Sixty Five

Ruby

Since I had no idea how to react to the man's introduction, I found myself inserting random and sarcastic chuckles in between the silence that surrounded us.

A look at Abby who was as confused as I was, led to a glance at the man who called himself Mark Lumber.

I could barely form replies to counter his ridiculous claims.

"I know you are doubting me. But," he reached for something inside his suit, "this is a DNA test conducted about thirteen years ago. It shows that I am your father."

My lungs released a shaky breath as my eyes trained on the folded piece of paper.

"How..." A thick swallow of the lubricant in my mouth was needed because my ability to speak became really hard for a second. Then, I closed my eyes, folded my arms, took a deep sigh sighed and opened my eyes. "How on earth do you expect me to believe you?"

"I know you won't. You have known Dominic to be your father all these years and-"

"If you are my real father," my breath seemed to be raging at that point, "why are you just coming into my life now?"

"I-"

"Why are you working with the Xylem gang?" I asked with gritted teeth as the reality of the situation began to fully dawn on me.

"Dominic wouldn't let me have you. I am your real father, Ruby. Diane and I gave birth to you. It is my right to get my daughter back when I want her back."

"My Dad knows about you?" I asked.

"He told me to stay away from you when he found out. He wouldn't let me win the custody cases, he wouldn't let me get close to you. I just-" I watched as his hands pulled into fists, and I shuddered because it dawned on me more and more that the man in front of me was claiming to be my father.

I was yet to believe him. No matter the number of DNA tests, I won't believe him until my father says whatever the man is spewing is true.

But, when my Dad does say that it is true...

My legs experienced imbalance and the feeling that came with the growing thoughts in my head gripped my chest hard.

"Ruby," he tried to reach for my hand, but I didn't let him, "please, give me a chance to call you my daughter. Dominic stripped that chance from me. When I told him about how Diane got pregnant for me, he refused strongly to let me get a glimpse of you."

"No." I chuckled as my head danced with thoughts. "There is something wrong here."

"There is nothing wrong, my dear."

"What exactly are you after? Huh?" My eyes which were now tear-filled fiercely locked with his. And, I paused to stop my lips from quivering.  "There has to be another reason. If you wanted to have me so bad, you wouldn't have let me go as a child. So, what is your reason for being here?"

Mark Lumber scoffed, his fingers rubbing his chin as his eyes wore an unidentifiable expression.

"Do you think it is unusual for me to keep wanting you back? I told you, your father never made it easy for me."

"I am sure he had his reasons for keeping me from you. What I want to hear you say is the real reason you are here." My voice sounded so strong and confident.  It was hardly that way inside me.  My mind was a mess, my head felt like it could keep on spinning.

"I have fought to have your custody all these years, I can't just give up at some point."

"Why are you working with the Xylem gang?"

"I-"

"You can't fool me, there is something more to this... sudden revelation. I can tell." I nodded with certainty. "What is it? What are the goodies will you be getting from this situation?"

Mark Lumber scoffed again and his pitiful front disappeared instantly. The man wore a smirk as his head ducked slightly. He took some steps backwards, his foxy eyes watching me as I battled with the emotions inside me that were threatening to overflow.

"You are a smart girl, I guess you are really my daughter."

I felt a sudden grip on my arm. "Ruby, I think we should leave," Abby whispered into my ear.

"I need to hear what he has to say," I replied.

"But-"

"Get Adonis."

"Okay," she replied with urgency and rushed into the building.

"Let's hear what you have to say, man- who- claims-to-be-my-father."

I made sure he did not miss the sarcastic tone in my voice.

"You are a vital figure in my life. Not only are you my daughter, but you are also the key to everything I have been waiting and yearning for."

"Is this about money?" I asked with a casual tone.

"I need you to be my daughter once again so I can get what l deserve. You," he finally grabbed my shoulders, his touch introduced a really strange feeling of disgust, "are the key to getting what I want."

"I can't believe that you are my father, I don't believe you."

"You have to!" My eyes bulged slightly at the sudden rise in his voice. Instantly wearing an apologetic look, Mark Lumber relaxed his grip on my shoulders and took a step back.

"Sorry. I just want you to see that you need me and I need you. If you resist, things can go wrong."

"What could go wrong?" It was obvious that he was yet delaying the explanation of his sudden appearance.  "All of this will connect to that gang, won't it? If you are my real father, you wouldn't be pushing me into that kind of danger. So I'm going to stand by my words."

My legs took a decisive stance. "I don't believe you. You are not my real father. Dominic Powers is my real father."

The man nodded slowly, his tongue poking the side of his right cheek. His hands went into the pockets of his trousers.

