The Wayward Gifted - Broken Point (11 page)

“You need to be of sound mind, in other
words, you must be old enough to understand and consider what you are seeing.
When you are eighteen years of age, you will each have the option of opening
your files and finding out about your biological parents, as well as where you
came from…” she paused for a bite of cake and continued, “provided the
information is included.”

Olivia sighed, “You are the only ones
who have this authority. Even your biological parents have no way of finding
you. That is for your protection. It is entirely up to you…” She grabbed Sam’s
hand, patted it, let go, and pointed towards heaven in one smooth movement, “Of
course, I will never stop you from doing what you want to do. It would be wrong
of me to try to influence either one of you in this highly personal matter.
Certainly, I have my own ideas, but unless you ask for my opinion, I will keep
my thoughts to myself.” She took another bite of cake, chewed and swallowed, “I
will always love you both. I will always…” she began to tear up, “be your
mother, no matter what you should choose to do, and no matter what mistakes you
might make along the way. This is a highly personal decision.”

Steuart and Sam exchanged glances. Their
mother cleared her throat, “Let us hope that I will have taught you well by
that time and that you will recognize my contributions as well as my effort. No
matter how much pain or discomfort it may bring to me, or to my heart, I will
support both of your choices. I realize this is a difficult conversation. I
only talk about it on these special days because I am aware of how quickly time
will pass. Tomorrow you will both be grown. You must be informed in order to
make your best decision. As the only responsible parent in your lives, it’s incumbent
upon me to help with your preparation.”

“Any questions?” Olivia wiped her mouth
again before continuing, “There is always excitement regarding things unknown,
especially when you are young. Unfortunately, the outcome is not often what we
may wish it to be.” She shook her head, “If you should choose to look at those
files, you will have to live with the consequences of your choices while, at
the same time, being mindful that these choices will not only effect you, but
will also infect
,
sorry, I intended
to say
effect
, our entire family. For
that reason, I recommend that you make your choices thoughtfully and with great
care.”

Olivia paused, took a breath, looked at
her slice of cake, and continued, “Some people feel that it’s a good idea to
look at the files. I’m not certain how many of those people have actual,
practical knowledge or experience. It might be interesting to know. Anyway,
some people believe it is a good idea because of medical reasons. I understand
that this could be helpful in rare situations. You might receive lifesaving
information. However, the information could also create problems for you. Please
understand that I am not trying to catastrophize the situation. I just need to
make sure that I present you with all sides of the issue.”

Olivia paused and took a sip of tea. “We
cannot change our genes. Just remember, while you may learn something that you
are happy, or even grateful to know, it is also possible that there is some
crazy mutant, foreign type of gene lurking around inside of your body. That’s
why I wonder about these things. Why would either of you want information that
you may ultimately regret having.” She looked first at Sam, and then at
Steuart. “Do you really want to know?”

“No, ma’am,” Sam and Steuart replied in
unison.

“You understand,” Olivia nodded, smiled
and looked down at her cake. “I don’t know. I am not sure how I would feel in
your shoes. My mother wanted me. I am not saying this with the intention of
being provocative. I’m telling you this so that you’ll understand my difficulty
in relating to the two of you regarding this issue. We are looking at things
from different angles.”

Sam and Steuart exchanged glances.
Steuart yawned.

“Regardless of what I say to you or
what I understand as truth, you need to consider the facts. I do. We are presented
with two large cans of worms. After all, you were both given away. I hate to
use a word like
tossed
because it is
such an awful, tasteless word; however, the word is accurate. You were tossed
away like a pair of beautiful, brand new shoes that did not quite fit.”

Olivia looked at Sam. She looked at
Steuart. She stopped and took a deep breath. “Please do not get me wrong. You
were not unwanted by everyone. No. You were…” Olivia placed her hand across her
heart, “…by me. You were wanted by me.” She nodded and sniffled, “It has always
been important that I have children in my life.”

