Getting Even 3 - The Final Chapter Part 2

The morning sun hit Zane?s face and he heard a strange, unfamiliar sound. He opened his eyes to see Olivia in her swing and Katherine in a chair sipping coffee. ?Morning,? she said. ?Morning,? he moaned. ?Coffee?? ?Please.? ?How do you take it?? ?Black.? ?Get your pants on please,? she said, tossing his slacks to him. Katherine left the room as Zane slipped on his slacks. She returned a moment later with a steaming cup of coffee. ?Thanks,? he said. ?Carmen said she?d be here in an hour to fix breakfast. I told her coffee was already on and she thanked me.? ?How long have you been up?? ?Olivia woke up at midnight, two, and five. No matter what, five was her wake-up time. So, we got up and I made some coffee. She seems to like her swing so I put her there and waited for you to wake. I had a feeling you were an early riser.? ?Occupational hazard.? ?So, tell me about you and my daughter.? ?What do you want to know?? ?Are you Olivia?s father?? Zane choked on his coffee. ?Excuse me?? ?There have been things Bella has said that have made me question a few things. For example, why were you so willing to sit with Bella when she was in labor?? ?She didn?t want to be alone and you had the kids.? ?Why did Tommy call you when he couldn?t reach Grant?? ?I?ve been spending a lot of time with him and Sophie.? ?Cut the crap!? snapped Katherine. ?I?m not a fucking idiot. I think you?re in love with my daughter. Now tell me the truth. Are you Olivia?s biological father?? Zane sighed. ?Yes.? ?How long have you and my daughter been together?? ?Since the night Olivia was conceived.? Katherine smiled. ?Do you love her?? ?Olivia, of course.? ?No, Bella.? ?I? I?m not sure.? ?I see how she is, when you?re around. She lights up, she smiles more. You?re good for her.? ?She deserves the best.? ?I agree. I begged her to leave Grant when she learned about the vasectomy. But she was determined to save her marriage. I?ve wondered who the sperm donor was, but I?ve kept my suspicions to myself.? ?Are you angry with her?? ?No. Maybe a bit disappointed, but not angry.? Katherine sipped her coffee, then continued. ?Bella was about Tommy?s age when her father died. I know exactly how much pain she is in. My biggest concern was how emotionless she had been since she got the call. I know Grant wasn?t a perfect husband, but her lack of emotion was scaring even me.? ?Carmen mentioned that as well.? ?Carmen is a good friend. She told me just before she left last night how bad she felt about helping Grant cheat on Bella, and how she?s worked to make up for that. I?m guessing that includes you.? ?Carmen and I have been? associates for many years.? ?Does Bella know?? ?She knows Carmen and I were lovers, but that ended a long time ago.? ?And now you?re Bella?s lover.? Zane took a deep breath. ?We were until Olivia was born. Before Bella was cleared to have sex, I had to go to Europe on business and was there until shortly after Carmen called to tell me about Grant?s death and later his funeral. I concluded my business in France and took the bursa escort next flight back.? ?Only a man in love with a woman would do that.? Zane finished his coffee, stood up and said, ?Would you like more coffee?? ?Sure, but we?ll need to make more soon. Carmen and Miguel will be here shortly.? ?Then maybe we should migrate to the kitchen.? ?Sounds like a plan. And Olivia?s pack and play is all set up.? ?Mind if I carry her to the kitchen?? asked Zane. ?Not in the least. I?ll fix our cups and start a second pot,? said Katherine, gathering up their cups. Zane turned off the swing and scooped up Olivia. She smiled up at him. ?Hi beautiful. Did you miss me?? Olivia waved her arms and giggled. Zane kissed her forehead and carried her into the kitchen. Katherine smiled and said, ?She looks good in your arms. And she looks like you.? ?Really? I look at her and see Bella.? ?I see you both. It?s like she?s the perfect hybrid of the two of you. See, Tommy looks a lot like Grant, Sophie is Bella?s clone, but Olivia, she?s the perfect blend of the two of you.? Zane set Olivia into the pack and play and sat at the table. ?Thanks.? ?I think that?s what set Marlee off, she realized Olivia looked more like you than Grant. Though to be honest, she?s never been all that nice to Bella. She puts on a good front, but then treats her like shit.? ?I agree.?