Chapter Fourty Three

A relentless drive for truth was looking Kelly straight in the face— impossible to ignore—impossible to even bend. Evelyn would serve Dimitri with the news if she was not satisfied with immediate action on this issue. She knew Evelyn and she knew the woman wasn't bluffing.

Strong loyalties had been stirred. To Evelyn’s mind, Raymond Darcy's daughter had not been acting as Raymond's daughter should, letting go of everything she had been taught, lying to a man about his child, lying to her father, lying to himself. And perhaps the very longevity of her service did give her the right to feel she had to be the one to put her back on the right track, regardless of whether it served Kelly’s interests or not.

"I’m sorry you feel…so let down by me, Evelyn." Kelly said. She heaved a troubled sigh.

"I'm also thinking about your father, Miss Kelly. He might be pissed at first because I know that he and Mr Dimitri have some issues. But he would be telling you the same as I am. Lay it out in the open and deal with it."

No other choice now.

"Tonight. I’ll go see him and then I will tell him about the baby" Kelly promised.

Evelyn weighed that answer and finally conceded to it. "I’ll know if you don't do it," she warned. "And I mean what I said about telling him myself if you continue to hide it"

Kelly smiled a little. A brief reprieve. At least she’d have a little time to put herself together before she went to see him tonight. Then she would worry about telling her father after she and Dimitri had talked.

She’d wanted to feel prepared for every contingency before laying out the fact that would inevitably have a far ranging effect on the rest of their lives, wanted to have answers ready for whatever was Dimitri's reaction to it.

However, Evelyn’s words had stung her conscience. There was no denying the truth of them. Dimitri would not want his child to be fatherless, as he himself had been. Which meant she had to share. No cheating him out of the role he’d want to play—a role he’d insist on playing. She knew him that much.

Roles…exits and entrances… What had she done in her own selfish desire to have her needs answered? Several careless acts.

Though even acknowledging she hadn’t really done the right thing as far as her father was concerned, she couldn’t regret doing it.

She wanted this child.

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Spencer and David sat next to Dimitri on the couch. They were at Dimitri's house, and Dimitri had just finished telling them about his feelings for Kelly.

"Damn" Spencer said as he took a sip of beer, "If someone ever told me I would hear you talking about being in love with a woman this way, I wouldn't have believed it. But here you are saying it, and it sounds even better coming from you. I gotta say it feels so good seeing you feeling this way"

Dimitri shot him a glance, "Why is that?" he asked, "Because you just like seeing me miserable? And besides that wasn't the point of me telling you guys telling you about it."

"Oh I know that's not the point" Spencer cut in, but I'm trying to make it the point, "I mean, there was a time when you would just have one night stands and move on the next day like nothing happened. We would try to set you up on dates and you would refuse. You really have to thank David for taking us to the theater that night. Here you are, talking about being in love with a woman.... Who also happens to be Darcy's daughter. That even makes it more funny. Talk about bad luck man"

Spencer burst into laughter, and unable to help himself, David joined him. Spencer was taller than Dimitri by a few inches, with dark skin, a full beard and dark eyes that were always sparkling with laughter. Spencer lived life with an enthusiasm that tended to spill over to everyone around him.

"I'm sorry man," David said to Dimitri when he saw the expression on his face, "but it's kinda funny when you think about it"

"Yeah. Won't be funny for long though" Dimitri replied, as he reached forward to drop his beer on the table in front of them.

"Why is that?" David asked.

"Well, I have to put a stop to it before it gets worse, you know" Dimitri replied, "It wasn't supposed to go this far, and by the way, I think she's thinking the same thing because she's definitely been avoiding me lately. I don't know why. Maybe it's for the best."

Spencer grinned and slapped Dimitri on the back. “That’s because you were overthinking things. Women are easy. You smile, tell them they have nice eyes and before you know it, they’re giggling and eating up everything you’re spitting. Treat them with respect when you’re ready to move on, or make them think it’s their idea that they’re ending things and you’re golden. But I don't think you really want to end this one from the look on your face. Go for it Dimitri, you know you want her, man”

“Shut up,” Dimitri said without any heat. “The world already knows you wiggle your finger and women come flocking. Good thing Josie came along before you hooked up with every lady on the planet”

Spencer laughed and tugged on his collar. “Hey, you can't blame me. I’ve got a gift.” he said.

David looked at Dimitri. "But what about her father. Raymond doesn't know about it, but if you decide to continue and he finds out, he won't be be thrilled about the idea. The man is still mad about the company. Think he's gonna be okay with you dating his daughter? Man, seems like you're just after everything that belongs to the guy, if I were in his shoes, I would hate you too "

"Thank you very much for the kind words, David. Very calming and soothing words they are" Dimitri said sarcastically.

"You're welcome" David replied while Dimitri glared at him.

"So what's going to happen with the company?” Spencer's voice rose in interest."Still going ahead with your plan?"

“Yes.” Dimitri's tone hardened. He gave Spencer a hard look. "I mean, I don't know any more, man. It means so much to Kelly...

And I....I don't want to hurt her"