Chapter 6 It´s getting dark
Toni lay in her bed and stared at the ceiling.
Part of her was so confused, you think you know people, then they just dissappoint you or surprise you. She thought. She loved her parents and she saw them as this power couple. Still crazy about each other after all these years. Still teenagers in her affection, always sweet to look at.
But when she read in the diary took her breath away.
First she read that her father struggled with alcohol at a young age. When he grew up he she knew her father didn´t drink alcohol at all and that her mother had a big influence on that. It was like her mother was his angel, so much made sense now. How her father referred to her mother as such, how this dedication had the same words.
Then she couldn´t believe her eyes what was written in the diary. A blonde? He didn´t mean it…But…He meant Kelly. Her Aunt Kelly. At the moment, Toni needed everything to continue reading. She couldn´t believe it. Her father and her aunt? Her father dated Kelly and cheated on her mother with her? That couldn´t be true…
Toni swallowed the bile down her throat. Her aunt Kelly dated her father? There were so many questions in her head. It was like Dylan and Kelly almost always wanted to be together but couldn´t because of her mom and uncle Brandon?
Holy shit. Toni was mad and angry. Her father was a fraud. How could she look into his eyes? She knew that her uncle and aunt had married shortly after their parents. She was born in August 2001, Sammy was born one year later. But why died her father cheat on her mother? Why was he with her aunt? Why did her mother seem to have forgiven them both? She, Kyle and Sheila grew up with Sammy and Nath.
She didn´t know what tot hink.
She had wished so much to have a family like that one day. Children and a big house, a loving husband who adored her.
And now she was learning about her own father. With her aunt…
She liked her aunt very much. Kelly had always been so nice to them. She was always there growing up. She and Brandon had married not long after her parents. Ten months to be exact. They went to their parents´ cabin in Big Bear together, took vacations together, took trips together. Her cousins Sammy and Nath were her best friends with her and her siblings.
Her father and her aunt…suddenly she had a picture in her head oft he two hugging or…or…even…kissing…Toni suddenly felt nauseous.
She thought about hearing her parents having sex a few years ago. And that was gross for her. But her father with Kelly? She felt nauseous again and had to choke.
She had to ask Sammy how far along he was with his mother´s diary. But she was afraid to give herself away. She didn´t want to tell him her news herself.
Toni switched off her lamp and fell into a restless sleep.
When Toni entered the kitchen in her school uniform, her mother was already making breakfast. Erica was already awake and sat in a good mood at the kitchen island.
„Good morning honey." Brenda happily greeted her daughter.
Toni sat down with her aunt.
„Are you feeling better?" She asked concerned.
Toni had noticed that Erica was not doing well. Her mother told her that Erica was sad because of a friend. Toni was still too young fort he truth.
„Yes, I´m better. I´m going to work today too." She gave her niece a smile.
„Good morning." Kyle and Sheila sang as they walked into the kitchen as well.
Like Toni, they were already wearing their school uniforms.
„Good morning cuties." Brenda handed them their cereal.
Eventually Dylan, who had fetched his newspaper, came in too. After greeting his children, he walked up to Brenda, kissed her on the cheek and pinched her waist.
Toni had to control himself to stay calm. Great, she thought. How could she pretend she didn´t know anything about her Dad and Kelly? She watched her father pour his coffee and unfold the newspaper. She also watched her mother who livingly ran her hand through her father´s hair as she passed. Dylan smiled at her caresses.
Did her mother know about this? How did she find out? Did she catch her father and Kelly? Or had her father told her about Kelly?
„Erica, when do you have to be in the lab?" Brenda asked, tearing Toni out of her thoughts.
„In an hour." Erica drank her orange juice.
„Thank you for letting me stay here."
„It goes without saying." She put her hand on Erica´s. „Then I´m going to take a quick shower. I have an appointment with my agent later."
Dylan just nodded and read his newspaper.
Toni would have liked to rip his newspaper away from her Dad.
„Honey, you have to go. The school bus is coming."
„Okay, Dad." Sheila called.
Toni also left the table. But without a word and got her backpack.
„Everything okay, Toni?" Erica asked worried.
„Everything´s fine." Toni called through her teeth. „Come on Kyle. We have to go too."
She could hardly get away from her father so quickly.
At school, she immediately met Sammy.
„And? Were you able to continue reading?"
„Unfortunately, no. I had detention and then I had to help Mom in the kitchen. Come back later. Mom and Dad aren´t there. They have dance school."
„Uncle Brandon hates dancing." Toni laughed.
