Chapter 12: “Confrontations”
“What?” That was all Brenda could say. Her mother was HIV-Positive?
“I said I have HIV, Brenda.” Veronica said sympathetically. Brenda closed her
eyes and rolled back on her heels. First Stone, then Robin, and now her mother.
She opened her eyes and looked at Veronica. “I'm so sorry Brenda.” Veronica
sobbed and fell against Brenda's shoulder. Brenda wrapped her arms around her
and let her cry.
*********************
Laura opened the door to Kelly's and let her family walk in. They were finally
together. She smiled as Lucky and Liz passed by her to sit at the counter. Luke
and Bobbie trailed in soon after, and then Carly with Michael in her arms and
Lulu and Lucas at her side. Ruby stepped out of the kitchen and decided to join
them for awhile. Laura wiped a tear out of her eye and went to join them.
“Hi Aunt Ruby!” Lulu exclaimed and ran over across the room to greet her, almost
running into Brenda and Veronica. Brenda smiled at the little girl, tears still
fresh in her eyes.
Lucky swiveled in his chair and spun around a couple times. Liz watched him,
amused, and happy he decided to come. He looked up at her, and gave her a tiny
smile and resumed what he was doing.
******************
Across the room, Veronica stood up, ready to say her goodbye to Brenda. “I'll
see you later. Call me if you need anything.” Brenda stated and hugged her
mother again. “I will.” Veronica said.
******************
“I will.” Lucky looked up at those words. He knew that voice. Liz noticed him
tense up and wondered what's wrong. “Luck…”
“Shhh.” Lucky cut her off. He slowly turned around in the chair and looked in
the direction the voice came from, and came face to face with Veronica.
“No…” He whispered and got off the stool. “No. It's you.”
*******************
Veronica recognized the boy the moment he turned around. “It was you!” His cries
were getting louder and more hysterical. Liz had backed away to get Laura and
Luke. They all crowded around the two now, wondering what was going on.
“Who is it, Cowboy?” Luke asked.
*******************
Lucky knew Luke asked him a question, but he couldn't answer. There she was. She
was standing right in front of him, looking fine and content, not sad and
tortured like he was. She didn't have a problem with what she did. Lucky's fear
subsided to anger quickly.
*******************
“She did it. It was her. She did it!” He screamed at Veronica, at Luke, at
anyone who would listen. The tears were already in action, streaming down his
face at an alarming rate. He put his hand to his eyes and pointed the other one
at Veronica. “She did it!” He sobbed and stepped back, stumbling.
*******************
'I didn't know I hurt him this much.' Veronica thought to herself. Suddenly she
remembered why she felt compelled to walk up to him. “I need to tell you
something.” She said, bravely ignoring the stares she got from the group. “You
need to know this.”
“If you have something to say to my son, you say it to all of us!” Laura yelled
at her. As much as she wanted to strangle the woman at that moment, she knew the
women had something serious to say.
Veronica took a deep breath and looked into Lucky's tearful eyes.
“I had a test a few weeks back… it was for HIV… and it's positive.”
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