They pounded on the door loudly enough to wake up the entire floor! "Open the door!" Mercedes pleaded.
"Open the door Mrs. Serke." Lance yelled.
Concerned, the Nurse came to the door looking disheveled in her robe. "What in the world??" She said distressed.
"Where’s Ellie?" Lance said barging into her room.
"Yes I TOLD you we are guests at the hotel, someone has broken into our suite." He barked into the cell phone. "They put me on HOLD! Damn it!" Lance told Mercedes.
Mercedes raced to the crib and with all the commotion, Ellie had woken up crying. "Shush, shush. Precious. Don’t cry." Mercedes cradles the baby in her arms, and Lance hugs the two of them to his chest. Mercedes begins to cry.
"Thank God." Lance tightens his embrace. "Thank God." He repeated. Lance hands the Nurse the phone. The three of them just stand there for a moment. Overcome, Lance kisses Mercedes’ forehead. "Let me hold her." He says quietly. Mercedes places Ellie in his loving arms. Lance brings the baby up to his face, closing his eyes and breathing her in. There were tears in his eyes, as well. He holds Ellie on his shoulder, lovingly patting her back and kissing her head. Lance closes his eyes. "Thank God."
"What’s this all about?" Asked the Nurse.
Calmly, Lance kissed the baby once more and handed her back to her mother. "Someone broke into our suite tonight. There is blood and plastic doll body parts everywhere." Lance took back the phone and walked over to dial down to the desk on the room phone.
Soon the hallway was crawling with hotel security and Tampa police.
Lance is on the phone with Rob who’s immediate concern is that they need to get them into a different hotel and beef up security. "Lance, I don’t think you should do that solo with Steve Tyler. Out front like that. It’s just too much exposure. Wes told me the plans and my men in the MTV audience don’t feel it’s a wise move."
Lance said he‘d discuss that with the rest of the guys. Then, he moved into the bathroom where his voice was out of hearing range from Mercedes, "Mercedes wants to go visit her sister."
"Well, I understand if you don’t feel comfortable with that at this time."
"That’s where you’re wrong, Rob. Now I really want to go! That bitch has all those doctors convinced she’s catatonic. I’m going to rip her heart out, if she has one, and get a reaction out of her. She can’t be allowed to threaten harm to my family. If she had someone touch a hair on Ellie’s head, I swear to God I’d hunt her down and...I wouldn’t be held responsible for what I might have done to her."
"Alright, Lance. Monday?"
Lance paused. "No, Rob meet me in Boston tomorrow." They would all go to Boston to visit the mental hospital and see Victoria tomorrow.
The three of them attempted to get some sleep after the police finally left late in the morning. It was impossible for your average tourist to find another room in Tampa or the surrounding area. But, Jive managed to find a place to hide them away. The hotel would be swarming with security for the remainder of the family’s stay, but unbeknownst to the public, Lance and his family were not staying there. They were staying in a private home at the beach on the Gulf Coast.
Mercedes was most concerned about Lance’s safety during the Super Bowl. While they laid on the bed, Ellie asleep and snuggling in between them, Mercedes reached over to Lance and placed her hand on his cheek. "How can I be sure you’re going to be safe during the half-time show?"
Lance held her hand and kissed her palm. "It’s going to be alright. Lord knows I mean no disrespect when I say, Heaven holds no candle to lying here with you and Ellie. I’m not going anywhere for awhile."
Larry King Live TONIGHT. *N SYNC for the full hour. "No Strings Attached" sold over 2 million albums the first week of sales! During their concert tour this summer NSync played before over a million people! These guys are HOT. We’ll take your calls this hour."
The first part of Larry’s interview mainly dealt with how the group was formed and getting to know a little about how they built up their popularity in Europe before bringing their act to America.
"Now, I know two of you guys are married."
"Yeah, to each other." Chris joked.
"And one of you guys is a Daddy." Larry King said. "It’s you Lance, isn’t it."