„Yeah, but Mom finally made it." Sammy laughed too. „They´re going with Aunt Brenda, Uncle Dylan and Steve and Janet."
And again it was difficult for Toni to control himself. She would have loved to have told her cousin that his mother was with her Dad…Thinking about it made her nauseous again.
Instead she just nodded.
„Bonded. I´ll just tell Mom then." She couldn´t wait to continue reading Kelly´s diary.
At the Walsh-House, Sammy opened the diary and read.
21. February 1997
Dear diary,
after spending valentines day alone I still feel alone. „I choose me" was a big mistake. Dylan is in London with Brenda and Brandon is dating Tracy. I´ve never felt so lonely. Today was the 100th edition of our campus station. Brandon came up to me in the hall and we cracked a few jokes. Then Tracy came up to us and said something very mean to Brandon. Something had obviously happened between them. Was I hoping that the two might have broken up? How much has I been thinking about Brandon lately? In the afternoon I was sitting in our aportment and Tracy was standing in front of my door. She told me that on Valentine´s day she found my engagement ring in Brandon´s drawer. I had been surprised. Firstly, that Brandon hadn´t returned the ring and, secondly, that Tracy told me about it. Tracy glared at me and gave me an ultimatum. I should choose. I should decide what I want. I didn´t have to think along. I had already decided. I wanted Brandon back. I had thought of nothing but him for the past few weeks. It was strange. Never in my entire life had I had these feelings for a man. Never…When Tracy was gone I drove to Brandon´s. But he wasn´t home. Steve told me that Brandon was on his way to the jeweler. And sure enough, I spotted him as he was leaving the jeweler. I didn´t want him to see me, but he spotted me. We looked at each other and the butterflies were back. I resisted the feelings and told him he could return the ring. Brandon looked sad but he understood. I lied and told hi mit was too late for us. I secretly hoped he would disagree with me. He knew me. Did he really think that I didn´t feel anything for him anymore? I wanted so badly that he would take me in his arms and kiss me. But he didn´t. Instead he just looked at me, turned and walked away. I waited for Brandon to leave and went inside to the jewelry store. I actually bought the ring back. That was my ring. My ring alone. No other woman should wear it.
Kelly
Toni swallowed. It was here that her aunt first mentioned her father. Was that a sign?
She would love to snatch the diary out of Sammy´s hand and tell him about her knowledge. But how would he react? Would he laugh at her? Would he yell at her? Would he even throw her out and call her a liar?
No. She would have to keep controlling herself.
„Hmm, so Dad must have had girlfriends before Mom, too." Sammy shrugged.
But so far his Mom had had more friends about one of his father´s friends, Tracy.
The two continued reading.
28. Februar 1997
Dear diary,
today we go to Palm Dessert. Clare has reserved a suite at the Royal Renaissance hotel there. Massages, a hot whirpool and the tofu tostada await us. Sounds like a nice change from the rehab last year and the cure the year before. It could only get better. But no sooner had we arrived at the hotel than weh ad already met two cute guys in the hotel lobby. Roger and Dean. Clare suddenly had the rarely stupid idea and claimed we were ukrainians and spoke with an accent. She thought it was funny. Not me. I couldn´t wait to get a massage. When we got back to our room we found a note on the floor with an invitation from the two gentlemen. We found their annoying already. We ignored them and went to the whirpool instead. Unfortunately, the nuisance Roger and Dean also came. They were really very pushy. I pointed out that I was too tired. I just wanted to relax. We should meet at ten in the morning. With a short nod we said goodbye again. But fortunately there was no more meeting. In the morning there was a call from ´s friend, Dick Harrison, died of a heroin overdose. Oh my god…terrible…he was so young. How Clare would react to that? After all, Dick Clare wanted to marry one day. It was just awful. Roger and Dean seemed to have overhead our conversation. When we saw them we told them we had to leave and apologized for our behavior. But they just mobbed us and then left. Fortunately. I found this game ridiculous from the start. When we were back in Beverly Hills at After Dark in the evening we had all gathered. And Steve gave a very moving speech about Dick.
Kelly
7. March 1997
Dear diary,
there was a strange boy on our terrace this morning. His name is Joey. Apparently he had run away from home. I took him to the apartment and looked after him a little. During the day he told me more about himself. That his Mom was having a new kid and his stepdad didn´t seem to like him that much. It all sounded very familiar to me. We seemed to have a lot in common.
