Yay! Lots of reviews! thanks to mkat, Crazy Writter and iloveromance for the reviews. here you go!
Diane and I walked out of the apartment complex and onto the sidewalk.
"How are we gonna make it to Seattle?" I asked to no one in particular. "That wasn't part of the plan!"
"We aren't going to make it." Diane said. "We're going back to Boston. This has been too risky already, let's not push it."
"What do you mean we're going back to Boston? We didn't come all this way for nothing!"
"Analeigh, I'm sorry." She said, hailing a taxi. "You're just going to have to figure out some other way to meet him. Preferably, not involving me next time."
We got in a cab and headed to the airport. The whole time while we waited for our flight, I kept trying to find some way of convincing Diane to let me go to Seattle. Nothing worked.
"It's only a two hour flight." I pleaded.
"No. That's final."
I sat next to Diane as we waited for the next flight back to Boston. I looked around the airport, trying to find some way to convince her. I looked at the times that the next flights would be departing. Los Angeles: twenty minutes. Las Vegas: thirty minutes. Seattle: fifteen minutes.
I knew there was no convincing Diane. Apparently, I'd just have to take matters into my own hands.
"I'm gonna go to the bathroom." I lied.
I got up and went towards the bathrooms. I paused and made a detour over to the ticket counter.
"Hi," I said. "Are there any more tickets for the next flight to Seattle?"
The lady typed and clicked around on the computer for a few seconds.
"We have three left."
"I'll take one, thank you." I bought the ticket and put it in my jacket pocket.
It was now or never. There were eight minutes left until the flight for Seattle left. I walked over to Diane and grabbed my duffel bag.
"I think I'm gonna go look at someof the shops. I'll meet you at the terminal, okay?"
"Okay, be careful."
"I will."
I walked towards the terminal for the flight to Seattle.
Act natural, I thought to myself. I handed the flight attendant my ticket and she pointed me to my seat. I sat there, trying to calm myself. I'm not a criminal, everything's fine.
The pilot came over the intercom and told us that we were about to depart. As soon as the flight took off, I felt relief. When we were allowed to use our phones again, I got mine out and texted Diane.
"I'm going to Seattle. I'm tired of waiting, sorry."
The flight went by quickly. Diane told me that she would be on the next flight to Seattle to get me. Hopefully by then, I'll have already met my father.
I used my phone to look up Niles's address. Some fancy building called the Montana. I got a taxi and told him where I was going.
When I arrived, I got out and went around the back. I didn't feel like dealing with another desk clerk. As I went around, I looked for a way in. There was a door, but it had a code needed to get in. I heard someone coming and hid behind the corner.
It was a woman, she looked to be in her mid thirties, light brown hair. She was carrying a few bags of groceries. She punched in the code and went to open the door. I saw my chance and took it.
"Excuse me, miss?" I said, walking up to her. "Would you like some help?"
"Why yes, thank you."
I took one of the bags and followed her in to the building. "Is that a British accent?" I asked.
"It is." She smiled. "I'm actually from-"
"Manchester, am I right?"
"Yes." She looked surprised. "How'd you know that?"
"My mom had a coworker from there a few years ago." I said. I followed her into the elevator. "I'm Analeigh, by the way."
"Daphne."She said. "I don't beleive I've seen you around before, when did you move in?"
"I'm actually here on a surprise visit."
"Oh, really?" We walked out of the elevator and she opened the door to the apartment. "Who are you visitng?"
"Dr. Crane." I said. I followed her intothe kitchen and set down the bags.
"What a coincidence!" She laughed. "Me husband is ."
"That is a coincidence." I said, almost in shock. So, this was my stepmom? I guess it could be worse. "Speaking of him, is he around?"
"He actually went out with his brother and our son for the afternoon. He should be back soon though." She said, putting things away. "If you don't mind my asking, how do you know Dr. Crane?"
"Well, it's kinda complicated." I stumbled over what to say. "I actually don't know him, but I need to meet him."
"Oh?" She turned around.
"I'm his daughter." I said quickly.
She froze. "And, um, who's your mother?"
"Dr. Lilith Sternin."
"That...that...ugh!" She was suddenly very angry. "He never told me that he had slept with her!"
"I'm really sorry." I said. "I just found out a few weeks ago. My mom never told me. She doesn't even know I'm here."
I heard the front door of the apartment open up.
"Daphne, we're home!" A cheerful voice called.
"Would you mind staying in here while I talk to him?" Daphne asked quietly.
"Of course not."
She left the kitchen and went into the living room. When she left, I went to the door and listened.
"David, sweetheart, would you please go up to your room while Mommy and Daddy have a little talk?"
"Okay." The little boy answered.
"What are we talking about?" A different voice asked.
"Did you sleep with Lilith?"
"Where did that come from, Daphne-"
"Did you?"
"Yes." He sighed. "But it was a long time ago, before we were together. Why do you ask?"
"Well, I'll have you know, Niles-"
"Wait, wait!" I said, rushing into the living room. "I'm really sorry. This is a big misunderstanding."
"But, you said that was your father." Daphne said, confused.
"Not that Dr. Crane," I faced Frasier. It was surreal to see him in the flesh. "This Dr. Crane."
His face was full of shock. He didn't speak for a few minutes.
"My name's Analeigh." I said. "I'm your daughter."
"Oh my God." He said as he continued to stare at me. "Oh my God!"
"I can explain, I swear!"
"Please do because I, for one, am very confused." He started to raise his voice, not in anger but in confusion.
"My mother is Dr. Lilith Sternin. I have a brother named Frederick."
"Yes, yes."
"I live in Boston." I continued. "A few weeks ago, I was up in the attic and I tripped over some boxes and I found my birth certificate. You're listed as the father."
He let this information soak in for a second.
"How old are you?" He asked suddenly.
Ssixteen."
"When's your birthday?"
"October seventeenth, 1994. I was born early, though"
"Oh my God!" He repeated.
"Frasier, would you like to explain?" Niles asked as he sat on the couch.
"A few months after the divorce was final, Lilith came to Seattle. Do you remember that?"
"Yes."
"She was hoping for reconciliation. The next night, we had planned to eat dinner together." He said. "When I went into her hotel room, one thing led to another and, well," He gestured toward me.
"How does that prove anything?"
"That was in February." He sat back. "Nine months later, she would have been born in November. But October is still close."
"Wow." Niles said.
"I don't understand, though." Frasier got up and started pacing. "I've gone to Boston many times in the last few years and I've never seen you."
"I was probably with my Grandmother or my godmother, Diane."
"Diane who?" He stopped pacing.
"Chambers." I said slowly.
"How ironic!" He collapsed back in the chair. "But even so, whenever Frederick visited with me, he never mentioned you."
"My mom told him not to, I'm guessing."
"That's it." He said suddenly, taking his phone out of his pocket. "I'm calling Lilith to get this whole mess straightened out."
Crap.