~*~*~*~ Bella woke with a start. Tommy and Sophie were sleeping near her, and there was no sound from the crib. She quietly slipped off the bed and saw the empty crib. For a moment, she panicked, then realized her mother must have her. Bella stepped into the bathroom where she saw her refection. Her hair was a matted mess and her face was red, blotchy, and stained with black from her mascara. She took care of her bathroom needs, began to wash her face, but decided a quick shower was a better option. The warm water ran over her achy body as she wept. The pain deep within her radiated outward. Grant was dead. She scrubbed her skin and washed her hair until the water turned cold. Then she stepped out, wrapped a towel around her. She slipped out, grabbed a clean t-shirt, yoga pants, and undergarments, and slid back into the bathroom. She dressed quietly, combed her hair, and padded downstairs. Her head pounded and her body ached. She knew her emotional outburst was the cause of this pain. She followed the scent of coffee to find Zane and her mother talking, and Olivia playing. ?Good morning,? said Katherine. ?Hey beautiful,? said Zane. ?Ugh,? moaned Bella. Katherine quickly rose and fixed Bella a cup of coffee as she sat next to Zane. ?Sleep well?? he asked. ?I guess,? she said. ?I?m so sorry about what happened last night.? ?Nothing to be sorry for,? said Zane. ?From what I saw, you finally accepted Grant?s death.? The doorbell rang. ?That must be Carmen and Miguel,? said Katherine. ?Oh no!? moaned Bella. ?I don?t want anyone to see me like this.? ?Oh hush, you look fine,? said Katherine. ?Besides, Carmen and Miguel are fixing everyone breakfast, bursa escort bayan and after last night, the idea of not cooking sounds good to me.? Katherine quickly left the room and Bella looked in on her daughter. ?She?s in a good mood.? ?You?re mother knows about her.? ?What?? exclaimed Bella. ?She figured it out. Especially since she knew about Grant?s vasectomy.? ?Yeah, I called her hysterical about that. She told me to leave Grant and be done with him, but I was determined to save my marriage. I thought for sure I could.? ?Grant was a pussy-hound. I?m not surprised he went back to his old ways.? ?Good morning all!? exclaimed Carmen. ?Shhh!? hissed Bella. ?She just woke up,? said Zane. Carmen hugged Bella and said softly, ?How ya feeling sweetie?? ?Like shit,? moaned Bella. ?Well, Miguel and I are here now to fix everyone breakfast burritos. Where are the kids?? ?Sleeping in my bed still,? said Bella. ?Well, they?ll be up soon and hungry. I?ll get started.? ?Good morning all,? said Miguel, carrying several bags in his arms. ?Need some help man?? asked Zane. ?Naw, I got it.? Carmen and Miguel quickly started cooking. It didn?t take long for the kitchen to fill with the aroma of fresh coffee and cooking food. Amanda and Thomas came down and joined everyone for coffee. Tommy wandered down a few minutes after, with Sophie right behind him. Carmen fed the children first, then the adults. The food was delicious, and even though Bella was the last to finish, she did finish. Carmen and Miguel cleaned the kitchen as Bella nursed Olivia. Zane and Tommy finished their game. The doorbell rang, and soon Marlee appeared in the kitchen. Her face was swollen and bruised from the night before. ?Morning Bella,? she said. ?Marlee,? said Bella, coldly. ?Dad said I should come back so we can talk.? ?I?ve said all I?ve got to say to you last night.? ?Bella,? pleaded Amanda, ?give Marlee a chance.? Bella sighed, ?Fine, we can go into Grant?s office.? Bella handed Olivia off to her mother, then led Marlee to Grant?s old office. It was a large room with an oak desk, computer, a fine leather desk chair, two nice chairs, a sofa, bookcases filled with books, and