"Yes, I am. Her name is Ellie."
"Are we looking at a picture of Ellie on the monitor? Yes, we are. There Papa, is that your little girl?" Larry asked.
Lance beamed, "Yes, Sir, that’s her." Then, he gushed. "That’s my sweetie."
"I thought maybe you were referring to Joey’s paternity suit." Chris laughed. "Cause, you know, he really ISN’T a Daddy." Pause. "Joey isn’t. Lance is."
"And she’s alright? We know she was premature, but she’s alright?"
"Yes, Thank God." Lance smiled.
"What about you Chris? Any children in your near future?"
"No, " Chris picked up his mug and made a face, "I’m just going to die an old, bitter and lonely man."
Lance looked over at Chris with concern. Chris wasn’t himself. He hadn’t been himself for a while now.
Lance has found over the years, with as many interviews as the guys do sometimes he just doesn’t always pay attention. He doesn’t have to, because the other guys get to speak too. There was a whole series of questions about the upcoming tour in the Summer 2001 and the upcoming album that Lance totally ignored. He paid attention to Chris, however. Chris concerned him.
"Lance, what can you tell us about the investigation into the shooting New Year’s Eve?"
"The New York City Police Department is still following through on the leads it has. They will solve this case, I’m certain of it."
"Now, you were terribly injured and your wife almost died! That must have been a horrible shock." Lance just nodded his head. "But, everyone’s alright now. I see your arm is still in a cast, but you’re healing nicely?"
"Yes, I am going to be fine. My wife is fine. Thank God."
"Well, not really. She doesn’t remember a thing." Chris said.
"Hey, Benson Hurst, is Chris kidding with me again?" Larry asked Joey.
Joey looked at Lance. Then he looked back at Larry King. "Well, she’s had a little memory lapse." Joey didn’t really know what to say.
"A certain amount of memory loss surrounding a shocking event like the one you and your wife experienced is normal is it not?"
"Yeah, but she doesn’t remember jack." Chris said humorously.
"Jack who?" Larry asked.
"Not Jack WHO, she doesn’t remember ANYTHING." Chris took another sip of coffee, "She didn’t even remember who Lance was."
Lance shifted nervously in his chair. Larry didn’t know whether or not to believe Chris because he had been kidding, apparently, about a lot of other things. But, when Chris had been kidding before the other guys would laugh.
No body was laughing at the moment.
"Lance? Help me out here." Larry says. Lance looks over to the wing where Mercedes, Bobbie, Dani, Kelly, and Lynn, Justin’s Mom, were sitting. Mercedes’ eyes were so sad.
"Mercedes is slowly regaining her memory." Lance said, looking at her with loving eyes. Then he adds poignantly, "Each new memory we make is even sweeter than the last. I am a lucky man."
Larry took a commercial break.
The guys weren’t prepared for Larry King to ask them to harmonize with him. And nobody was happy with the results. But, the main thing on Lance’s mind when the interview ended was getting to Mercedes.
Joey elbowed Chris in the gut. "Why did you bring up her memory loss? That was a very personal thing for them. The whole damn world doesn’t need to know about it."
"Hey, Joey, chill. It didn’t seem to upset Lance." Chris said, as he glanced over to where the families were and saw Lance embracing his wife.
"I think it upset him a lot. He’s just making sure the Mermaid is alright before he comes over here and pounds on your ass." Joey told him.
J.C. intercepted Lance before he could make his way into the limousine after the show. "Lance, I know how upset you must be."
"You’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg." Lance stated with controlled anger, holding onto Mercedes hand kept him from pouncing on Chris.
"Mercedes," said J.C. "I’ve asked for you, Bobbie, Dani, and Kelly, to be shuttled back to the beach house while us guys share a limo together and have a serious talk. We have to find out what’s been eating Chris."
"I thought it was just me he‘s had it in for." Lance said.
"Whatever’s eating at him, he’s taking it out on you and it’s affecting all of us." J.C. replied.
