Blame

Rhi POV

Fuck this is hilarious! The look on the bitch's face is priceless!

"FIVE DOLLARS!" I'm howling with laughter. I can't breathe, my tummy hurts, I'm crying, I can barely stand, I'm dying and I can't stop.

"Want to go to lunch in celebration? Hell, what am I saying? You can't even buy a happy meal at Mc Donald's with that! Maybe they'll let you wash dishes to cover the rest? I'm pretty sure if you worked for at least an hour that minimum wage would cover the one meal. It's worth a shot!" I can't help the smile on my face. I'm really enjoying this. "I mean, I could loan you the rest but I don't think you can cover the repayment of that loan, the interest alone would kill you and you'd probably go bankrupt." Oh my god I can't seem to stop laughing and the more I laugh the more pissed off she gets. If she were a cartoon steam would be coming out her ears.

If she blew a gasket and ended up stroking out I certainly wouldn't perform any life saving techniques. I mean, she is at a hospital but I'm pretty sure she would only get help from the employees out of legal requirements. I doubt they would help her out of the kindness of their hearts. Let her die slowly and painfully. Preferably alone too. She's infamous and her reputation precedes her, no one likes her. Dad has too many connections and those connections have connections and so on. That doesn't even include the multitude of people my grandparents know. Word spreads quickly on base among the higher ranks and not one person respects her.

Glancing over at Joe I see him struggling to keep a straight face, which is pretty bad considering he is an attorney. But hey, he did his legal work perfectly, straight and to the point. He's been awesome throughout this whole thing and I'm so happy he's around to help dad and me.

I see Kate and Ana behind him across the sidewalk laughing and wave them over. "What're you guys doing way over there? Come over here!" I watch as they hustle across the sidewalk and open my arms to give them a hug.

"Did you hear?" I can't keep the amusement from my voice. This just strikes me as funny as hell. "Not only did she get nothing from my side of the family but her side too! Wait, that's incorrect, my mistake. She got five dollars!"

Kate and Ana look stunned. "That's what was in those papers? What is that, a will?" Kate asks, looking at Joe questioningly.

Joe nods, "Wills and trusts from Oscar, his parents and her parents." Kate and Ana nod their heads at Joe's answer.

Scoffing, my mother almost yells, "This is impossible! There's no way that information is correct or even legal. You can bet your boots I'm going to have my attorney look at all this!"

"Relax Veronica." Joe says, the irritation heave in his voice. "They're not taking away whatever is left of your trust. You're just not getting anything else after that's gone. Bruce, on the other hand, still has the entirety of his trust. He'll never gain access to it because he can't seem to get his act together and stay out of trouble. It'll take a miracle for him to even get out of prison. As a matter of fact, you're lucky you aren't in there with him."

She probably dodged those charges on her back.

You can hear the incredulity in my voice, "Boots? You can't even afford Mc Donald's and you want some boots? Oh wait! I can afford boots! As a matter of fact, I think I'll go buy some for Kate, Ana and I. Maybe everyone else while I'm at it too. You know why? Because I can. And don't even think about asking for a loan. That DEFINITELY isn't happening!"

Turning her venom onto Joe she seethes, "This is impossible! Don't even think you are going to get away with this! I'll be god damned if I'm going to let some bratty, worthless and unwanted lying little bitch get away with this!"

Ouch. That hurt.

She glares at me, continuing, "You don't deserve anything! I should get everything! I'm the one who stayed with your father throughout everything! I paid my dues! He OWES me!" She's glaring daggers at me and I can see the muscles in her jaw working as she's clenching her teeth together.

I force myself to keep a straight face. I refuse to let her break me. I hate to admit it though but even through the horrible things she's said and done to me I've always wanted a mother. Someone who wanted me. I guess she really doesn't.

I try my best to ignore the things she said but I can't hide the pain, hurt and anger from infiltrating my voice. "You are owed nothing. You were never there. The only things you deserve are heartache and pain." I feel a hand squeeze my shoulder but I'm not sure if it's in comfort or a warning. Taking a deep breath I look and see Joe looking down at me, concern in his eyes.

Saying nothing I turn back to my mother and say flatly, "Besides, dad gave you everything you wanted just so you wouldn't have to deal with me. You didn't want me. You never did. I wonder why?" I leave the question hanging between us. She's silent as her eyebrows pinch together, her lips pulling into a frown and confusion descends like a spider making its web. She has no clue.

