Billionairess's Dilemma: Reclaiming His Heart

11: Sheltered

Polly

Somehow I made it through that meeting. My mind was reeling. He truly fooled me. I had been so quick to trust him. Why?

We leave once all the visitors have gone. Mom says nothing until she begins driving. “You look shell shocked Polly. What happened?”

I don’t even attempt to deny it. “That guy I was sitting next to was Simon Williams, the star quarterback who graduated with Kevin. He helped validate that Archer has always been an asshole.” I reveal everything he said. Mom doesn’t look very surprised about the bet until I tell her who the perpetrator behind it all was. Then she mutters a few angry curses.

“You seemed to already know about most of that.”

I watch her nod before her eyes dart to me. “Had no idea he instigated that but yes I was informed a few days ago of the bet. Not the specific details. More how everything seemed to go wrong after Archer’s arrival.”

“Why did I let him in so easily, Mom? Am I just really stupid or bad at reading people? Both? Be honest Mom.”

Mom sighs before turning into a parking lot. She puts the car in park and leans back against the headrest. We sit there in silence for a bit. "I think....no I know we kept you too far sheltered away from the bad things in our family. Henry always disagreed with me on that. Said I was setting you up for disaster but I thought at the time, I was protecting you. We told you only half of what Kevin’s biological mother did to his father. I warned you some people will do and say whatever to get what they want. But I should have told you the whole story about Kevin, Kyle and Laurel. And that’s on me and your father. We’ll start correcting that oversight now. I think a ladies lunch is in order.” She lifts her phone and begins typing. “You aren’t stupid. Young, naive and frustrated with no outlet. Laurel was right all those years ago.”

“About what?”

She gives me a cryptic look. “I’ll let her explain that.”

An hour later, we are heading to one of our favorite restaurants. I follow her in to see Daphne, Jessica, Coline and Relly sitting at the table. They watch us approaching and my stomach is in knots. I’m sure Kevin has told them every stupid way I hurt him.

“Sit down Polly. No one is going to roast you.” Daphne says smiling.

“Is my face that obvious?” I ask curiously as I pull my chair forward.

“We married into the shark squad. Reading other people is a required skill for membership.” Relly says dryly.

I look between her and Coline. “I’m sorry. I was so awful.”

Coline holds up a hand. “Stop Polly. We aren’t the people you owe an apology to. My son is but right now he’s not ready to listen. And you aren’t ready to say it. You need to understand what you did first.”

We place our orders and I note there are no tables within earshot of us on this terrace. “Polly, you know Kevin grew up…differently. You know Kyle’s father and mother were heartless bastards who cut Kyle out of their lives when he was 19. Same age you are now. Kevin was born not long after and Kyle had to raise him by himself. I moved in and helped him do that. He and I share a womb donor. Eileen never gave a damn about me. I was an accident conceived in a drunken revenge plot against her husband that backfired. Jessica here is Kyle’s other half sister. They share a sperm donor known as the devil himself, Stanley Harris. Those two are still alive and as long as they breathe, I consider them a possible threat. For years, Kevin only had me and his dad as his family and let’s just say we always cautioned him about who you allow into your life. To guard your trust. We couldn’t trust the people who should have taken care of us. It was a painful lesson for all three of us. We never let up on that lesson or those words with Kevin because he has enemies who’d hurt him to get back at us. You noticed growing up, Kevin really only had shallow friendships besides you?” She eyes me as I think that over.

“Yes. He’d hang out with some of the guys but never really bonded with them.”

Jessica nods sadly. “Because he learned from us that trust is very hard to grant. Because it’s like a mirror. Once you fracture it, you cannot repair it. The cracks will always be there to cut you and distort your world.”

Coline leans forward and grips my hand. “There’s another big reason he always kept others out. His kidney transplant. It requires a lot of work on his part to make sure he stays healthy and also with his medications. Most other kids would find that tedious and not want to bother with him. That’s something you learn about in the counseling they offer for transplant families. You never acted as if it bothered you.”

“Until you turned sixteen. And then we started seeing a little of it. Some borne out of guilt for him getting sick the year before after he hung out with your new friend.” Daphne says before taking a bite of her pasta. I force myself to eat mine.

“You had resentment for the little times that Kevin’s transplant interrupted your life. It was slight at first but it bubbles beneath the surface slowly building.” Relly adds and I nod a little.

“Until it finally can no longer be contained and it came out. In your case, the trip to Australia was the final straw for you to let it out.” Mom says and I stare at all of them as they watch me with understanding.

Coline takes a sip of her juice. “Nathan and Ashley had little resentment episodes. We recognized those moments, allowed them to vent at their support group and made sure it was addressed without judgment. It’s only natural with a long term medical condition and kids growing up. You were a kid too. Nathan and Ashley had a support group and a counselor they could call at any time to vent. You didn’t.”

