Rawl's POV
I remained frozen, looking at her. When Carla was a little older, her hair was longer, her frame a little leaner, but the intensity in her eyes wasn't any less so. Although she had aged a little, she hadn't lost any of her sharpness.
"Can I come in?" She asked me again. I felt my chest tighten at her calm, even voice.
I ought to have shut the door on her. I could have yelled at her to stay out of my way. But something in her face kept me still, something unreadable. Damn it, Carla. No matter what, she still knows how to freeze me.
I clung to the door frame, but then, for some reason, I stepped back. "Fine," I muttered.
It wasn't a complete smile but instead just a faint curve of her lips that put me on edge.
When she entered the room, her heels tapped on the wood floor as if she walked into a memory, eyes sweeping the air.
Vanessa was right behind me, her eyes wide and on Carla as though she were a ghost.
She looked around the living room for a long time with her head turned. "You've added a nice touch since I left," she said lightly, trailing her fingers along the back of the couch. "But most things still remain the same."
What she said struck a chord. I made fists in anger. "You're not here to talk about the house," I said. "Please get directly to the point."
She looked at me, and there it was, that infuriating calmness that made me feel I would lose this fight before it even began. "Rawls, you're always so blunt," she said, tilting her head. "That hasn't changed either."
Don't go, I said, taking a step. "You are in no position to come and say what you want. You have no role in this life anymore."
Vanessa broke the awkward silence that created confusion in their hearts. "Who is she?" she asked, her voice prickly and demanding. "Dad, what's going on?"
I was about to speak, but Carla cut me off. She turned to look at Vanessa. I hated the look she gave my daughter, her expression softened. "I am your mother," she said.
The room suddenly became quiet. Vanessa froze, her face pale like she had been struck by those words. "What the...?" she murmured, her voice perplexed and doubtful.
I slipped by them before Carla could say anymore. I glared at her and said, "Don't."
You can't do this; not now, nor in the future.
Carla barely batted an eyelash, yet her eyes narrowed. "I have the right to let her now," she said, her tone composed but her response pointed.
"Know what?" I snapped. "Your pathetic lies!"
"Lies?" Carla asked. "Are you sure? Are you afraid that she'll discover who you really are?"
"Stop playing your stupid games, Carla!" I yelled.
"I wish you the best of luck trying to keep up the lie when she finds out. You know how you've lied to her for all these years?" Carla yelled.
What in the world did she mean? I looked at Vanessa and saw Carla trying to pull her to her side. I was not going to let Carla win easily.
I snarled. "That was not your decision to make."
Vanessa spoke up again as things began to go south. "What are you talking about?" she asked, stepping forward.
She looked from one of us to the other asking for answers. "Dad, what is she talking about? Is it true?"
I shook my head and turned to Carla. "Get out," I ordered.
She didn't move. Her eyes remained on me, with a little smirk on her lips. "Do you think you could hide it away from her forever?" she said sarcastically in a low tone. "Sooner or later, Rawls, the truth will come out."
"That's enough!" I shouted, the sound reverberating within the room. My hands were clenched tightly at my sides as I moved closer. "Don't think you're going to stand here and throw around threats. Whatever you think you're doing, it ends now."
Carla stared in confusion, her smirk flickering. "You can't continue to run from your past, Rawls," she said softly. "It always catches up."
Vanessa stepped forward with a quivering voice and trembling hands. "Stop it both of you!" she shrieked, her eyes wide and hopeful. "Dad, what is mom saying? I want to learn more about what the hell is going on, right now?"
Carla looked back to Vanessa and her expression softened again. "You don't know much." I smiled, letting my voice tremble enough to sound sincere. "But you'll understand soon, I promise."
What on Earth does that mean? Vanessa's voice shook as she snapped
"Absolutely nothing. She's attempting to play mind games with you," I said.
Before I could reply, Carla said again, looking at me. "I'll return for you, Vanessa," she said softly. "And when I do, everything will make perfect sense. But until that time, I want you to know this: I love you."
I took a step towards threatening. "Don't you dare…"
However, she had already started to turn toward the door.
"Goodbye, Rawls," she said softly, knowing it was the last time she would see him. The door behind her slammed shut, leaving a silence more potent than anything she could have uttered.
I looked at Vanessa. Her face was white and her fists were clenched at her sides. I quickly thought about what to tell Vanessa.
"What's that?" Vanessa asked, raising her voice. "What do you mean? What are you hiding from me?"
I quickly answered, "Nothing." I then realized I had said it too fast.
When her eyes narrowed, she clearly didn't believe me. "Don't lie to me," she hissed.
"I am telling the truth," I said determinedly, forcing out the words. "She only wants to create chaos. That's what she does."
"You don't seem very convincing," she spat.
"What?! What reason do I have to lie to you?" I asked. Vanessa was clearly not okay.
For quite a while, Vanessa looked at me as if she was piercing through me. She stormed off up the stairs without saying anything else.
"Vanessa, wait!" I called out to her as she moved farther away from me. "Come back here!"
"Vanessa!" I yelled as her door slammed shut and it felt like I got punched in the stomach.