Vidal reaches into a drawer in his desk and pulls out a stack of letters and photographs. He takes one and holds it out to Hammer. “Do you know who this woman is?”
Hammer takes the picture and instantly smiles. He shows it to Tank, who also smiles. “Yeah, this is my mother.”
“Wrong.” Hammer and Tank both look up at Draven, both with their mouths open ready to protest. “That's my mother, Sam.”
“That's not possible; this is Hillary, my mother.”
Draven shakes his head as my father groans and scrubs his hand over his face.
“What's going on, Dad? What do you know?”
All eyes shoot to him. He's looking right at Hammer and Tank. “I didn't know for certain, your mother never said anything, even when Titus and I asked her. However, the likeliness of it not being true was astronomical.”
“What the hell are you talking about, Prez?”
“He's talking about the fact your mother and mine were sisters. Twins. Identical.”
What the actual fuck?
Nah, that's not possible. There's no way Hillary would have kept that to herself. She never spoke about any family members. All anyone knew was that Hillary was an orphan. Now Vidal is here telling us his mother and Tank, and Hammer's were identical twins?
Am I in a parallel universe?
I must be because nothing makes sense all of a sudden.
“Many people pointed out how much Hillary looked like Vidal's wife. Hillary would laugh it off and say, ‘I wish I were that beautiful,’ Even though she was once married to Joseph, she still thought his wife to be beautiful.” Shepard tells us. “Titus asked her again if she could be related to Helen. Hillary just laughed and told him not to be stupid. We even did background checks, but nothing ever came up.”
“This is all bullshit!” Hammer roars.
“It isn’t. Your mother eventually told Titus the truth, he told me, and we did what we could to protect her. There’s a lot you don’t know, Hammer.”
Jesus Christ!
“Sam?” Hammer looks to Draven. He holds another picture out to him. “This is your mother. Look at the names on the back of each picture.”
Hammer takes it, looks at it for a long moment before turning both pictures over and reading them aloud. “Hillary aged eighteen. Helen aged eighteen. How the hell can this be?”
“I didn't know either, Sam, not until I went through my mother's old things last night. I'd never looked through it before because it was too damn hard. I always thought she was an orphan with no family whatsoever. I didn't mean to go behind your back, but I asked Willow to go through the stuff you still have of your parents and bring it to me. She did this morning.”
Hammer's eyes widen, as do Tank's. Hammer has everything belonging to Hillary and Titus. It was all handed to him when they died, a large box with their personal belongings inside. Tank was given his parents wedding rings. Hammer gave them to him so he could remember them by, he never asked for anything else.
“I haven't been disrespectful, I have not gone through their things, but I did remove the small red box marked secret. I've read nothing in the letters that I found, but I have looked at the photographs. Seems we've met before, Sam.”
Hammer sinks down into a chair with his head in his hands. “I don't understand any of this. How did my mother end up married to her own sister's husband?”
“Good fuckin' question. This is all bullshit!”
“Calm down, Tank.”
“Leave me alone, Jett!”
I shake my head. I know he's upset, this is all confusing, but he needs to hear Draven out.
“Let me read you something.”
“Read us what?”
“A letter, Sam, from your mother to mine.”
Hammer nods.
I don't see what this has to do with Draven wanting to kill his father.
My darling Helen, I hope you are well? I hope little Draven is too. I miss you both like you wouldn't believe. I hope we can see each other soon, and I hope more than anything Joseph is treating you well?
I'm writing to tell you that I've met someone, and he's wonderful, Helen! His name is Michael, and he's a biker. I know what you would say. Bikers are bad, but, Helen, he is so different. My God, he's smart and kind, so handsome, and so caring, and he makes my heart beat out of my chest. I mean something to him, and he means everything to me.
I wish you could meet him so you could see for yourself how wonderful he is. I also know you'd pay terribly if Joseph ever found out you'd met with a biker. As much as I want you to meet my Michael, as much as I want him to meet both you and Draven, I would never ask you to put yourself and your son in danger.
I wish I could take you away from that place. I wish I could hide you and Draven away from that man, and then you'd be safe from harm. I know all the times you cancel our meetings is because he's beaten you, I know you take those beatings so you can protect your little boy, and that makes you a wonderful mother. However, I am your sister, your identical in every way twin sister and I feel your pain, Helen. It kills me inside to know what that monster does to you. You are the sweetest, kindest woman in the world and you don't deserve the life you've been handed.
If I could thank Vinny Vidal myself for allowing you to keep Draven with you, for stopping Joseph from handing that little boy over to the elders to raise, I would. I'd hug him hard and tell him how thankful I am. I was so worried when you confided in me that you'd have to hand your little boy over to those people, and how you wouldn't be able to see him again until he was sixteen. Thank you for taking my advice and speaking with Vinny. He's a good man, even if his brother isn't.
Thank you for the photograph. Draven is so beautiful, and he looks just like you. Those big brown eyes might be Joseph's color, but they're all you. That perfect smile, those chubby cheeks. I want to hold him close and tell him how much his aunt Hillary loves him. Kiss his cheek tonight and tell him that for me?
Please get in touch soon, Helen. I feel so alone in the world without you. I love you so much. Yours always, Hillary.
The room is deathly silent. I don't know how everyone else is feeling, but I'm in shock right now. Total and utter shock.
Draven pushes a small red box over the desk in Hammer's direction. Hammer takes it, opens the lid and removes an envelope. He opens it slowly and takes a deep breath. “Do you want me to read this out?”
Draven nods.
Tank's head is hanging down. Hearing Draven speak his mother's words has gotten to him. I think he's trying not to cry.
My sweet Hillary, I am so sorry. I am so, so sorry. I didn't know he would do what he did. I didn't think me trying to leave him so I could save my little boy from that monster would mean he'd go after you, kidnap you and force you to take my place. I know it's a little late for my apology, but I have to give it, and I will keep giving it until the day I die.
All I wanted was for us to be together again, I thought I could make it happen, and we'd all be safe. I should have known that monster would never let me go. I should have known he'd hurt you to get to me.