your reputation, my reputation. It's not like we don't have the money. And anyway daddy said I could do what I think was best." Kathryn was desperate and was begging now. "We could name him Andrew II and you could adopt him and…I'll do anything you want; I'll lose 10 pounds and I'd even join the cheerleading squad like you wanted me too."
Yes, a lifetime ago Kathryn thought that the worse had happened to her. From then on she thought that there was nothing that could hurt her as much. Everything compared to that was endurable, attainable, and emotionally painless. She built walls around her heart to protect what little bit of it that had survived after her mother's manipulations. But then Sebastian had broken her trust; she felt there was nothing else she could do but to hurt him back after he had deviously try to pry into her past.
Curtain Call: The Characters (Pt. 3)
Sebastian the Harlequin
Sebastian had enough of treating Kathryn like a delicate flower. He was ready to show Kathryn what he really thought of her. Actually he was really angry with her for ignoring him, and treating him as only a brother. Looking at himself in the mirror, he sneered in disgust. It was terrible how he had turned into a simpering, lovesick fool. He would just love to hurt her where she was most vulnerable. Ha, that's exactly the kind of thing their dysfunctional family did.
The Queen of Dysfunctionaka the stepmother with a heart of stone, had really messed up badly when she left after her infant's death. Sebastian had stopped trying to figure out how or why the woman could have left her family after such a tragedy. A normal family, even his father, would have shown more consideration. And it was also odd since Tiffany was so concerned about keeping up appearances of a rich and happy wife. She left quite suddenly and returned quite suddenly. He wondered what made her come back, well besides that it coincided with her husband's death. Most would think that a spouse's death would be enough cause, but Sebastian knew better. The woman had too much concern for herself, and too little regard for others.
Taking one last look at his reflection, he adjusted his tie and smoothed his suit down. He was ready. Tonight was a very important night: the Valmont's were throwing a baby shower.
"Kathryn, stop being such a bitch. I'm tired of you treating me like shit!"
Kathryn felt Sebastian tug her arm, and she didn't resist as he pulled her into the vestibule. She thought by arriving to the party late she could avoid being alone with him. He pushed her up against the wall, got in her face and berated her. Turning her head away from him, she tuned him out. She was good at it; after all she had lots of practice recently.
It had been six weeks since she had found out about his breach of trust. The only reason she was at the party was that her mother had threatened her allowance. She hated losing control, and lately she felt that old memories were causing her to be weak and "emotional." So the last thing she needed right now was high dramatics from a crazed ex-boyfriend. Well, it seemed that Sebastian was no longer happy with just twilight tryst, and nothing more than that. She ignored him the rest of the time during waking hours. She had ended things with him, she thought, pretty maturely. At first she had planned on getting him back, and hurting him by making him jealous by dating Anthony, but she was too tired to follow through with it.
"-And I've had enough of this! I've had enough of this family. God, sometimes I really hate you, and I wonder what I ever thought was ever so special about you."
She caught the tail end of what he said and was struck by how enraged his green eyes were. He must really hate. That's what I want, isn't it?
Then Tiffany rushed in, breaking the intense staring match between the stepsiblings. "Kathryn! There you are! You're late; I've been waiting for you. Hi, Sebastian. You sure took your time getting her for me." Tiffany walked, or sort of waddled, as gracefully as a very pregnant woman can. She expected that they would follow her.
"Ladies first," he said waving her to enter ahead of him.
"A few seconds ago you were pointing out how I wasn't one."
"Look Kathryn, the last thing I want to do is be your enemy. It's much more fun if we are on the same side. I don't hate you, at least not always." He chuckled. She tilted her head to the side and quirked her eyebrows. Nervously putting his hands in his pants pocket he shrugged his shoulders sheepishly. "Sometimes I wish I did hate you."
It was the closest to an "I love you." that she thought she would ever get from him. She walked away confused. But she didn't care, right?
Sebastian entered the ballroom. It was opulently decorated and expensively catered as always. And the women rivaled the scrumptious food served, and they were much bettered packaged. He scanned the crowd and then nodded his head satisfied that there was no one else that caught his interest. He believed wholeheartedly in what he was about to do. Tonight was an important night: Either he would leave a fool or he would get all he ever wanted.