Mercedes whispered something to Lance and squeezed his hand. "No, I promise I won’t." Lance answered. Then he touched her face with a lingering kiss and a reassuring smile.
Chris was unemotional as Lance and J.C. got in beside him. "I understand you’re pissed."
"Don’t you think I have a reason to be?" asked Lance.
"I was just stating a fact. It was the truth wasn’t it?" Chris said defensively.
"It was hurtful and you know it. You didn’t just take a pot shot at me, you hurt Mercedes. Why would you want to do that?"
"I never meant to upset her."
"You just wanted to upset ME? How do you think I felt when you told all these people that Mercedes didn’t remember me? Why would you want to do that, Chris? You were there. You were my support. I leaned on you. Why?"
"I can’t talk about it." Chris felt the burning gaze the guys were giving him. "Lance, I can’t."
"Sorry, you have no choice." J.C. said. "You revealed a confidence to an audience. You must pay the penalty."
"A TELEVISION AUDIENCE." Justin threw his two-cents in.
"No, come on. Guys, we haven’t done that shit since...FOREVER! I will tell you what‘s been bothering me, but none of this penalty garbage."
"It was YOUR RULE, Chris."
"Oh, goodie! I can’t believe we’re going to make Chris do it!" Joey laughed.
"The question is where?" Justin giggled.
"I want to hear his excuse first. Why have you been such a jerk to me lately?" Lance asked.
"Hey, you guys are going to make me take a walk regardless, so I have no motivation to say anything."
Lance pondered that a moment. "Ok. Listen, I want to hear his explanation."
"Go ahead, Chris." J.C. said.
"Lance, I’m sorry, but after I found out that Dani wasn’t pregnant again this month I got a little jealous."
"You WANTED her to be pregnant?" Joey asked, chuckling.
"I know that’s a switch for you Romeo, but YEAH, I did."
"Is everything alright?" Lance asked.
"Sure. I mean, the doctor just says we have to be patient. We were thinking about returning to that Tampa hotel elevator that worked magic for you and Mercedes, but...I hate being a copy cat."
The guys enjoyed some lively banter. As the car approached the beach house, Justin picked up the phone and spoke to the driver.
"Is this the place?" J.C. asked him.
"I figure this is as good as any." Justin replied with a smirk.
They all looked at Chris. Joey couldn’t contain his laughter. "No, I did the truth thing, I don’t have to do the dare thing, too!"
Looking at one another, they shrugged their shoulders and nodded their heads. Chris went to breathe a sigh of relief.
"Naw, you still have to do it." Justin said. "Remember it was YOUR rule."
"I’m going to catch a cold!"
"Well, you know guys. Chris is right. He did come clean." Lance commented. He looked each and every one of them in the eyes. Then he returns his gaze to Chris. "Tell you what. I’ll make sure it’s no more than a mile to the house we’re staying at."
"A MILE!?!" Chris screamed.
"At least this beach is desolate. I seem to recall a walk I had to take and it was outside of Frankfort at Ohh SUNSET. I could’ve been ARRESTED for indecent exposure!" J.C. said.
"What was it he said to you that day, J.C.?" Lance asked, having recalled the incident quite a few times over the years.
"You laid me bare in front of the audience when you revealed my personal life...now, you will walk bare naked for one quarter mile." J.C. said.
"That was another lifetime ago! I’d NEVER do that to you today! We were just crazy, goofy KIDS!" Chris said.
"You wanted J.C. to be an example to the rest of us. That’s why it’s never happened since then Chris." Said Lance.
"But, Joey almost had to strip and walk some time back because he revealed Lance’s nerdy attire when he first joined the group...but we gave him a break." Chris said, hopefully.
"We gave Joey a break because we figured he’d enjoy it too much." Lance told him, grinning.
"We’d love to cut you some slack Chris, but you said it yourself, we ease up and it’s going to happen again. I’m sorry. You must pay the price for your indiscretion." J.C. said with slight sarcasm.