pictures of the family all around. ?Nice office,? said Marlee. ?I designed it for Grant to work at home after I had Tommy,? said Bella. ?I was hoping he?d be able to work from home more.? ?Did he?? Bella glared at Marlee. ?I think you know the fucking answer to that.? ?Look, about what happened last night,? began Marlee, ?I forgive you for acting the way you did.? ?You? forgive me?? questioned Bella. ?You were so grief stricken you didn?t know what you were saying.? ?Get out Marlee,? snapped Bella. ?I can see your return was a huge mistake.? ?Are you implying that my brother did what you claimed?? ?No, I?m not implying shit. He cheated on me. He lied to me. And now, I?ve got three children I must tend to and raise on my own now. Good day Marlee.? Bella started to leave the room when Marlee said, ?And what about Zane?? Bella paused. escort bursa ?What about him?? ?Is he going to be the children?s new father?? ?What business is it of yours?? ?That is my niece and nephew.? ?Nieces.? ?I still question Olivia?s paternity.? ?Grant didn?t. He signed her birth certificate.? ?He was a fool, and you?re a whore.? Bella slapped Marlee hard. ?Get the fuck out of my house and don?t you ever come back.? Marlee rubbed her face, then said, ?This isn?t over Bella.? ?Yes, it is. Now leave before you?ll need to be carried out.? Marlee?s face was red as she turned on her heels and stormed out. Zane, who was standing just outside the office listening, stepped into the room wearing his suit from the night before. ?Nice space.? ?Thanks. Oh my God!? ?What?? ?Your shirt! Did I do that?? ?It?s no big deal. I?ve got a great laundry service. They even got red wine out of my favorite Armani suit last year.? ?Send me the bill, I?ll pay for it.? ?Don?t worry about it. I got a call, I need to go.? ?Right, duty calls.? Zane sighed. ?Are you going to be all right?? ?I?ll survive. Thanks for all you did with the kids. I really appreciate it.? Zane stepped up and hugged Bella. ?I?ll call you in a few days.? ?Yeah, Skype on Saturday like always.? Zane felt a pain deep within his chest. He felt the dismissive tone in Bella?s voice. ?I will call. You?ll see.? ?Bye Zane. Thanks again for everything.? Zane hugged Bella, then left. He kissed Sophie and hugged Tommy, bade everyone goodbye and left. He drove back to his apartment, then called his boss. It was time to put the final pieces of his plan into motion before he lost Bella forever.~*~*~*~ A month after the funeral, Bella was sitting in Grant?s lawyer?s office awaiting the reading of Grant?s will. Amanda and Thomas were there, as was Marlee. Bella nursed Olivia as Amanda asked, ?Are the kids at school?? ?Yeah,? said Bella. ?They don?t need to be here for this. They don?t even understand what a will is.? ?I was hoping to see my niece and nephew,? snapped Marlee. ?You mean nieces, don?t you,? snapped Bella. ?She?s not Grant?s daughter,? said Marlee, pointing at Olivia. Before Bella could respond, the lawyer walked in and sat behind his desk. ?Thank you all for coming. I do wish it was under better circumstances.? ?I?m sure Grant didn?t expect it to happen this soon,? said Bella, moving Olivia to her shoulder to burp her. ?Well,? said the lawyer, ?that?s what?s interesting. Like with Thomas and Sophia, Grant added Olivia to his will shortly after she was born.? ?He what?? questioned Marlee. ?Olivia?s not even his daughter.? ?Yes she is!? roared Bella. Olivia?s body stiffened up, then a loud burp escaped her. ?Goodness,? said Bella in a calmer tone. ?You needed that now didn?t you, Little Bit.? ?I think it was shortly after Olivia was born,? said the lawyer rifling through some papers, ignoring the tension between the two women. ?Ah yes, here it is, it was right after the third DNA test came back confirming he was her father.? Bella felt her eyes grow wide as Marlee exclaimed, ?Bullshit! That little bastard isn?t my brother?s child!? ?Here are the results,? said the lawyer, handing Marlee the paperwork. As Marlee took the paper, Bella asked, ?Wait, Grant had a DNA test done on all of our children?? ?Of course.