All Grown Up (27 page)

"I was wondering how long you would sit out there," Elaine said with a smirk, a little bit of acid in her voice. I sucked it up and walked in when she motioned me to enter. "So, are you finally here to tell me about my grandson?"

My ey
es were bulging out of my head.

"Yes, I’ve had it truly figured out since the funeral when I saw Leo and Tony close to each other." She crossed her arms over her chest. "Honestly
, Chloe, what the hell were you thinking? Passing Leo’s son off as Domenico’s? It not fair to anyone; Domenico, Leo and, especially, Tony!" I saw the anger in her face. I broke down. I knew that I deserved this and much, much more.

"Elaine
, I am so sorry for everything that I have caused. I thought that I was doing what was best…but I realize that I was selfish and–"

"SELFISH? Oh
, you were much more than selfish, Chloe! I can’t believe that you, of all people, would have done this. I don’t know who you are." She stared me down and I steadied myself.

"I deserve all of this and more, but I am here because I need to know about your medical history
. Mainly kidney problems." Elaine’s face changed to worry.

"What’s wrong?"
She gasped out.

"Tony has been sick for a month and it may be his kidneys…" she cut me off
, screaming for Robert.

Robert appeared a
moment later at the top of the steps. Once he reached the bottom, Elaine began to tell him everything that she knew up until this point. Robert didn’t look shocked, so I figured that they’d already talked about Anthony.

"What are the symptoms?" Robert turned to me
, completely serious.

I went through everything
, starting with when he began to get ill. I told him all of his symptoms, the testing, and medications he was put on. Finally ending with what the doctor had told me.

"I am going to drive up to Seattle Grace tonight to lend my assistan
ce." I looked at him gratefully. "Chloe, we have a history of PKD, Polycystic Kidney Disease, in my family. I had to have a kidney transplant when I was about Tony’s age."

I know that
all of the fear, dread and pain I was feeling showed clearly on my face. Robert wrapped an arm around me.

"It will be okay
. Your doctor is right, everyone needs to be tested for a donor match, including your family."

I sniffed a few times, "Kenneth and Judith are already at the hospital." I wiped the tears from my face.

Before I could say another word, Elaine spoke up.

"Chloe
, I don’t know if I can ever forgive you for what you have done to Leo and this family," I dropped my head.

"I understand," I choked out.

"But, I
will
be a part of my grandchild’s life from here on out," she said sternly.

"Elaine…" Robert tried to intervene.

"No, Robert, she knows, or she at least will know, exactly what she has caused," Elaine turned on her heels and headed up stairs.

"Dear
, I am sorry that this all has come down to this situation." Robert rubbed the back of his head. "I know it wasn’t your intention, but I think that it’s going to be rough for a while." I nodded in understanding.

"I am so sorry
, Robert. I truly am. It’s all I can say." I turned for the door. "Oh, and thank you."

With that
, I left.

I pulled out my phone and called the
one person who was going to hate me for the remainder of my life. He answered on the third ring.

"Chloe?"
His voice almost made me swerve off the road. I was terrified.

"Leo, I need to talk to you
." I took a deep breath. "Are you available?"

"Now?"
He asked, clearly confused. "What’s wrong, Chloe?"

"Not over the phone," I choked out.

"Okay…how about we meet this evening after I leave the office? Did you want to go to dinner to–"

"No, just come to my house this evening
. Please?" I stuttered.

"Okay," he answered hesitantly.

After we hung up, the hours seemed to drag endlessly. I paced, cried, and even screamed at myself in the bathroom mirror. I tried to mentally prepare for what I was about to do tonight. I knew that Elaine’s reaction would pale in comparison to Leo. He was going to be irate, at the very least.

He arrived at seven. I answered the door and led him to the dining room
where we sat at the table.

"Chloe, what’s
going on?" Confusion was plastered on his face.

I stood and started to pace, sitting close to him was distracting and rig
ht now I needed all of my wits.

"Please
, tell me what is going on?"