Kelly
14. March 1997
Dear diary,
a storm warning came out of Baja California today. Rush Sanders had a house down there and asked us to make sandbags. And built up. Brandon, Tracy, Steve, Clare and I were there. During a break, I met Brandon in the kitchen and it wasn´t lost on me that he and Tracy had been fighting again. I found out from Steve that Brandon had received two tickets to visit his parents in Hongkong. That was also the reason for their argument. Brandon hadn´t told his parents about Tracy. Unusual. That wasn´t Brandon´s style at all. I had to chuckle to myself and went back tot he sandbags. But there´s something good…Joey´s Mom and Stepdad came and Joey spoke up with his Mom and Stepdad. They wanted to go home the same day. When Joey left I drove to the Peach Pit. That´s where I found out that Brandon was taking Tracy to Hongkong. And I was so sad again.
Kelly
„It must be so sad when you´re unhappily in love with someone." Toni looked at Sammy and thought of her Mom. She wanted so badly to tell Sammy but Sammy should find out for himself. Sammy was obviously just thinking about how many male acquaintances his mother had before his father came along. He kept reading new names in the diary. All he knew was that he was gradually losing respect for her.
They read on.
1997
Dear diary,
our last break from college was coming up. Spring break. Our college was coming to an end. The others wanted to go to After Dark. But I was standing on our patio, staining an old wooden chair. I kept thinking about Brandon and Tracy in Hongkong. And nothing could distract me. I reach for my engagement ring. How could I be so stupid as to say No to Brandon? Clare tried everything to persuade me to come to After Dark with them as well. I came with him. I met Pete straight away at the bar. I ordered red wine. Glass after glass while Pete and I chatted. I drank and drank. Clare was worried about me but I pushed her away. I was perfectly fine. I wanted to introduce her to Pete but then I couldn´t remember his name. So I drank another glass of red wine. I had to forget about Brandon. Pete wanted to kiss me but I pushed him away too. I didn´t want to kiss him. I just wanted to kiss Brandon. My necklace and ring fell off. I panicked and searching the floor. Apparently that was enough for Pete and he left. Luckily Steve and Clare were there immediately and Steve found him. I could only cry. I was a wreck Steve advised me to hide the ring the next morning. I did too. It was better if I didn´t wear it as a necklace.
Kelly
There was a knock at the door. Nath stuck his head into the room.
„What are you doing there?"
„We´re doing homework." Sammy lied to his brother.
Nath looked at Sammy.
„You don´t have any exercise books."
„Nath,what do you want?"
„I want to go to the garden.Do you want to come with me?"
„No thanks."
„Okay." Nath closed the door again.
They heard Kelly and Brandon come nto the house laughing. A little later it was quiet.
Sammy checked and spotted his parents in the hallway.
„I didn´t know how well you move your ass." Randon wrapped his arms around Kelly and grabbed her bottom.
„Well, if we´d done a dance school like this bevor, you´d know." With a cheeky grin, Kelly wrapped her arms around Brandon´s neck and kissed him intensely.
„Hi Mom and Dad. How was the dance school?"
Brandon and Kelly slowly broke up.
„It was great." Kelly gushed.
„And Dylan and Steve made me look very stupid." Brandon laughed. „Dylan and Brenda just got into another class."
„By the way, Toni ist here. We listen to music together."
„Ok. And where is Nath?"
„He´s in the garden."
„Should I drive Toni home?" Brandon asked
„Yes, that would be great. I´ll get her." Sammy ran to his room.
„Dad is taking you home."
„Excellent. Mom and Dad should be home by now too."
When Brandon retourned, Kelly was cooking.
Brandon always smiled when Kelly was in the kitchen. He knew that Kelly hadn´t learned much cooking from Jackie. He often envied Dylan. Brenda had learned a lot from Cindy on this point. But Kell tried very hard and what she cooked was simple but always delicious.
Kelly quickly prepared spaghetti carbonara. She openend a bottle of red wine.
„I´ll go to Erica´s again tomorrow morning. I want to make sure everything is okay again."
„Yes, it is ok."
„Is the spaghetti cooked?" Nath came into the kitchen.
„Yes, we can eat now." Kelly prepared the plates.
At dinner, Sammy and Nath wanted to know how the dance school was. Brandon enthusiastically told his sons about the dance steps.
„I would have loved to dance with you in high school." Kelly gave her husband a sweet look.
„We have. At the spring dance. Remember?"
„Well." Kelly raised her eyebrow.
„Be glad I´m coming with you now." Brandon winked at his wife.
Then he turned to Sammy.
„Toni has been here more often. What are you always doing?"
„We hang out. Listen to music. Doing homework." Sammy shrugged.
