Chapter 90- Esme's Epiphany

Sasha arrived at Robert's office a few days later and found Holly standing outside his door.

"What are you doing here, Mother?" Sasha asked.

"I came to speak to Robert, but he won't let me in," Holly said.

"Gee, I wonder why."

"Are you here for the DNA results?" Holly asked.

Sasha's lips formed a thin line. "How did you find out about the DNA test?"

"Oh, I just heard about it," Holly said. "I want to be here for both of you when you read them."

"If you switched the results…."

"I didn't."

"Robert said you lied about my age," Sasha said. "Do you really think I buy that?"

"I did, but it was for your own well-being," Holly said. "It would have really affected your self-esteem if you knew you were a year behind."

"Excuse me." Sasha shoved past her and walked into the office.

"Good morning, Sasha," Robert said.

"You have the results?" Sasha asked.

He nodded and held up an envelope.

Holly walked in behind her. "Robert, Sasha, if you'll just hear me out…."

"I don't want you here, Mother," Sasha said. "Leave."

"I am here to support you," Holly said.

"All right, she can stay," Robert said. "I haven't opened the results yet. I thought we could together."

Sasha glared at Holly, then sat in front of Robert's desk. Holly pulled a chair up beside Sasha.

Robert ripped open the envelope and read it over.

"Well?" Sasha asked. "What does it say?"

Robert passed it to her.

"Probability of paternity…" Sasha read out loud. "99.99%."

"See, darling?" Holly said. "Robert is your father."

Sasha ripped up the paper and threw it in Holly's face. "You switched the results. I know you did. For once, can't you tell me the truth and put my needs before yours?"

"I'm not lying," Holly said. "Robert is your father and we are a family."

Robert swallowed hard. "I have another daughter…."

"You don't believe her. You do?" Sasha groaned and stormed out of the office.

GHGHGH

Esme laid on her side, holding Ace in her arms. She heard the door creak open.

"Esme, I need you to come downstairs," Nelle said. "You have hardly left your room in a few days…. Listen, I'm going out to run errands. I need you to watch Wiley. He's in the living room. I'll be back in a few hours."

Esme heard her footsteps disappear down the stairs, then she heard the front door shut and lock.

"Ma-ma…." Ace looked up at her with sad eyes. "Home. Home."

"Grandma doesn't want us anymore," Esme cried. "Maybe she never did at all." She sat up after a few minutes. "I guess we should check on Wiley." She picked up Ace. Still in their pajamas, they headed down to the living room where Wiley was sitting on the couch.

Wiley looked up with a blank look on his face and blue lips. He rolled over and began convulsing.

"Oh my gosh!" Esme set Ace on the floor and moved over to the couch. "I—I don't know what to do. Why can't I find my phone?"

When Wiley started to fall off the couch, she caught him and put him back on. After about a minute, the convulsion slowed and eventually stopped.

"Mah-ee… Dah-ee…" he said softly, laying there still.

"Mommy Nelle just went out," Esme said. She glanced over as Ace gripped onto the coffee table and pulled himself up.

"Mah-ee."

"Okay, you need to see a doctor." She scooped up Ace and went to the front door. She looked outside the tiny window. Nelle's car was gone, so she moved back to the living room. "Wiley, I'm going to get help." She propped up some cushions around him, then headed back to the front door with Ace. She tried to open it, but it was locked. Her heart raced and she moved to the back door, but they were locked in from there too. "Oh my gosh…." She checked all the windows, but it was no use. "She—she's locked us in."

GHGHGH

Willow sat on the couch and flipped through Crimson's new magazine that Nina sent her, but she couldn't focus on it. She glanced up when Sasha walked in fuming.

"Are you okay?" Willow asked.

"No," Sasha said. "I'm not okay. The DNA results came back."

"Oh, no. Is Robert your father?"

"That's what the results claim. But I know Holly switched them. At least I hope she did…. But either way, I'm furious with her. She kept the truth from me so long."

"I know, that isn't fair," Willow said. "I don't know how you can find out for sure if she's always lingering and ready to change the results."

Sasha plopped down beside her. "I don't know either."

"Cody called me," Willow said. "He said he can't get a hold of you."

"Did you tell him?" Sasha asked.

"No. But I said I would tell you he's trying to reach you."

"Just the idea of it… ugh…. I can't see him right now. I wish Holly would just tell me the truth." Sasha looked at Willow. "I'm sorry. I know you're worried about Wiley right now, and here I am pouring all my drama onto you. Are you okay?"

"No, but it's not your fault," Willow said. "Michael was talking to Lucas. He and Sam went to Nelle's for dinner…. Don't ask why she invited them over. He said she doesn't know how to take care of him and doesn't want to take him to his follow-up appointment tomorrow."

"That's horrible. She doesn't care about Wiley at all."

"I just feel so useless," Willow said. "I want to just go there and whisk him away from Nelle. But right now, the law is on her side."

GHGHGH

Esme watched Wiley fall asleep and she held Ace on her lap while they waited in the living room. Memories of Nikolas locking her in that tower flooded through her mind. She jerked when she heard a clatter. She swallowed hard and looked down at Ace. She heard some rustling and she peeked out to the hallway, setting Ace on her hip. Finally, after a few minutes, the basement door opened and Nelle stepped out. She shut the door and locked it.

"I—I thought you left," Esme said.

Nelle smiled, a little out of breath. "I did."

Esme took a deep breath. "Why did you lock us in here?"

"To keep you safe, of course."

"Wiley needs to go to the hospital," Esme said. "He had a seizure."

Nelle brushed past her and looked down at Wiley. "He looks fine now."

"He needs to see a doctor."

"He's fine."

"I want you to unlock the front door," Esme said.

"I'm not unlocking the door," Nelle said. "Let's get some lunch."

"No," Esme said. "Unlock the door."

"I'm not doing that," Nelle said.

"Then call a doctor to come look at Wiley."

"Esme, I am the mother in this house and I will decide what's best for everyone."

Esme's eyes moved to the basement door when they could hear loud moaning sounds. "What's that?"

"Nothing you need to worry about," Nelle said.

"Why don't you want me to go in the basement?" Esme asked.

Nelle cleared her throat. "Esme, don't worry about that. I will show you soon, but now is not the right time."

"Show me what?" Esme asked.

"Stop asking questions."

A muffled voice came from the basement.

"Is someone down there?" Esme asked.

"That is none of your concern," Nelle said.

"I was wrong about you but I'm not wrong about Nelle," Maxie's voice played in Esme's head. "She's worse than I thought you were. She's a serial killer."

Esme gulped.

"Nelle isn't just trying to be a friend to you," Her mom's voice played next. "…you're not safe around Nelle."

"Haven't you read the Boy Who Cried Wolf?" she remembered Mac asking. "That's essentially what you're doing, crying wolf, even if it's presented in a different context. You keep running away and terrifying your mother, that's not going to last forever. One of these days something will actually happen and we won't believe it."

Esme's breathing sped up and she backed into the hallway. "Wh-where is my phone?"

"You don't need your phone," Nelle said. "Your life is here now. No one else matters outside of this family. Now, go put your necklace on."

Esme darted up the stairs and shut her bedroom door. She set Ace down in the crib and pushed the dresser against the door.

"Wh-what did I do? What did I do?" Tears spilled down her cheeks. She picked up Ace again and held him close. "I'm so sorry, buddy. I'm so sorry. Nelle stole my phone. I know she did. She must have told Grandma not to come and she didn't come…. She won't know. But Grandma does still love us… I think. This is my fault. I need to get us out of here… somehow."