Whitney tried hard to focus, but between her amazement at her mother's revelation and feeling overwhelmed at the feelings she was realizing she had for Ben, it was a hard task. She had to force herself to listen and organize her thoughts.
Around 1pm they stopped for a break. Ginny & Sam moved out to the kitchen to put together some kind of lunch. Ben held an impromptu meeting with their protection detail. The boys took the opportunity to move out of the bedroom & watch some tv in the living room.
Whitney took a hold of her mother's hand and led her into the bedroom she was using. She closed the door behind them & patted the spot beside her on the bed for her mother to sit there.
"Ok ma, spill it, what else are you not telling us?"
"What are you talking about Whitney? I've given you all the information I have. There's nothing left to tell."
"Uh-uh, I'm not buying it Ma. I know you well enough to know that look when you are holding something back. I've seen it when you get ready for our birthday's & other surprises. I know there's more. You know, I am so amazed that you have held back so much information for so long. And I know you did what you did for a god reason. I can't even imagine what Ginny must be feeling right now. She's been so quiet, well quieter than usual. But I know there's more Ma. Unless you want me to ask these questions out there in front of everyone, you better start spill'n the beans."
Her mother looked at her and hugged her. She smiled & then sighed. "Ok Whitney girl. I hope you are ready for this. Because I'm not sure I am. Everything I've told you so far has been true. But you're right, I have left something out. I didn't tell because I don't see how it can be important to your case."
She paused for just a little bit, her head lowered & eyes closed. Whitney closed her eyes also, following her mother in a silent prayer.
Celia cleared her throat a little, "Quint might not have been the baby's father."
Whitney's jaw dropped, her eyes grew large and she was speechless.
"About the time Ginny was conceived, Adelia & Quint were actually not seeing each other. They'd quarrelled about something. I really don't remember what. Anyway Deli, that's what we all called her, had taken up with one of her rich neighbor's sons. Joshua Clark, you might know his family's company, Clark Construction? Anyway they had been going out for just a couple of months. She wasn't calling much then, I was busy with the boys. Your Da had just been promoted to detective. Quint still came by the house. But Deli, she just called every couple of weeks or so, just to tell me about all the fun & fancy things she & this Josh person were doing & how wonderful he was and bla bla bla. Then one day, just out of the blue mind you, she calls and she's sobbing and I almost couldn't understand her. Finally I found out where she was. I called your Da & he went over to the little coffee shop, picked her up & brought her home to our house. When she walked in the front door & I saw the bruises on her arms & her face, my heart just broke!"
She had to stop for a minute. Fresh tears were welling up in her eyes. Whitney went out to the kitchen & got her some water, and while she was there, she told the guys to go on without her because her & her mother were talking. Ginny said they would save them some sandwiches & chips. Ben walked her into the hallway & asked if everything was ok.
Whitney, touched his arm and looked up into his handsome, gentle, reassuring eyes. "Yes, we're ok, I promise you. But this is a something I can't talk about yet, it's Ma's story to tell & I need to get back in there before she's alone too long."
"Ok Whit, but let me know if you need anything?. You know I am here for you. Right?"
"Yes Ben, I know. I seem to know a lot all of the sudden!" She smiled, looked into his eyes, reached up on her tip toes and kissed him gently. Smiled at him again and then went back into the room to let her mother finish her conversation.
Whitney closed the door behind her again, and handeed the glass of water to her mother. "Here Ma, here's some water for you & Ginny said to let you know they are saving some lunch for us. Just, take your time Ma. Take your time."
Celia took the water from her daughter and just looked at her in amazement. Too often she forgot her baby girl was grown up. But today, she just looked so different. She looked like a woman instead of a young girl just out of braces.