Steuart looked at Sam and rolled his
eyes. Olivia showed no signs of stopping. “Facts are facts and I believe in
being direct with both of you. There is never a good reason to sugar coat your
cookies. You both have good minds and are capable of understanding what I am
saying to you. At the same time, I do not want to say anything that will deter
you from making a choice that is one-hundred-percent yours to make. After all,
this is a decision that is ultimately up to you.”

Olivia’s speech became rapid, “I will
tell you this,” the finger went up again, “once you open a can of worms, it is
next to impossible to put those slimy things back. You simply cannot do it.
Even if you do, you will always know things that you didn’t know
before—things you may wish you had never learned.” Olivia wiggled her
fingers and made a sour face. “Sometimes, it’s best not knowing, if you know
what I mean. In some situations, not knowing is your blessing.” She paused,
“You’re taking chances. Open that can, and you may find those slimy things crawling
across your plate.” Steuart and Sam rested their forks.

 
“Just remember that you may open a door
and you may choose to close that same door, but once someone knows where you
live they may try to come in through your bedroom window.” Olivia cut another
small slice of cake and laid it on her plate. Steuart and Sam sat quietly as
their mother finished eating and then said what Sam had waited to hear the
entire evening. “Samantha Leigh, would you like to open your gift now?”

Steuart exhaled.

Sam beamed, “Yes, please.”

Olivia reached for the gift and handed
it to her daughter. Sam smiled at Steuart. Steuart smiled at Sam. Olivia smiled
at both of them.

Sam held the box for a moment. The
weight felt right. “Yes,” Sam whispered. She looked at her mother and smiled.
She looked at Steuart. She laid the box on the table. She pulled the fabric
ribbon and untied the bow. She straightened the ribbon between her fingers and laid
it beside her plate.

Olivia picked up the ribbon, flattened
and rolled it carefully before moving it aside. Sam picked up the scissors and
moved the box close to the edge of the table. Carefully, she cut the tape at
one end, making certain not to damage the paper. Delighted, almost giddy, she
could never remember a time when she was more eager to unwrap a gift.

Olivia, also eager, could not contain
her excitement. “I had no idea this was going to mean so much to you. I am pleased
beyond expression to be giving this to you now. I only regret that I didn’t do
it sooner.”

Sam was thrilled by her mother’s happiness
in giving her the paints. Overcome with love and appreciation, Sam continued
cutting the tape and carefully dismantling the wrapping. She smiled as she cut.
She smiled at Olivia. She smiled at Steuart. Both smiled back. She cut a little
more, pulled the tape gently, and put it aside so that it would not
accidentally stick to the paper. Sam smiled and continued with great care;
pulling paper, smiling, looking over at her mother and softly giggling as she
lifted the box from the wrapping paper. “Thank you Mother dear…” Sam opened the
box, “I cannot wait to paint!”

Sam saw her mother’s face at about the
same moment she glimpsed the box’s contents. She was not looking at a box of
paints. She was looking at tissue paper.

“Paint?” Olivia looked puzzled. She
reached for the wrapping paper, folded it slowly, and then placed it under the
ribbon. She looked at Sam and shook her head, “No,” she said quietly and turned
to look at the folded paper and ribbon. “No,” she softly repeated.

Sam looked down at the gift, pulled
back the tissue, and stared. She was not looking at a set of watercolors and a
pad of paper. There were no little brushes. There was no mixing tray. Instead, Sam
was looking at white gloves and a book. She was looking at her mother’s
favorite book. She was looking at a pair of pristine white silk gloves and a
book she knew too well—
Right
,
Good, and Appropriate: The Definitive Guide
for All Well Meaning Gentle Beings and Perfectly Behaved People.

Steuart and Olivia stared at Sam.

Sam felt the blood drain from her face.
It was gone. Her skin became bleach white. Her body went cold. Steuart picked
up his fork and looked down at the remainder of his cake. He looked over at his
partially eaten pizza. The only sound in the room was Steuart swallowing a sip
of soda. Olivia looked perplexed. She cleared her throat and began quickly
shaking her head. Sam sat frozen in time, wholly speechless. Olivia smiled a
weak smile as she pretended everything was normal. She had no idea what she had
done. Steuart understood. He sat silently and waited.