It felt so good to laugh with the guys, even if it was at Chris’ expense. They let him back into the limo before they reached the beach house.
"I froze my pah-tootees off C. How could you do that to me?" Chris yelled.
The laughter never died down until after midnight. The couples sat in the living room area that was all windows from floor to ceiling. In the day time it had an awesome view of the Gulf of Mexico.
"Not a whole lot of privacy here." Lance remarked standing next to his friends and kissing Mercedes on her neck.
"Depends on what you have planned there." Joey said raising and lowering his eyebrows expressively.
As they waved goodbye to their friends, Lance and Mercedes looked longingly at one another. "You must be tired." She whispered, lovingly. Placing her fingers gently on his face.
"Oh, not sooo tired." Lance smiled devilishly. He slipped his arm around her and snuggled. "Let’s go check in on Ellie."
For the twentieth time that night, Lance stood at the foot of his daughter’s crib. Mercedes watched Lance as he gazed lovingly upon Ellie’s sleeping form. He caught Mercedes looking at him, and gave her an embarrassed grin. He shrugged his shoulders. "I can’t help it, Mercedes." Lance whispered. "That really got to me last night."
"How could it not?" Mercedes asked quietly as she snuggles next to him.
"If anything ever happened to her..."
Mercedes held him tightly. "I know."
"I need to take a walk. Clear my head." Lance said, cupping his hands under her hair and pulling her face gently to his for a kiss.
"It’s not very warm tonight."
"I know." Lance said. He tilted his head, "If you wanted to walk along with me. We could both keep each other warm."
Mercedes smiled, knowingly. "I can’t think of any place I’d rather be."
Lance buttoned her coat up around Mercedes as they headed off across the sand dune in front of the house. He wore a full-length lined leather coat and grabbed an old quilt from the house, stashing it under his arm.
Wes caught up to them all out of breath. "Where’re you two headed this time of night?"
Lance frowned, "Sorry Wes, I forgot. I should have told you we were going for a little walk."
"At THIS time of night?"
"Yes, sir. We won’t be gone long."
"Well, at least take your cell." Wes told him, handing it to Lance.
Lance sighed. "Sure thing. Will do."
Lance was quiet as they walked, and still hadn’t said a word by the time they stopped and spread the blanket out. Mercedes rested her head on Lance’s chest as they lay there.
"I don’t know why I felt I needed to get out of the house in order to be alone with you, Mercedes."
Mercedes squeezed his hand. "Everyone is security minded and sometimes it must feel like you’re under constant surveillance." Lance took his arm from up around his neck and brought it down to smooth over her hair as she continued. "I’ve felt that way, and it’s nothing compared to the hype over the Super Bowl appearance...along with ALL THIS other stuff going on? You really must be feeling it. Your parents and Darren will be here tomorrow night. You’ll be able to relax a little more...I hope."
"I haven’t even thought that far ahead." Lance told her. "Maybe they should stay in Mississippi."
Mercedes sat up and looked down onto his face. "Oh, no you don’t. You’ve been looking forward to this. You and Darren made plans for Busch Gardens on Saturday with the rest of the guys."
"It’s a photo shoot." Lance said unenthusiastically.
"You can still have fun. This trip to the Super Bowl was supposed to be Darren’s birthday present, you can’t disappoint him."
Lance leaned over onto his side, rested his head on the palm of his hand and gazed at his wife.
"I think there’s more to Chris being upset than what he’s let on."
"Do you?" Mercedes asked, snuggling up inside Lance’s arms.
"Yeah. And I don’t want to be so self-absorbed that I neglect to be concerned about him."
"You don’t have to carry the weight of the world all by yourself, you know."
"You’re right, maybe I should discuss my suspicions with J.C." Lance said, absentmindedly.
Mercedes looked up at his face. "Hey. I meant me."
Lance grinned with embarrassment. "Oh, I’m sorry baby. I know. I appreciate that."
