1984
In the cool days of the Santa Barbra autumn, a large white house stood silently along the shoreline. The red painted shutters, gutter, and door hinge gave it a rather friendly, welcoming look. On the inside, however, things were much different.
"Madison," Henrys voice was oddly quiet.
"Yes?" his wife asked, looking up over the top of her news paper.
"Did you drop Shawn off at school yet?"
"Of course." she blinked. "Haven't you noticed how quiet the house is?" she joked.
Henry walked over to the counter, grabbed a mug out of the cabinet. and filled it with coffee. He then walked around to the other side of the table, and sat down, swirling the coffee around in his mug.
"You know," Madison said, folding the news paper neatly and placing it delicately in her lap, "I cant believe he's already seven years old!" She reached a crossed the table and intertwined her fingers with Henrys.
Henry pulled his hands out of her grasp and locked his eyes with hers.
"How long, Maddie?"
"How long what?" She asked, blinking in confusion.
"How long have you known you're pregnant?" he replied, impatiently swirling his coffee again.
"I found out yesterday, Henry. I was waiting for the right time to tell you!"
"Its not mine." he replied, fire flaring in his eyes.
"What?" She gasped.
"Its not my baby. We haven't had…relations in over three months because of my job schedule. That's not my child."
"Henry…" sorrow filled her blue eyes and she placed her head in her hands. She began to sob, her tears dropping on the table. "Please forgive me."
He was silent for a few moments then shook his head. "No. This is too much."
Madison looked up in alarm, then said franticly, "You cant just throw me out! What about Shawn?"
"If you really loved him, you wouldn't have done this to our family!" Henry snarled.
"I do love him! Love him more than life itself! This is just such a mess" She yelled back.
"You're right it is, but if you just knew how to keep 'em crossed, we wouldn't be in this!" He roared.
"I love Shawn." She repeated. "Its YOU I cant stand."
The pair stared at each other in heated silence for a moment then Henry dropped his gaze and growled, "Leave, Madison. I want you out of this house before Shawn gets home, you hear me? Pack up your crap and get out."
"But Shawn-" She started.
"I'll take care of Shawn. He doesn't need a whore of a mother. I'll raise him just fine myself." He replied defiantly.
Madison left without another word, just as the rain began to fall.