Everyone around us is silent. I know they are there, I can feel their eyes on me. I refrain from looking at anyone but my mother. I tilt my head to the side and stare her in the eye, allowing an unsettling smile to adorn my face. I drop the tone of my voice and whisper cruelly, "He didn't want you."

Taking in a sharp sudden breath, her eyebrows shoot up to her hairline, eyes wide, her mouth moving but no words escape. I see her raise her hand, ready to strike, but a hand reaches out and closes around her forearm. I think she forgot there were people standing with us, prepared for one of us to do something stupid. She took that trophy home today. I snort at my silent joke.

"Woah! Woah! Woah!" One of the MP's standing next to my mother exclaims, stepping in front of me, holding his hands out to keep us separate.

Another MP holding my mother's arm warns, "Don't even think about touching her. Do it again and you will be arrested for attempted assault."

"Rhi, I think you should step away from your mother." Joe gently pulls my shoulder back trying to get me to step back. When I don't move he gives my shoulder a squeeze making me turn my head to look at him. "Please." There's a sadness in his eyes but his face remains impassive.

I turn and look back at my mother and take a baby-step back. I hear Joe sigh and can almost hear his eyes rolling in their sockets. I snicker. I can't help myself sometimes.

"Veronica, you will refrain from raising your hand to anyone. You will regret it if you don't." Joe's voice rings out a warning. "Care to explain your actions?" He asks.

"Yeah, mother, care to explain why you want to hit me?" I egg her on, poking a toothpick at the grizzly bear in front of me. She just glares as me, like she's at a loss for words. I don't think she has any clue as to what's going on.

"I'll take your silence as your answer. Perhaps I can fill everyone in." I remain calm, watching her, waiting for her reaction. I'm disappointed when she doesn't react at all.

I guess I'll just have to amp things up a bit.

Making sure I maintain eye contact with her I clear my throat and say, "Let me repeat that. The reason you didn't want me was because he didn't want you." I watch her face for any kind of emotion, but she disappoints me again.

Hmm, what am I missing? Oh yes! There's more to it, how could I forget?

I raise my voice and say, "Let me clarify, BRAD DIDN'T WANT YOU." I watch as her face morphs, revealing her true self. Just those four words created the crack in the facade, chipping away at the mask she's worn for the past seventeen years. I see an unfamiliar emotion in her eyes, briefly, before the hatred takes over once again.

Ah, THAT did it!

I smile, satisfaction warming my insides like a campfire. I feel giddy for some reason, like a little kid with a secret she's dying to tell. There's confusion in all the pairs of eyes watching this well-choreographed dance challenge.

Just wait! Remember, curiosity killed the cat…

Maintaining eye contact with my mother I continue, "Just to clarify even more and catch everyone up on things, Brad Stonewall is my biological father." There's a collective gasp as if a bomb was dropped and the air was sucked away just before the explosion. I smile, looking around, "You see, my mother, being the lovely person she is, was fucking him while my dad was out on deployments after James was born. She fell in love with him but he didn't love her and when she told him she was pregnant with me he left. She was forced to keep me. You know, too many questions would have come up if she was seeking medical treatment suddenly. It wouldn't take too long for the cat to be let out of the bag. Caught between a rock and a hard place, she panicked and had to make sure dad thought I was his. So, she proceeded to do whatever she had to do with dad until she could pull off the pregnancy."

Looking at Kate and Ana I smile sadly. "And here we are today. Now you know the reason my mother hates me so much." My voice lacks emotion as I continue, "The man she fell in love with was only using her for sex because she was easy. He didn't want her and she blames me."

I hear a gasp and turn to look at Joe. He's looking at me with questions in his eyes. "How did you know? We never told you anything."

I can't help rolling my eyes. "I've known for a while now. It was actually pretty easy. I just followed the clues. For one, we look alike. Too alike. Which is probably the reason she doesn't want me around, it's like looking at the man who never wanted you and never will. A reminder of the one-sided love affair that never was." I look at my mother again who looks broken. I continue on, "Number two, I've heard things here and there from people's conversations and put two and two together. I didn't get four, though, I got Brad. We've been talking for a while now. We're actually quite close and I can go to him when I have problems and need someone else's point of view. He'll never take dad's place but it's a close second. He's like an uncle to me."

I take this opportunity to look around at everyone and to say they look stunned is an understatement. I'm all for shock value but I certainly didn't expect everyone there to have the same expression. This was not exactly how I had planned on breaking the news to anyone.