"First
, I want to say that I am so, so, so sorry. I truly am…I thought that I was making the right decisions, but I….I realized that I have just been a selfish bitch." The tears started again and I saw Leo shift to stand up. "Please, don’t," I put a hand up. Leo frowned, "Trust me…in about three minutes you won’t want to be anywhere near me."

"You are starting to really scare me
. I don’t see how you could make me not want–"

"Tony is your son," I spit out quickly and then covered my mouth as a reflex. At that
moment I felt fear, panic, and a little relief.

"W-what?
Tony is…." I saw Leo’s face turn white as a ghost, completely expressionless.

"Yes," I
confirmed. "But that’s not all–"

"
Wha…"

"He is in the hospital with kidney problems and I need you to get tested to see if you are a match to him, everyone is being tested," I dropped my head
, staring at the floor.

"I…
he…Tony…" When I looked up to his face again, I watched as it went from expressionless white to full red with fury. I flinched before he even spoke.

"HOW COULD YOU?"
He screamed. I stood across the room from him saying nothing and crying. "You kept my child, my son, away from me for over three years?"

I nodded.

"You selfish bitch!" His words were like shards of glass cutting through me.

"I am so sorry—"

"Save your bullshit for someone who will believe it, Chloe," he shouted. "You let Domenico think—"

"He knew."

"What? He knew Tony was my son and he pretended—"

"He didn’t know that it was you
, though I think he was suspicious, just that Tony wasn’t his. I tried to tell him but he refused to hear—"

"You tried to tell
him
! What about me, Chloe?" Leo stood from the chair and crossed the room quickly, hands clenched at his sides.

I took a step back.

"I – I can only say that I am sorry and never meant–"

"You never meant for what? Never meant to keep him from me? Or you never meant for me to find out?" I flinched from the harshness of his voice – a harshness I deserved. "Where is my son?"

"Seattle," I took in a large breath before I finished. "Your father and mother left this morning to—"

"They knew!"
His face a mixture of hurt and fury.

"They only found out this morning when I went to see them," I sobbed.

"I’ll call my father on the way to the hospital." That was the last thing he said to me before he left the house, slamming every door along the way. Falling to my knees, I sobbed myself to sleep on the couch. I woke around midnight and immediately left for the hospital with some packed bags.

Leo

I cannot believe her! I was terrified that something was wrong with the way she sounded on the phone but I never expected her to tell me that she has hidden my son from me for three years.

"FUCK!" I screamed into the dark emptiness of my car as I drove well above the speed limit toward the hospital.

I can’t believe that she did this. Who does she think she is? How do you not tell a person that they have a son? How?

It was in that moment that I remembered her trying to contact me after the night in the tree house.

Maybe she would have told me if I had answered the call or even called her back
. Maybe it would have even built a bridge of communication for her to have told me when she found out. This is not my fault, it’s hers. She could've tried harder, called again. Though, I probably wouldn't have answered. I didn't want to be rejected so she could go back to her fucking husband she met at my engagement party. Fuck!

I rushed into the hospital and quickly got directions to the children’s floor. Once off the elevator
, I saw my mother, Kenneth, Judith, Christy, and Mina lying around the waiting room. Mina caught sight of me first and moved quickly.

"Leo?" I knew that the fury I still held was evident. Her eyes widened. "She told you…about Tony," she gasped.

"You knew?" I shouted and a nurse shushed me.

"Leo
, I didn’t know, but I suspected. I even tried to ask Chloe about it, but she wouldn’t–"

"You are no better than she is!" I stepped around he
r, leaving her crying by the elevators.

"Leo…p
lease calm down, it won’t do any–"

"Kenneth
, I don’t want to be disrespectful to you, so please do not tell me to calm down," I shot at him and he looked at me with pity and understanding.

"Sweetheart," Elaine wrapped her arms around me and I felt her body shake with sobs. "I am so sorry and please don’t be too hard on Mina. She was just as confused."

