Ocean Of Need

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June 11th Continued...

Jameson looks completely dumbfounded. I blink at him slowly. Our code for - I'll follow your lead on this. - We use this code on jobs when things come out of nowhere. But nothing has quite confused me the way Roxy's statement has.

Could he actually be her Father? And if he is, why hasn't he been here for her, the way he has been for me? Jesus, no wonder she hates me. Stealing a boyfriend is one thing, but stealing a Father is another beast altogether. How the hell have I become so central in this drama?

Finally Jameson clears his throat and speaks. 'Roxy, honey...'

'Don't you honey me!' She screeches. 'How could you? How could you stay away from your real daughter, and protect someone else's?'

'Roxy,' Freya says, and we all turn to her. 'Jameson is not your Father.'

'Liar,' spits Roxy. 'If he's not my Father why does he turn up every six months checking up on us? Staying for long enough to salve his conscience, but not long enough to make a real connection? Do you think I'm stupid? I see the way you make eyes at each other. I know he's the one that broke your heart all those years ago. That's why you can't love me.'

'You've got this all wrong,' says Freya. 'Jameson is not your Father, and he's not the one who broke my heart. I love you more than I can put into words. I thought you knew that.'

The flames in Roxy's eyes are replaced by tears as she mumbles, 'So which fucker broke your heart Mom? Who made it into an empty shell? Who is responsible for making you treat your daughter like staff? For making you date a million lovers, but not letting any of them get close? Who is it that made you leave anyone that gets attached, and trade them in for a younger model? Who is my Father?'

Freya takes a breath, she looks calm but I can see Roxy's bullet are getting close to their target. 'Yes, your Father broke my heart. But he didn't leave me. I left him.'

'What?' Chorus me and Roxy.

Freya continues, 'He wanted to leave his wife and come to America with me. I couldn't do that to another woman. I knew I would be ok. Knew I could take care of a baby on my own. But she had four boys already, and another baby on the way. How could she possibly take care of five kids on her own? Even with help. She was loyal to your Father in a way that I couldn't be. Always waiting for him to come home. Always looking after him. I could never have made the sacrifices she did. I was, and am, a free spirit.'

'Four boys,' I echo, 'and a baby on the way...wouldn't follow you to America...'

Freya turns to me, but I can't look at her. I turn to Jameson but his eyes won't meet mine.

I look to Mac, because I have no idea what's going on and once again we are in the eye of the storm together, 'Mac? Did you know?'

You nod your head and say, 'I found out today.'

Roxy grabs for my arm. 'What? What is it? What do you know?' Her words are falling over themselves in the rush to get out of her mouth. 'Do you know who my Father is?'

My blood runs cold as I say, 'Yes, I know who your Father is.'

'Tell me, please Lilah. I know I've been a bitch to you, but please, I need to know.'

'Your Father is Robert McLaren.'

'Robert Mc...wait...that's your Father. Are you saying...'

'We're sisters Roxy. God help us, but we're sisters.'