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Mar. 25th, 2012 10:43 pm"You cannot be serious!"
Carlotta puts down the broom and looks at her mother-in-law incredulously. In Polly's arms is a baby that Carlotta did not want to see; Fern's son, little William.
"Please tell me Fern isn't here." Carlotta continues.
"She isn't here." Polly says, holding the baby gently. William, the innocent bystander, looks warily at Carlotta. "She's having trouble coping with William and turned up demanding his father take some responsibility for him, then left."
Carlotta sighs. This needs to be sorted out before little William or Molly get old enough to understand Fern's claims that Will is little William's father.
"Why is she still doing this? We all know she's lying, can't she give it up?"
Polly hesitates.
Carlotta stares at her.
"You don't actually believe she could be telling the truth do you?"
Polly strokes William's pale hair. It occurs to Carlotta, not for the first time, how little he looks like Will. He's so pale, his hair is pretty much white, and his eyes are sort of reddish.
"I love my son and my niece." she says. "But I know what Fern is like, now. And I remember the night you argued with Will, some wine went missing. Two whole bottles. I know Will was disciplined for getting back to the barracks late and drunk too. And... I spoke to Will on the telephone yesterday and he admitted he isn't a hundred percent sure because he simply doesn't remember. He's afraid you'll leave him for good."
Carlotta looks at her. The woman is close to tears and there's no doubt in her mind that Polly, at least, is telling the truth.
Deep breath.
"All right. I know a doctor who can do a special test to check whether William is Will's son. But it's... black market, so you can't tell anyone outside the family. I just need one of his hairs, and one of Will's."
"And what if he is?" Polly asks.
"If he is Will's... if he does the right thing, I won't leave him. If he isn't, I don't want to ever hear Fern slander him again." Carlotta says.
Polly nods, then gently plucks a hair from William's head, and hands it to her.
Carlotta puts down the broom and looks at her mother-in-law incredulously. In Polly's arms is a baby that Carlotta did not want to see; Fern's son, little William.
"Please tell me Fern isn't here." Carlotta continues.
"She isn't here." Polly says, holding the baby gently. William, the innocent bystander, looks warily at Carlotta. "She's having trouble coping with William and turned up demanding his father take some responsibility for him, then left."
Carlotta sighs. This needs to be sorted out before little William or Molly get old enough to understand Fern's claims that Will is little William's father.
"Why is she still doing this? We all know she's lying, can't she give it up?"
Polly hesitates.
Carlotta stares at her.
"You don't actually believe she could be telling the truth do you?"
Polly strokes William's pale hair. It occurs to Carlotta, not for the first time, how little he looks like Will. He's so pale, his hair is pretty much white, and his eyes are sort of reddish.
"I love my son and my niece." she says. "But I know what Fern is like, now. And I remember the night you argued with Will, some wine went missing. Two whole bottles. I know Will was disciplined for getting back to the barracks late and drunk too. And... I spoke to Will on the telephone yesterday and he admitted he isn't a hundred percent sure because he simply doesn't remember. He's afraid you'll leave him for good."
Carlotta looks at her. The woman is close to tears and there's no doubt in her mind that Polly, at least, is telling the truth.
Deep breath.
"All right. I know a doctor who can do a special test to check whether William is Will's son. But it's... black market, so you can't tell anyone outside the family. I just need one of his hairs, and one of Will's."
"And what if he is?" Polly asks.
"If he is Will's... if he does the right thing, I won't leave him. If he isn't, I don't want to ever hear Fern slander him again." Carlotta says.
Polly nods, then gently plucks a hair from William's head, and hands it to her.