"I’ll deal with Mina later, where is Tony?" My mother showed me to his room and I walked up to his bed, truly staring into the face of my son for the first time.

Chloe

When I got to the hospital everyone was sleeping in the waiting area. I headed straight to Tony’s room. Once I entered
, I found Leo sleeping in a chair next to his bed. I lightly placed the bags down and started to quietly unpack some of Anthony’s things into the built in dresser/closet at the far side of his room.

I sighed as I watched them both sleep
. They had so many similarities. The slack jaw when they slept, the way their brow would crease while they dreamt. I knew that Leo hated me, that it would take everything in him to just be civil with me solely for Tony’s sake.

I met with the doctor who stated that
the results from the donor tests were complete. Leo was his donor match. They had a rare blood type. He went on to explain that he would have more test results later this afternoon regarding Tony’s condition and the treatment plan.

Grabbing some coffee from the lounge area of the hospital
, I felt his presence behind me.

"You will hear from my attorney," he spat before he walked out. I headed back to Anthony’s room as I wiped tears from my face and curled up next to him.

Chapter
Twenty-Six
Legalities and Time

Chloe

Anthony’s results had come in
. He didn’t need a transplant. It had been caught early enough. He would just need to take medicine and I would need to change his diet. I was relieved that he wouldn’t have to go into surgery at such a young age.

I ran straight from the doctor’s office and into Tony’s room
, hopping onto his bed. When I told him that he would get to go home soon, he was just as happy as I was. During our eighth round of paper, rock, scissors, Leo arrived. I formally introduced Leo and Tony.

"Would you like for Leo to stay and play with you for a little bit?" Anthony looked nervous. I reassured him that I would be right back. Leo nodded curtly at me as I left the room.

Leo was good on his word. It only took a week for the papers to be delivered to my house.

"That fucker is petitioning for full custody," I shouted to Roni who was sitting with me at the hospital. "I know that I messed up
, that I was selfish and inconsiderate, but, Roni, I was going to tell him…before I found out about Tony being sick. I swear."

Roni looked at me with wide eyes. "You were?"

I nodded.

"The day I finally pulled my zombie ass out of that bed, I sat in
Dom’s office and made a list of things that I wanted to do. That was one of them. I know that it still doesn’t excuse anything…I just, I mean…fuck, Roni! Dom said that if he knew who the father was that he would kill the guy. I was scared. I don’t think he wouldn’t have actually killed him, but I don’t know for sure what he would have done. He was angry and hated the thought of there being another man.  He scared me when we talked about it. What if Dom would have messed with Leo’s production company or something?"

"Well
, Chloe, even though you made a big mess of things, it doesn’t mean you will lose Anthony. You can counter his petition." She sighed heavily.

"You’re right
. And that is exactly what I'm going to do!" I pulled out my cell phone.

"Whoa,
Chloe, put the fucking cell in your purse and walk away." I looked up to her quickly. "Now." I closed my phone.

"You need to think on this a bit before you engage yourself into a nasty custody battle. Think of Tony." I sighed and sat down. Damn her for being right. I knew I really screwed everything up, but don’t
mess with my kid.

I took Roni’s advice
. After Mrs. Jones arrived the next morning, I slipped out of the hospital while Tony was still sleeping. I had made an appointment with Angelo to go over the papers that I had received.

After I explained everything to Angelo
, he didn’t blink twice. That’s when I realized that he had already known that Tony wasn’t Domenico’s son.

"
Domenico told you?"

Angelo nodded.

"He had made adjustments to the will after Tony was born, wanting to make sure that his wishes were legally sound with Tony not being biologically his."

I nodded in understanding.

I knew Dom’s parents were aware that Tony was not his biological child. Dom had told them we used a donor since he was not able to have children. Just another lie in the whole façade that was my fault and that I wish I never would’ve started.

"He will be lucky to get visitation
by the time I am done with him, Chloe." I nodded and he set forth in preparing my counter.