He didn´t want to tell that he had found his mom´s diary and already knew a lot about her past. He didn´t know how to start the topic either. Especially how his Mom would react to it. Sammy had been shocked that his Mom seemed to have had a lot of boyfriends before his dad.
„Do you need help with your homework?" Kelly looked worried at her son.
Sammy was good at school. Kelly knew that. And Toni was a grade higher than Sammy, she worried.
„No just like to hang out together." Sammy looked straight at her. „And gossip about Stevie Sanders." Sammy laughed.
Brandon had to laug hat that too. He knew Stevie. He was the copy of his father. He used to brag about things Samantha Sanders gave him. Although Steve and Janet always told their youngest son not to brag. Stevie had the Sanders genes. He couldn´t help it.
„I think Stevie spends too much time with his grandma." Brandon chuckled.
Sammy breathed a sigh of relief. Now the topic was Stevie and no longer him and Toni.
In the bedroom at night, Brandon had his arms folded behind his head and watched Kelly rub lotion on her body. He just grinned at her.
„What´s up?"
„I still like tot hink you were jealous."
„Oh yeah." Kelly took off her robe and got into bed with Brandon and started kissing him.
„Yes, it´s a nice feeling. That you care about me. Even after fourteen years."
„Darling, I´ll ever care about you." Kelly kissed Brandon tenderly.
„Then I´ll show you that you never have to be jealous."
Brandon pulled Kelly onto his lap. Her nightgown found ist way onto the floor. His lips found her neck, her cleavage. Kelly first threw her head back and then buried her face in his neck.
„Brandon…" she moaned softly.
Their lips found each other and their bodies merged into one.
„I love you Kel. Never forget it. You´ll always be the one for me."
„I love you too, honey. You are my everything." Kelly whispered against his lips.
Brandon rested his head between her bare breasts and Kelly ran her fingers through his hair. Goosebumps spread all over her body. She felt his lips all over her body. She was hot and cold at the same time. Excited, Kelly dug her fingernails into Brandon´s neck. Their lips found each other again and Kelly felt Brandon reach her g-spot. A warm feeling spreat through her body. At the same time she began to tremble. Their lips hadn´t parted. Their both breath was slowly hard. Then came the final moves and Brandon flopped onto his back, pulling Kelly with him.
Satisfied and relaxed, Kelly snuggled up to Brandon and let her eyes droop.
She was so happy.
When Kelly was on her way to school with the kids next morning, Brandon drove to Erica´s lab. Erica worked in a large scale marine biology lab.
Brandon hoped to find her in her office.
At a brown wooden door with gold lettering `Erica McKay PhD` he stopped and knocked.
„Come in." The familiar voice rang out.
Brandon opened the office door.
Erica looked at him with wide eyes. „Brandon? I never expected you."
Brandon entered the office uncertainly.
„I just wanted to bring you our work." Brandon placed the envelope carefully on her desk.
Erica blushed. She was ashamed. Apparently Brandon was no different.
„You didn´t have to come here."
„Yes." Brandon was looking at her now. „That´s why I´m here too. To tell you that I like you very much and that I´m honored." Brandon didn´t quite know what to say.
He rubbed his neck with his hand in embarrassment. Then he folded his hands almost as if in prayer.
„Erica, I´m sticking with it. You are a great woman and every man who gets you as a girlfriend can count himself lucky."
Erica began to cry softly.
Brandon didn´t want that. He came to her and took her in his arms. He felt a short moment how strong she hugged him and then let go of him again. Erica looked at Brandon.
„Thanks for stopping by." She slowly calmed down.
„No problem." Brandon smiled at her. „Are we all right again?"
„Yes, the hug was good."
Brandon thought for a moment and hugged her again. This time, Erica didn´t pull him close.
„Give my regards to Kelly please."
„I´ll do it."
„Why are you always so charming and attentive?" Erica teased.
„It´s in my nature." Brandon winked at her.
„Thank you for stopping by. And for your kind words." Erica held up the envelope.
„I just wanted nothing more come between us."
Erica was too important to him for them to never talk to each other again.
„And now excuse me, my duty calls." Erica winked at Brandon and Brandon understood.
He went to the door, turned back to Erica and then left her office.
Great, Brandon and Erica told about it and Erica could say goodbye to her love feelings for Brandon.
And Toni…well, now Toni know about Dylan and Kelly. But how she will be? Will she be angry? How long will she be able to keep her knowledge with her? How will she act towards Dylan? And what is with Sammy? When will he find out about his Mom?
It remains exciting….review please