"So, where was I? Oh yes, the bruises. Your brothers were so excited to see their "Auntie Deli" they thankfully didn't see the bruises. Knowing them, even if they did see anything, they probably would have thought she'd been playing out in the dirt like they did. Boys! Anyway, Deli hugged the boys and then looked at me like the prodigal sister coming back home. All I could think of was to hug her, hold her and just let her cry herself out until she was ready to talk to me. It took a while. Your Da was off work and took the boys out for pizza. I put on the tea kettle when she got done with her cry'n and she slowly told me her story. Apparently her parents had been pushing her to date this Josh boy, which made Quint mad and one day when they got into a tiff over it, he drove off mad. Her mother heard the fight and wasted no time at all in calling Josh. He called Deli and asked her out that very evening. She was so mad at Quint for not trusting her, she went out with Josh just to spite him and shut up her mother's nagging. Apparently they went out several times and he started with telling her she was stupid to be calling me, why did she need anyone but him. He even finally started controling her and was separating her from her family. Then one day, the day she called me cry'n, he had seen where Quint had called her cell phone. Even when she told him she hadn't answered the call and hadn't called Quint back. This nice Josh fellow up and smacked her, first on her face a couple times, then on her arms, her back, grabbed her arms and threw to the ground and well, he had his way with her. Thankfully he left after that, but not before warning her she'd better think about what she was doing and she'd better not talk to anyone about what happened. That's when she called me"
"Oh Ma, I'm so sorry. I don't even know what to say."
"There's noth'n much to say my girl. I took her to one of the small clinics over in San Antonio, they did what they could do to make sure there was no permanent damage & tried to talk her into pressing charges. She wouldn't tell them his name and wouldn't press charges. So we went back home" On the way home, she swore me to secrecy. Even your Da doesn't know what happened. She stayed with us for a few weeks. She called her mother and told her she'd gone to California to get away for awhile. We had one of our old high school friends send post cards to her parents. She'd call once in a while and whenever her parents would bring up Josh, trying to get them back together, she would just tell them, no, they were done, and then change the subject. She'd only been there with us a few weeks when Quint stopped by one day. They started talking, they even laughed a little when they realized what they fought over was so silly and small they'd both forgot what it was. It was the first time I'd seen her smile for a long time. When she discovered she was pregnant and figured out how far along she was, she fell apart again. There was no getting around it was Josh's baby. My poor Deli was so scared. She was so sure Quint would never have her once he knew what happened, and embarassed what your Da would think of her. Scared of what her parents would say. I told Quint.
He didn't care and was willing to do anything to protect her. That's when we came up with our story, your Da doesn't know either, he just thinks the baby came early like everyone else did. Though I s'pose he'll have to know now won't he?"
"I don't know Ma. I can't promise he won't, but I'll do everything I can to protect you. It might be better if you told him anyway. If he has to find out, it would be better coming from you."
"You're right my girl. I know you're right. Do you think Ben could get him over here so I could tell him before you tell Ben and Ginny?"
"You stay in here as long as you need to Ma. Do you want me to bring your sandwich and chips in here? Maybe a soda too? Or more water?"
"No dear, just give me a few minutes to pull myself together. You go out and talk to Ben. When I come out we'll just say we were talking about how all this just made me remember Deli. Which is the truth. Is that ok?"
Whitney patted her mother's hand and hugged her so gently. "Yes, sure Ma, it's just fine with me"
Whitney went out of the room and shut the door behind her. Everyone turned and looked at her as she came through the hall. She gathered up her muster and smiled. "Hey Ben, you want to keep me company while I eat my sandwich? Ma will be out in a minute or two."
Ben looked at her face and knew there was more to her request than just keeping her company. "Yea sure, Whit, come on. I need another soda anyway." They stepped into the kitchen and sat down at the table where 2 plates with sandwiches and chips sat, covered with plastic wrap. She made sure she sat where anyone in the living room wouldn't be able to see her, and she was sure they couldn't hear her with the boys making so much racket watching cartoons. Besides, Sammy & Ginny had gone right back to their own conversation once they stepped into the kitchen.
She asked Ben to send a car to pick up her father and promised to tell him why in a few minutes. Ben called the precinct from the burner phone he'd activated and gave the needed instructions.
Whitney took a few bites while she listened to Ben's update on the evidence. Then she started telling Ben what her mother had told her.
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