"I can't say I didn't expect that from you, Don. You've been stingy and selfish with your family and especially with your father. You're an ingrate," Catherine said to Don and then looked at Caroline. "And what about you? I have no words to say how disappointed I am in you, Caroline."
"We just wanted the truth, Catherine," Caroline replied.
"And what are you going to do with the truth? Do you want to get Lyla out of this house? You want to take her away from the father she's known since birth? Your father and I left the doctor's office devastated today. Your sister will inevitably need heart surgery. She is not well, and your father is suffering because of it. You should be proud of him instead of just hurting him. Lyla loves him, but you are both horrible people. You don't deserve the father you have."
"Your opinion of me doesn't interest me," Don replied to her. Catherine thought about replying to him but gave up. She went back to her room, grabbed her purse and left.
Some time later
Margaret was sitting on the bed thoughtfully while her husband rested. She wiped away a few tears and was very upset. Joyce, the house maid, knocked on the bedroom door and Margaret asked her to come in.
"You have a visitor," Joyce said to Margaret.
"A visitor? I'm not expecting anyone."
"She said her name is Catherine and you would know who she is."
"Yes, I know. She's Steve's girlfriend," Margaret replied and put on her slippers. "Tell her I'll be right there."
Joyce opened the door for Catherine and motioned for her to sit down to wait for Margaret. "Thank you," Catherine said to Joyce as she sat down.
Margaret came down the stairs slowly and looked sad. Catherine didn't know how Margaret would welcome her into her home and was a little nervous.
"Hi. I am finally meeting the famous Catherine. Lyla talks about you a lot every time she comes here," Margaret said to Catherine.
"Nice to meet you," Catherine stood up and extended her hand to Margaret.
"It's a pleasure to meet you too," Margaret replied and shook Catherine's hand. "Please sit down."
Although Steve always complimented Margaret, Catherine was surprised at how well received by the children's grandmother she was. "I'm sorry for coming unannounced and thank you for receiving me here in your home."
"No problem. You can come whenever you need to."
"You must assume the reason I came here," Catherine told her.
"Lyla," Margaret replied.
"Yes. I came to beg you not to take Lyla away from Steve. Please don't take Lyla away from us. We love that little girl very much. Steve only hid what happened because he really took Lyla as his daughter and he won't bear the pain of losing her."
Margaret looked at Catherine while she was thinking about what to say and a few tears fell from her eyes.
Catherine opened her purse and took out Lyla's exams. "Lyla will need heart surgery soon. I brought the tests and the doctor's report for you to see. She is happy in that house and I have been taking care of her the best way I can. She is happy with the arrival of my daughter and she loves her father more than anything. Please don't take her out of the house, don't take her out of her safe haven."
"At no time did I ever think about taking Lyla away from Steve. My husband and I have talked a lot about this issue and we are ashamed of everything our daughter done. I have always liked Steve and now I admire him even more. I know that he loves Lyla and as long as I am alive no one will take her away from him. I will make sure that doesn't happen."
"Thank you. My heart is calmer now. I was feeling in the middle of a storm," Catherine told her.
"Thank you for taking care of my grandchildren. I know it's not your place to worry so much about them.
"I must say that Dom is a very difficult person and Caroline has disappointed me greatly. They are not knowing how to deal with it and think that Lyla can't live with us anymore. Steve doesn't want them to tell Lyla that he is not her biological father."
"I don't know how to deal with teenagers anymore either, Catherine. My husband and I are old, we are not healthy enough to take care of grandchildren anymore, but I would like my grandchildren to come visit us more. Dom, Caroline and Lyla still come once in a while, but my other grandchildren hardly come here, as well as my daughter and son."
"I can't promise anything about Dom and Caroline, but I can bring Lyla every week to spend the afternoon with you at least once a week," Catherine said to Margaret.
"That would be great, Catherine. Could Mondays be okay? I would also like you to keep me informed about Lyla's health status."
"Yes, I'll talk to Steve about that and bring her in on Monday afternoons."
"Thank you. By the way, congratulations on the baby. How long until delivery?"
"Approximately four months, " Catherine replied.
"I hope you have a great birth. Would you like a piece of cake and juice? I'll ask Joyce to bring it for us."
"Yes, thank you."
Half an hour later...
Catherine arrived home and saw Steve sitting on one of the chairs on the beach. Lyla was sitting on his lap and he was staring at the horizon. She walked over to them and called him softly. "Steve?"
"Hey Cath. Where were you?"
"I went to talk to Margaret. Rest assured, she's not going to take our little girl away."
"You went there? Was she rude to you?"
"No Steve, on the contrary, she treated me very well. She is embarrassed by her late daughter's attitudes. She won't make trouble."
"Did you go to Grandma's house, Mommy?" Lyla asked.
"Yes dear," Catherine bent down and kissed Lyla's head and then hugged Steve from behind the chair.
"Thank you Cath. I didn't know what to do, I was completely bewildered."
"No one is going to separate us sailor. Together we are stronger."