Olivia spoke quickly and gently, tapping
at the edge of the box with four fingers. Sam heard her mother’s fingernails
hit the box. Olivia’s voice sounded muffled, “Look, look,” she said with
urgency and excitement. “This is your own personal copy, Samantha Leigh,” her
voice slowed, “for well-educated ladies of great privilege.”

Sam frowned. She watched the room
become fuzzy. It started to spin. Everything felt hot. She was sweating now.

Olivia continued talking, “This is more
than other presents. There is more. Look here, I autographed this for you.”
Looking fishlike, Olivia leaned in towards Sam’s face. She opened the book to
the first page and held it up for her daughter to see. Proudly pointing towards
the inscription, she said, “Look, I autographed it with the date and everything.
Look, it says
In Celebration of our
Special Day, November 19—Love, Your Mother, Olivia Light DuBoise.”
Olivia
looked in her daughter’s eyes. “You and me sweetheart; this is precious.” She
closed the book and pointed at the cover. “It has your monogram too—see.”

Leaning back, Olivia began talking faster.
“Samantha Leigh, you are a lady now. This is your life-guide. This copy is
exactly like mine. It’s the same edition. I could have waited until you were
thirteen or even sixteen, but I decided you are old enough now. It is time for
you to have this and make a committed, daily devotion part of your life. You should
begin and end each day with
Right, Good,
and Appropriate
, as it will help you find your proper place in this world.”

“You obviously do not realize the
significance of this moment, but eventually you will reach the proper level of
maturity and will rely on this for everything. We live in a world of bad taste,
and bad behavior, where the good and bad must be separated. Please understand,
this is something made available to those of us who are privileged. Nothing is
more important than knowing who you are and how to behave as you walk through this
life.” Olivia looked at Steuart; “I have a copy for you too.”

Sam tilted her head. She looked
confused.

Olivia moved into a rant. “Samantha
Leigh, it is apparent that you have forgotten something important. This is
my
special day too.” She laid her finger
on the book. “This is exactly what you need. More than that, this is what I want
you to have. Samantha Leigh DuBoise, I am very disappointed in you. Your
behavior tonight is shocking. I am only now realizing how badly you are in need
of this book.” Olivia took a sip of tea, “You are at the age now when you
should be buying sweet gifts for your mother, not the other way around. I am
the reason you are here. I am also the reason you have this wonderful life. After
all, I do everything for you. Do you know how lucky you are?” Olivia paused. She
poured another glass of tea, took a sip and returned to her rant. “Do not forget
that as you are growing up, your dear sweet mother is growing older.”

“The way you remember grandmother?” Sam
asked in a whisper.

Olivia stopped. The room was silent.
Sam didn’t move. Steuart smiled for a moment imagining Olivia with the hungry
pirates as they waited for turtle soup. Olivia sipped her tea and looked at
Sam. Sam sat quietly and said nothing. Olivia stared at her daughter. Steuart
thought about wrestling with Sparky. Olivia leaned in closer, huffed quietly and
then spoke. “Well then, I see. I can only say that I am shocked by your incomprehensible
behavior. I don’t know what to think about this. Samantha Leigh, you have not
even thanked me.”

Steuart cocked his head. He looked at
his mother. He looked at Sam. Sam frowned and clenched her teeth. She felt warm
blood trickle down inside her mouth.

“Well?” Olivia waited.

Sam saw her mother’s mouth move, but she
didn’t hear the words. Her life had suddenly ended at the age of twelve. She
understood that she would never again have fun. Nothing would be the same. She
looked at the book. Her hand moved across the pages as her feelings disconnected
from her body. She watched her fingers. She silently mouthed the inscription,
closed the book and traced the title with her fingers.