Chapter Twenty-Two

Trevor dropped me off at my house that evening to get ready. He insisted on coming back to ride with me and dad instead of just meeting us there.

I opened my now fully stocked closet to decide what to wear. From what Trev has said about it, it seemed pretty swanky. I opted for a long sleeve, knee length tight black dress with a high collar and no back. I attempt to pull my hair up into a sophisticated bun but it came out looking like a pom-pom on the top of my head. My skills weren't quite there yet. I shrugged and just let it down and do its own thing. I moisturized my face and put on a little mascara and some rose tinted chapstick. It was the best I could do.

I made my way down the stairs I'm impossible and most certainly illegal heels and was happy to see Trevor laughing with my dad at the bottom of them. It had only been an hour since I last saw him but had felt more like an eternity. His face lit up when he saw me.

"You look absolutely gorgeous, Peaches." I blush as I take his extended arm. "Really, baby. I mean it. You're breathtaking." I giggled, but I couldn't help it.

My dad smiled proudly at me. "He's right, Riley. You look beautiful." I looked up, shocked. "Thanks, Dad. You're looking pretty spiffy yourself." And he did. He was wearing a pair of tan slacks with a burgundy button down shirt. He was even wearing loafers. Who was this man? And don't even get me started on Trevor.

He looked like the human version of temptation and trouble mixed together. And he was all mine. "Stop staring at me like that in front of your dad, girl." He smirked and guided me to the front door. He sat in the front seat while I opted for the back.

"So, Trevor. How are your parents? Your mom?" I rolled my eyes at his choice of the conversation topic. Trevor cleated his throat.

"Dad is good I guess. He's usually busy with work. And mom has just been quiet lately. She usually isn't like the version of her you've seen. I don't know what's with her lately, honestly." I watch dad's profile as he stiffens a bit. I zone out the rest of the conversation. I didn't like thinking of unpleasant things.

After leaving the car with the valet we walked inside and I was skeptical right away. Southern cuisine my fanny. This place was too cold and impersonal to be any form or style of southern. Oh well. They tried I guess.

I asked for sweet tea and got laughed at. So I asked for Mountain Dew and they laughed even harder. So I just gave up and asked for water. "What kind do you prefer?" What? I looked hard at the server. "The kind you drink." What in the world did he think I wanted it for?

I stared at the menu in dismay. "Trevor I thought you said they served southern style food here." He laughed. "They do, Princess. Just look at the menu." My dad looked at me like he was afraid. Good. He should be. This was a disgrace to the south.

"I am looking at the menu. Where are the smothered pork chops? The fried chicken? The greens and cornbread?" Now it was Trevor's turn to look afraid. Good, I was starving and wasn't in the mood for grass.

"Riley, do you trust me?" I looked up at him. "Duh." He smiled slightly. "Then please just let me order for you. I'll hook you up with that good, good baby." I laughed. He had no clue that this could possibly effect the future of our relationship. "Okay, babe. I'm trusting you." He laughed. I liked his laugh. A lot.

Thirty minutes later and I was feeling like I was in heaven. The lasagna Trev has ordered for me was absolutely divine. He was definitely stuck with me. Even dad was impressed with the weird sandwich he had ordered. While not at all southern food, it was still delicious. Then things just went bad. Like just sour.

"Trevor, what are you doing here? And with them? You know this is our special place." I dropped my fork at the sound of the obnoxious voice. I slowly looked up. Of course his mother would be here tonight. She was great at ruining a perfectly good time.

"Mom, hey. Actually I was invited by Mr. Brinks." I watched her eye my dad like he was some kind of contagious fungus. My blood started a slow boil.

"Of course he did, he's great at fucking things up." I looked quickly at my dad to check his reaction. He just looked hurt. Really hurt. Trevor spoke before I could. "Mom, stop it. Why don't you join us? Where is dad?" She let out a dry laugh.

"Your father is working of course and I would rather eat at some basic ass diner before being caught at the same table as the local hillbillies." She snorted. I was trying really hard to keep my mouth shut for Trevor's sake but she was making it an extremely difficult task. Then dad spoke.

"Eliza, that's enough. You have no reason to act this way." Eliza? Huh? I'm looking quietly back and forth between the two as is Trevor. She laughed. Loudly.

"Oh I believe I have every right to act this way. I have the life I always wanted for myself- the life we both know I deserve and you want to come ruin it! You want to come take it all away!" What the hell was going on here?

"Dad? What's going on? Why is she acting like you really know her?" My dad looks so tired, so worn down at this point. He sighs.

"I was hoping to tell you in better conditions but I guess this is as good as it gets. I'm sorry, Riley. I want you to know though that no matter what I love you more than anything in this world. That no matter what, you are and always will be my little girl." I'm so lost. So is Trevor apparently.

"What's going on, mom?" She looks at dad and shakes her head. "No, please don't do this to me. If you've ever loved me at all, you won't do this Nick. I worked so hard for this life. You know I used to only be able to dream of such a life, don't do this! Please!" And at that my dad lets out a very loud, very humorless laugh.

"You really have only ever cared about yourself haven't you, Eliza?" There's that name again. "But what about your daughter? What about her life? The life that she deserves? Seventeen damn years and not even a phone card to see how she was! And now that's she's in physically right in front of you, you're going to be a cold heartless bitch? Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to find you?" What the fuck did my dad just say? My mother? She's my mother?

"No fucking way in hell is that bitch my mother. Dad, tell me you're lying. Tell me you didn't move us all the way to fucking California for her?" I'm crying full force at this point. "Tell me, dad! Tell me it isn't true!" I'm screaming but I don't care. I finally meet my mother and she doesn't want me. What the actual fuck? Trevor grabs my hand but I yank it back. Before he can say a word, she speaks instead.

"Baby girl, you have no idea how badly I wish he was lying. No idea at all." Ouch. "But I believe he is leaving out one very important detail. Aren't you, Nicholas." I watch my dad pale and clench his fists. Elizabeth sits down beside him and smirks. "Brace yourself, little girl."

Dad looks at me. "Riley. Remember what I told you. What I promised you, baby." I nodded. I had a really bad feeling that the worst night of my life was about to get worse. He sighs and looks down. I watch him shake his head. I watch Elizabeth order and entire bottle of wine. I watch Trevor stare straight ahead.

"Oh for Pete's sake, Nicholas! Out with it already! The suspense is absolutely killing me." She giggles in delight as the server opens her bottle. She pours her own glass.

How could I possibly be related to that woman? Although, if I'm being honest the more I watch her the more similarities I see. Our eyes. Our nose. Even the our hands. Fuck . This hurts. I just want to disappear and never be found. Guess I was like her in that sense as well. Bitch.

I feel Trevor touch my knee. I push his hand off. I wonder if he knew about this. If this was some sort of sick joke they laughed about together.

"Fine, I'll tell her. You never did have balls, Nick. That's one of the money reasons I left you." I laughed. "We were better off without you, Elizabeth. Trust me." She giggles like a school girl.

"The joke is on you, baby girl. Because he isn't your father."