I got back to the hospital
, finding Leo in Tony’s room. They hadn’t seen me outside of the doorway, so I stood back and watched for a moment. Seeing them side by side on the bed, Leo reading him a book. I felt my heart ache. There was such a strong resemblance and Leo was so good with him. Heading back to the waiting area, I pulled out my cell phone and made a call to Angelo.

I took Anthony home a week later
. The court date was three weeks after I received the papers from Leo’s attorney.

We sat on opposite sides of the court room without one glance in each other’s direction. The judge arrived and the proceedings began. Leo’s petition for full custody was read aloud
. Angelo then stood to go over my counter petition.

"Your honor, my client agrees to the paternity test requested by the plaintiff
. However, she does not agree to his full custodial request. She proposes that Anthony remain in her custody until he is more familiar with Mr. Mackey." I heard grumbling and looked to see Leo leaning into his attorney. Before they could object, Angelo continued.

"After Anthony has become familiar with Mr. Mackey
, Mrs. Fiorello proposes a joint custody arrangement. Mrs. Fiorello is also in the process of moving into a new home and will agree to remain close to the area of Mr. Mackey’s residence."

I felt Leo’s eyes on me as Angelo continued to go over my counter. Angelo had asked me at least ten times if I was sure about all of this
, ensuring me that he could arrange for Leo to only get weekends with Tony. I knew I couldn’t do that, not to Leo and not to Tony.

As I was wiping tears off of my face
, Angelo sat down, looked at me and patted my arm. Then he whispered.

"You are being more than generous with all of this
, Chloe. Your willingness to cooperate and provide arrangements like this will be in your favor." He settled back into his seat.

The judge listened to Angelo and Leo’s
lawyer goes back and forth for another twenty minutes before he had heard enough, calling a twenty minute recess to review all the information. We stood as the judge left the court room.

"Coffee?"
Angelo looked to me as he sighed.

"Most definitely
," I half smiled.

I followed Angelo out of the courtroom
. When the doors closed behind us, I took a deep breath and exhaled.

"Chloe," I tensed up at the sound of his voice
, turning around slowly.

"Leo," I responded. He was in a dark gray suit and looked as gorgeous as ever. I nodded to him briskly and started to walk around him.

"Is it true?" I spun around quickly.

"Is what true?" I narrowed my eyes at him.

"That you were going to tell me about Anthony…before all of this." His face was as expressionless as his tone.

"Who….It doesn’t matter now
." He started to interrupt me, but I talked over him. "What’s done is done." I turned quickly and left him to stand there.

Roni is a dead woman when I got a hold of her! Damn her!

Angelo and I chatted over coffee about Tony’s medical condition along with the custody case. After what felt like only ten minutes, we were requested back into the courtroom. I looked at my watch.

"That wasn’t twenty minutes." I looked at Angelo with worry.

"Calm down, I think that it’s a good thing." He took my arm and walked me back.

After the judge entered
, we all sat, waiting for him to speak.

He cleared his throat.

"I have been going over this whole situation, over and over. While I am not here to pass personal judgment, I do feel as if you," he looked directly at me, "made a very large mistake in keeping a child and father separated." I felt the guilt that I have been carrying overwhelm me. Then he turned to Leo

"And you
, Mr. Mackey, I feel are acting out of revenge against the child’s mother." I watched Leo’s head drop, his brow furrowed.

"Now
, having said that, I have made my decision in the matter of Anthony Kenneth Fiorello." He cleared his throat again. "I am granting in favor of Mrs. Fiorello’s petition. I feel that she is making a reasonable offer in this matter. Mrs. Fiorello is to assist Anthony and Mr. Mackey in establishing a father and son relationship. Once the child is mentally and emotionally acceptable to Mr. Mackey, the joint custody arrangement will go into effect. My suggestion is that Anthony will spend six months with Mr. Mackey and six months with Mrs. Fiorello each year. How you choose to set up those time frames is at your discretion and scheduling. However, if there is a conflict, the court will step in." He looked between the both of us and I wiped away the tears that I could no longer keep in.