Joe cautiously starts to say something, "Rhi…" I cut him off before he can even start the sentence.

"Joe, relax. Dad knows. Do you seriously think I would keep something like this from him? There's no reason to." I say, exasperated. "He's known from day one that she's been screwing other men. You ALL knew." There's a slight growl of anger in my voice and my tone drops slightly. No matter how hard I've tried, there are times I'm unable to keep the anger from seeping into my words.

They all knew what my mother had done. They all knew dad wasn't my biological father. They all wanted to keep me in the dark, to protect me I assume. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the care and concern but I still deserved to know the truth, no matter how painful it is. One thing is certain, dad is my dad. Period and there's no changing that. Mother is just some whore who brought me into this world. Brad is my biological father who's more like an uncle. I'm lucky I get to keep both in my life.

For now.

I close my eyes and shake my head quickly, muttering to myself. When I open them everyone is still looking at me, and I can see regret in their eyes. Kate and Ana, on the other hand, look concerned. I guess they know me better than everyone else.

"Rhi? You ok?" Ana steps closer to me and puts her hands on both my shoulders, looking in my eyes, like she's searching for something.

"I'm fine, why?" I respond, flatly.

Ana looks at Kate who responds, "Rhi, you're right, you do deserve the truth. Nothing should have been kept from you." She glances at Joe before continuing, "Sometimes people think they know best when they're completely wrong."

Confused, I look at her and ask, "Why are you bringing this up? It's like you're reading my mind."

Kate looks from Ana to me. "Rhi, you just said it. I was just agreeing with your valid points."

I look between Kate and Ana, who nods. "Yes, Rhi, we all heard what you said."

Fuck.

"I didn't realize I said that out loud. Sorry." I reply, sheepishly.

Man, I've got to work on keeping thoughts to myself.

Silence falls across the commons, momentarily, and there is a slight feeling of discomfort.

"Look guys, I don't know what else you want me to say but I'm done with this conversation. I'm going back to dad." I look at Joe. "Take care of the trash please." I glance at my mother and see the hate still plastered on her face.

Joe nods and replies, "Go, be with him. I'll take care of things here."

Turning to walk away I stop in my tracks when I hear, "How DARE you lie and say anything about Brad! You're just jealous and will do and say anything for attention. There's no truth behind any of your lies, right now or in the past." There's a little hesitation in her voice but otherwise it's full of hostility. "Just look at her! Talking to herself and acting all crazy. You see that? She's just a crazy little bitch who makes up stories to get attention! None of what she says is true! She's delusional!"

Her voice is grating on my nerves as it gets more shrill and acts like two pieces of Styrofoam rubbing together. I just want to punch her and shut her up permanently.

I'm exhausted and it's reflected in my voice. "I'm done with this conversation and done with you. You've worn out your welcome and you need to leave. You no longer have any say about what does or doesn't happen in our lives." I pause, my adrenalin is wearing off and I'm starting to get a massive headache from all this bullshit. I'm in a hurry to get this over with so I try to cut it short. "Which reminds me, I believe you were provided paperwork stripping you of your credentials for access to dad and me and the base in general. Isn't that why you're really here? Or did you honestly think you were going to be getting money? You certainly seem to think everyone owes you something. That you're some sort of innocent victim in every aspect of your life. My thought is that you were only coming here to cause more pain than you already have. I hate to tell you this but you are a ringleader and an enabler. You're nothing but a modern day madame, rewarding the dirty deeds done by your brother by giving him money in prison. He'll never get out and you belong right next to him. I wonder if Tim knows about that little skeleton?" I have a little bit of strength to bait her, just to see what she says or does.

She remains silent but the look in her eyes morph and realization sets in. I think she finally understands that I hold her future in my hands and with just one word everything that she knows will be snatched away and she'll never see the light of day or breathe free air again. Tim will leave her. Hell, I'm pretty sure James will even shun her and she'll be completely alone.

I take her silence as an indication that she's got nothing left to say, for now. I decide to end this and, pointing behind her I say, "Turn around."

The MP's were standing there, flanking both sides of her, and Joe has stepped forward. He looks at me, his eyes weary, and says, "Rhi, you, Kate and Ana go ahead and go inside. We'll take care of everything from here."

I look at Kate and Ana and nod. We're silent as we walk away and disappear through the hospital doors.