"Was there ever a time in our relationship that I was more of a help than a hindrance?" Mercedes asked sadly.
Lance touched her face, tenderly. "Don’t even think that. You mean everything to me. None of this is your fault."
She looked up at him contritely. His hand still touching her face, he leans down and kisses her gently. "Baby, what would I ever do without you in my life?"
"You’d get more sleep." Mercedes says quietly.
Lance held onto her as they dissolve into giggles. "Sleeping is highly overrated, baby."
Mercedes starts kissing Lance’s neck as he unbuttons her coat. "Let me know if you get too cold."
Then she stares right into his loving eyes and says, "It’s chilly out, Lover."
"Let’s try not think about that." Lance says, grinning widely. Something not so much concerning what she said, but the way she said it, gave his heart reason to skip a beat. "What did you say, Mercedes?"
"Please tell me you answered, ‘You are cold Darlin‘. Here let me warm you up.’ It was you, wasn‘t it, Lance?" Lance laid there staring at her. He didn’t know whether this was good news or bad news. "You said, ‘Give me some sugar.’ Didn’t you? And I was naked in the bed with you." Mercedes voice was becoming urgent. "Was Liam still alive? Were we having an affair behind my husband’s back in that loft?" Mercedes paused and looked into Lance’s shocked face, "Tell me, Lance. What kind of woman am I? If it wasn’t you, who was I sleeping with that night?"
"It was me, Mercedes." Lance sat up and put his arms around her. "It was me with you in that loft, Baby." He whispered. Lance shook his head and buried his face in her hair. "We never made love before Liam passed away. We were only friends while Liam was alive."
Mercedes held on tightly, "Honestly? Please tell me the truth, Lance."
"Honest, honest. Neither one of us could’ve done something like that, Darlin’. We would never have done anything like that. Believe me." Lance held her head in his hand as she placed it on his shoulder, patting her and kissing her cheek. "Have you been thinking about this long? When did that memory return? When you visited the house before the closing?"
Mercedes nodded her head, "I was so afraid that we had either done something wrong, or...or it wasn’t you...you there with me." Mercedes’ voice faltered. "For a while I figured it had to have been Liam. But, there was a tenderness to that night that I can only attribute to you, my beloved."
Mercedes then kissed him with such a hunger that Lance felt an immediate reaction. Lance’s hopes soared that perhaps she had remembered or would soon remember the nickname she had given him. But, there was no opportunity to discuss it right now. All he wanted to do was fill her up with their love making. She hungered for the closeness and warmth that only they could know together.
"Baby, I love you." Lance said through emerging tears. Mercedes had wrapped herself around him, as they laid on that blanket face-to-face. He scooped her up into his arms and kissed her deeply. With Lance’s coat above them and Mercedes’ coat as a pillow for them to share, they each began to pull at each other’s clothing.
Mercedes had one leg below and one leg pulled over top, like a pretzel, they intertwined on that blanket during their love making. At one point, Lance pulled her over on top of him. Then, grabbed inside of her shirt and stimulated them both with the licking and kissing of her breasts. But, the thrusting and the ultimate orgasm came as he placed her beneath him and held onto her pelvic bone, arching his back and calling her name.
"Lance, Lance." Mercedes moaned. She hadn’t reached climax yet, exhausted he continued to hold onto her and caress her with his kisses in all the places that led to her satisfaction.
It didn’t seem so cold anymore. Lance was sure that he had fallen asleep or nearly so. They were so content in holding each other. Bracing each other, supporting each other from the chilly night air.
How could she remember that NOW, and she never remembered it before? Lance felt he could cry, but he wasn’t sure if it was from happiness or sorrow. Mercedes laid there in his arms, wrapped up in his arms and his coat. Asleep.
Lance kissed her, "Mercedes?" He whispered. "Baby, we better go back into the house." She sighed and snuggled closer to him. Lance was about to whisper to her again, when he heard Wes calling for them. "Hey, Wes." Lance said in a fairly normal voice.