"For your benefit, I'd suggest you ask your parents for the truth. When you learn the truth, I promise you, you'll come running to me."

"That won't happen," I replied. My brows lifted slightly as I wondered what to do next. As decisions shuffled in my head, I noticed a twinkle in Mark Lumber's eyes. He looked confident about his claims, and the tough wall I built within me felt a shake in its foundation.

Then, I made my decision.

Without a pause, I engaged my legs and ran like my life depended on it. And, soon, I was hailing a taxi to my house with the hope that my fears wouldn't be confirmed to be true.

~

Once in front of my house, I paused to catch my breath. The moment I step into the building, I will be facing the moment that would determine a lot of things.

Slowly, I opened the door and my Mom's smiling face greeted me as she walked away from someone. My gaze shifted and I saw my Dad making funny gestures at her.

"Ruby, you are back." She gave a small laugh before she strained her neck. "Where is Abby?"

Seeing both of them like that- happy and carefree- made it my emotions burst.

That cumulative sadness inside me exploded.

It made me break down, I felt so weak and helpless.

And, all I could do was cry.

"Ruby," my mom called with concern as she pulled me into the house and onto a nearby couch. "What happened? Did something happen to Abby?"

I heard my Dad's footsteps approach us and his increased presence made it more difficult for me to gather myself. As I cried buckets into my palms, my Mom patted my back with worry all over her face.

"Ruby, talk to us, what's going on?"

My chest heaving with an unbelievable rhythm, I looked up at her with my tear-filled eyes. Through the blurriness, I looked towards my Dad and decided to control my emotions and say what was on my mind.

"Mom. Dad." I bet my voice sounded unrecognisable thanks to the crying. My hands wiped away the fluid in my optic region. I swallowed hard as I read the eagerness on their faces.

"I met," I shuddered slightly, "Mark Lumber today."

"What?" My Mom's buttocks kissed the floor and she instantly lost colour in her face.

My Dad reached for her and helped her onto the couch. I was getting up when he turned to face me.

He then asked, "What are you talking about?"

"I met Mark Lumber today and he told me that he is my real father." I searched his face.

"He is lying, right? He is not my real father, you are."

"Ruby I don't-" My mother interrupted him by reaching for his hand.

"We have to tell her, Dominic. I think it's time."

That alone made my heart squeeze so hard that I almost fell onto my knees. I pushed away the tears that choked my throat and tried to stand strong at that moment.

"Ruby... Please, sit down," my Dad said.

"Just tell me if it is true or not."

He sighed so hard, I already knew the truth before he said, "It is. Mark Lumber is your biological father, but-"

"Why didn't you tell me?" I tried to hide my shivering hands behind me but an air of gloom was beginning to descend on me so much that I felt something drastic was about to happen to me.

"We didn't see the need to tell you. I made sure he never got the chance to come close to you because-"

"I would have not minded hearing that you are not my biological father from your lips. Did I really have to hear it from that man? Why did you keep it from me? I wouldn't have loved you less if you did. Why..."

It was starting to get difficult to stay sane at that moment.

"Ruby," my mother's voice reached my ears. "I know it was terrible of us to keep the truth from you but we didn't intend to hurt you, you know that right?"

"I know. I just-" I let out a wince as the tears became uncontrollable again. "I just feel so betrayed and sad and..."

I buried my face in my palms again as I broke into another bout of tears.

It hurt so much, I won't lie. The fact that someone else came out of the blue to call me his daughter made me feel like my entire life has been a lie. And, the fact that I am indeed that person's daughter makes me have complicated feelings that add to the pain.

"Ruby, can you please, say something? Anything?" I could hear the strain in my Mom's voice and the fact that the situation was introducing tension into my family made me even sadder.

Why did Mark Lumber have to come at all?

Why?

It immediately felt stuffy inside the room. So, I got up and rushed out of the house, my parents shouts for me to come back diminishing as seconds rushed past.

I had no idea where I was running to. My legs just kept moving. My tears didn't stop. I'm certain anyone who walked past me would have a sight to watch.

But I didn't care. I just ran.

Until I jammed into something. Or rather, someone.

With messed-up eyes and shaky breathing, I looked up at the person I had bumped into.

"Ruby..." Adonis's voice came to me before I could make out his face. Without minding my state, I jumped into his arms. "Hey, you are going to be fine," he said as he stroked my hair.

While I took his word for it, I held onto his shirt desperately, because I so much wished for the pain in my heart to disappear.

At that particular moment, I would have done anything to get rid of the pain.

It was that unbearable.