"Now, during the month or months that Anthony is with the other parent there will be arrangements made for visitations from the non-custodial parent; weekends, weekdays,
holidays, school breaks." He took a deep breath. "On a final note, I want to make sure you both understand that the child is not property. This little
person
needs to feel secure and loved. I trust that you both will carry forth in a civil manner for the child’s sake." We both nodded our heads in agreement. "One last thing, the child has a medical condition, correct?" He looked directly at me.

"Yes
, your honor," I answered in a monotone voice.

"Hmmm…while the custodianship has been arranged, I am going to give Mrs. Fiorello sole guardianship of the child
." He looked up when there was a shuffle from Leo’s desk. "Before you get worked up, Mr. Mackey, understand that this is merely an allocation in medical situations. You are his father and have rights. However, this allows his mother to make necessary medical decisions without having to seek your input. She has raised the child up until now in a caring and loving home, as well as sought out medical assistance properly for the child in the past, including exposing herself in this situation. I think that you can trust that she will make the proper choices."

The judge looked back and forth between us before he slammed the gavel on his bench "Adjourned.
”

After he left the courtroom
, I followed Angelo out to our waiting car. As I was climbing in, I heard him yell for me again.

"Chloe, wait."

My body twitched to throw myself into him, to plead for forgiveness that I knew I would never get, that I didn’t deserve. I stopped at the open door and turned to him as he approached.

"Please
, don’t," I said to him and he stopped a few feet from me. "We’ll talk about the arrangements soon. I can have my lawyer contact yours tomorrow to make arrangements, but I can’t do this right now." I slid into the car and we pulled away.

"Are you okay?" Angelo looked at me sympathetically.

I simply nodded, praying that we would get back to my house quickly. I needed to just hold Tony in my arms.

Leo

I had promised
my parents that I would go directly to their house after the hearing was over since I didn’t want them to come to the courthouse with me. However, after everything that had just happened, I couldn’t. Instead, I walked past my car, deciding that a walk through Seattle was the best way for me to absorb and process everything that had just happened.

Chloe wouldn’t talk to me at all
. Max told me that Chloe had every intention of telling me about Tony. When I tried to talk to her about it, she shut me down. In fact, she shut me down every time I approached her. By no means does that excuse what she had done, but, somehow, knowing that she wanted me to know, made my anger sway a little. I understood that she was upset and it probably wasn’t the best time for confrontations, but I was still drawn to her and hated for her to be sad. Even if she was the cause.

Before I knew it
, the sun had moved drastically across the sky above and I looked at my watch. I had been walking around for almost four hours.

Where the hell was I?

I looked around
, having no idea where I was. I found a taxi and got back to my car.

I pulled out my
cell phone, remembering I had turned it off for the hearing. After it powered up, I had fifteen text messages. Mostly from my mother wanting to know where I was and if I was on my way, then they became more concerned. I deleted them all and started listening to the five voicemails that were waiting on me. First two, were my mother, of course. Third, was my father; fourth, Mina, which I deleted before listening to it, and, fifth, was my mother again. I decided that I should call my mother. When she answered, I told her that I was on my way and would tell them all about it when I got there. I continued to work things out in my head on the drive over. I hadn’t even put the car in park when my mother walked out. She was standing at the open front door. I sighed and climbed out of the car.

"Oh
, baby, did everything go okay?" She wrapped me into a large hug.

"Yes," I breathed out and squeezed back. I don’t care how old you are
, nothing feels better than your mother hugging you. "Let’s get inside. Where’s Dad?"

"Robert
," she yelled as she led me to the living room. As we sat, my father entered the room.

I told them
what the judge decided and we sat silently for a moment.

"Well, are you pleased with that outcome or did you wish for more?"
My father asked while leaning back in his leather chair. I shrugged.

"I don’t know. I only asked for full custody because the lawyer stated that it would look good for me to want to have him completely
. Which I do," I assured them. "I didn’t want to take his mother out of his life. He doesn’t deserve that and, well, he needs his mother."