"Boy, what?? Oh Lord, I definitely don’t want to know." Regardless, Wes had a big ole smile on his face. "Mercedes is asleep?"
Lance sighed, "Umm umm."
"Well, you can’t sleep out here, it’s only gonna get colder."
"I know." Lance sighed again. Wes could tell that his Boss didn’t want to disturb his wife. He didn’t want to have to leave the comfort, peace and isolation they had found for a brief moment. Lance kissed her lips, and whispered in her ear. "We have to go back into the house, Baby."
Mercedes stirred, and smiled as Lance helped her up. With his arm around her, he guided his sleepy wife over the sand dune and in through the front door. He undressed her again, they laid down on the bed and soon were fast asleep.
In the morning, they would fly to Boston. No body was going to be very thrilled about Lance leaving Florida for the Northeast where one freak snowstorm could spell the absence of one of the guys from *N SYNC from half-time.
It couldn’t be helped. This was something he had to do.
Delta Flight 2510 left Tampa/St. Petersburg at 7am. It was an ungodly hour for a pop star, but for a new Dad...it was doable. But, with only 5 hours of sleep, Lance hoped Ellie would nap during the flight and allow him to catch a few Zzzzs before they hit Logan Airport.
Rob met Lance, Mercedes and Ellie, Mrs. Serke, Wes, Drew and LuAnn at the airport accompanied by other members of his security staff. They immediately left for the Hospital.
With numerous Hospital personnel and the entourage Lance and Mercedes brought with them, Lance had every confidence that Mercedes and Ellie were going to be safe. They poised in the hallway outside Victoria’s door.
"Lance, " Mercedes said quietly, "I need to go in alone." Lance looked at her as if in shock. "I understand your concern..."
"Baby, you’re not going in there alone." Lance said protectively. He shook his head and hugged her close to his body. "Please. Don’t ask that of me."
"Alright." Mercedes said. Lance handed Ellie over to the Nurse. He took Mercedes hand and they went inside Victoria’s room.
Lance had built up so much anger and hostility towards this woman. The time her threats managed to convince Mercedes to flee the country, leaving him behind lost, alone, and confused. Lance tried to push that aside for the moment. But, he knew that would be a difficult task.
Concerned that his anger might get the better of him, he hung back and allowed Mercedes to face her sister accompanied by a doctor. Although he was in the same room, for the moment he stood next to the door.
"Lance?" Mercedes looked over to him.
He tried to read his wife’s face. She appeared confused. "What is it?"
"This isn’t Victoria." Mercedes told him, bluntly. She then looked at the doctor. "Where IS my sister?"
They reached the brownstone house on Newbury Street within the hour. This is the home Mercedes remembers. The one she lived in as a child, the one she fled as an adult to take her internship in Orlando with Trans Continental.
The Boston Police Dept. arrived ahead of them and were going through the house for any clue as to Victoria’s whereabouts. Lance and Mercedes were escorted through the house by local detectives and their own security staff.
"HOW could this have happened?" Lance asked Rob furiously. "Did she look JUST enough like Victoria to pass as her? That poor woman’s family! Where did she come from?"
"Everyone’s looking into this Lance." Rob said.
"Well, DAMN IT, somebody at that Hospital has to know the truth. Someone was in on this with Victoria. Now, the trouble is we don’t know where the hell she is." Lance said.
Wes could tell Lance was sick with worry and concern for his wife and child. The stress was evident. Lance kept rubbing his temples, and stretching his neck from side-to-side. Occasionally, Lance would crack his knuckles. But, for Mercedes he only showed his full attention. His unwavering affection.
They stood in the foyer of her childhood home and she just stared at her surroundings. Suddenly, she darted up the stairs and Lance followed behind her. "Where are you going?"
"My bedroom. Look Ellie!" Mercedes opened the door and the lace curtains and canopy bed were just as she remembered them. A Police Detective stood in the hallway.
"Can she go inside?" Lance asked.
"Sure. It’s been checked out." The Detective replied.
As Mercedes sat on the edge of her childhood bed, she saw herself so clearly as she looked into the full length mirror. This is the house she sought refuge in when she thought she might be pregnant and solicited Victoria’s sisterly advise.
"Lance, I was here. Before we got married, I was here." Mercedes saw herself checking out her silhouette in the mirror before the pregnancy test came back negative. Lance put his hand on her shoulder. "I thought I might be pregnant. Victoria warned me that you’d never want me to have the baby and ruin your career."
Lance hugged her and sighed. "She couldn’t have been more wrong, Mercedes." Lance took Ellie from her as Mercedes walked around the room. Touching things on her dresser. Staring out her window.
"I’m sorry you cannot come up here. What’s this woman doing in here?" The Boston Detective yelled. Lance turned and saw the commotion in the hallway.
"Hey, Maam? This woman says you’d remember her. She’s a neighbor."
Lance stood protectively beside Mercedes. This older woman peaked her head in and a smile formed on Mercedes face. "It’s okay Officer, I do remember her! Mrs. Yorke! Hello!"
"Sadie McKenzie, Bless us it’s good to see your lovely face again!"
The Boston Police Department coming from a tradition of Irish Hospitality did not find it in the least bit odd that within ten minutes Mercedes was back in her old kitchen looking for a tea pot.
They sat at the table with a pot brewing, reminiscing. After reliving some fine memories and sharing some truly happy stories with Lance. Mrs. Yorke asked to hold Ellie. Lance placed his baby on her lap.
"Oh, Sadie she’s a beautiful baby. If she didn’t have green eyes like your husband, here, I’d say she looked like your grandmother." Lance smiled, appreciative of the comparison. He wiggled his finger in front of his daughter and made kissing noises at her. Ellie was getting quite good at returning the eye contact, especially if you made your eyes wide and exaggerated.
"Did you ever see photos of my grandparents? I know they never came to Boston after I was born."
"Don’t be silly, Sadie. I wasn’t talking about your Great-grandparents." Mrs. Yorke returned her attention to Ellie.
Lance was hit by a bolt of lightening. It was all so clear to him now. He stared at Mrs. Yorke. He looked lovingly at his unsuspecting wife.
The photograph of Mercedes’ mother a mere two months before her due date returned to haunt him. It wasn’t enough to base his suspicions on. But, he had that sinking feeling he knew something. Something, Mercedes never even suspected.
"Mrs. Yorke. When’s the last time you saw Victoria in this house?" Lance asked cautiously.
"Oh, the Detectives already asked me that. It was at the end of the summer sometime. Sadie, try not to be angry with her. She was such a lovely young girl. That year you were born, she changed. She became sullen. Such an unhappy time. Your Great-Grandparents never visited again. It was as if everyone in the house was disowned because Victoria made one mistake. It wouldn’t happen today that’s for sure...today ANYTHING goes..."
Lance looked at Mercedes’ puzzled face. What could be done to cushion this blow? "Mercedes?" Lance said slowly. "I think there’s something we didn’t know about Victoria."
But, she didn’t really hear him. "Mrs. Yorke, what are you talking about? What mistake?"
Mrs. Yorke tilted her head. Her eyes went from Mercedes to Lance. Then, a sudden realization came over her. She realized that Mercedes didn’t know. Lance took Ellie from her, and placed her in the Nurse’s lap. Then, he put his arms around his wife. Mrs. Yorke tried to make an excuse that she had to leave.
"No, Mrs. Yorke. I think there’s something you need to tell us. I think there’s something Mercedes should have been told a long time ago."
"I’m so sorry." Mrs. Yorke said, "I thought for sure that you knew."
Lance tightened his embrace. "Baby, " He whispered in Mercedes’ ear, "I love you. Don’t be afraid. I’m right here."
Mrs. Yorke took a deep breath, "Sadie, they never got the chance to tell you that Victoria was your Mother."