“We should have taken you. You were inseparable from when you met to play that first weekend. They don’t really make much out of best friends when they counsel you about sibling mental health.” Relly shakes her head frowning. “Ellis has been very sure to include that in the transplant charity foundation. Providing counseling and support for close friends. And you met a manipulator Polly. They find any crack in a foundation and like a weed, they start setting up roots there slowly widening that crack. I’m guessing he was sympathetic and made you feel listened to. Validated your feelings while using them against you. If we’d taken you to support group they would have validated your feelings but shown you how to use them positively and understand them. Not as a weapon.”

I sit back, my appetite gone as the gravity of what they say truly sinks in. Kevin only ever trusted me completely and I destroyed that.

Daphne tilts her head slightly. “Light bulb just went off for our Princess Polly.”

I try to swallow the lump in my throat but the tears fall anyway. “He should never forgive me.”

“Polly, we want to take you somewhere today. Do you remember Kevin mentioning someone named Mel?” Relly asks me quietly.

Sniffling hard, I manage to nod. “He said he was someone with the charity.”

Coline nods. “He is. Relly and I will take you to meet him.”

They load me into the car and drive toward the building that houses the administration for the foundation. It’s a simple building and the interior is the same. I remember Ellis saying it needs to be functional and comfortable but not some high end hotel. Money should go to people who need support, not the chairs in the lobby.

They lead me into a large room on the ground floor. Large floor pillows and comfortable armchairs form a circle in the middle. A middle aged man with blonde hair pulled into a bun stands moving pillows around and dropping bottles of water into each chair. He’s tan and fit wearing jeans and a simple green loose tee.

“Hi Mel!” Relly calls out and he lifts his head smiling.

“Cinderelly and Coline. Two of my favorites. You look lovely ladies. And who is this?” He gives me a friendly smile.

“This is Polly.” Coline says nothing more.

Mel’s face softens. “The infamous Princess Polly. I cannot tell you how delighted and sad I am to meet you after all this time.”

“You know about me?”

He nods, his face warm and welcoming. “That’s all I can say.”

“Mel, we thought we could join you for sibling and friend share today.” Relly points to me and he nods.

“That would be good. I’m worried Relly. Captain Cold indeed.” I stare at them confused. “Polly if you will sit over here with Relly and Coline..perfect.”

I see teenagers and a few young adults like me entering as several of them chatter happily. They all take seats on the pillows or chairs. Mel stands in the center. “Afternoon everyone. We have one new guest today. This is Polly. She has a friend with a kidney transplant.” They all call out a cheerful welcome and I squirm feeling like a fraud. I ruined and broke my friend. Cracked his mirror….

“We start out by sharing anything that’s been hard since our last session. This is a judgment free zone too Polly. Anyone have anything?”

A girl with the most beautiful mocha colored skin raises her hand. “Yes Kiyana.”

“My sister has a heart transplant. We were supposed to go to the beach in two weeks but she has to go see a specialist now because her numbers are showing early rejection. My dad already cancelled our trip. And I was so mad. I wanted to yell at her. I didn’t speak to her for two days. This is the fourth family vacation we’ve cancelled for her. I just feel…I feel like I live in her shadow. And then I feel worse because if they don’t help her and she goes into rejection, she could die. I love my sister but it’s hard some days.” She’s in tears and I watch the girl next to her lean over and hug her. She sags against her crying.

Mel waits and one other boy with long red hair speaks up talking about how his mom can’t buy him new clothes because his brother’s medicine went up in cost. “It’s not that I want the clothes, more like it’s another sign of how much my mom is struggling and won’t ask for help.” He is worried about his mom’s stress. He is feeling slighted but also guilty. He mumbles that his name is Blake at the end.

Mel holds up his hands as another girl comforts Blake. “It’s hard to have all of those feelings. And yet it’s ok. It’s ok to feel slighted. It’s ok to be resentful. It’s ok to want things for yourself. All of these prove you are human. The guilt proves you do in fact care about the person you’re upset with. You have to express how you feel otherwise it eats away at you. But expressing it to the sibling causing these feelings is not often our best option unless we’re calm and over the heatedness of our feelings. We can be honest with them and say we’re feeling a little stressed with the current situation. The most important thing when you are going to tell them your struggles is to focus on how the circumstances are upsetting you. Not your friend or sibling. They didn’t ask for or want this either. That’s also why you come here. To be surrounded by others who fully understand your side. Things do change and they do get better. You may be going on a beach vacation in another month, Kiyana. I think the foundation will be able to help your mom, Blake so we can get you some new clothes and also take the stress off your mom.”

Mel patiently talks all of them through their emotions and ways they can cope with them in these cases. “Remember everyone in your family is experiencing a lot of things like you. Just at different levels. Don’t forget our relaxation breathing, meditation and finding a hobby that brings you joy. Like Maria loves to paint. It gives her hope when she’s overwhelmed.”

He dismisses them and I wish I’d come here growing up. I experienced everything he mentioned. And in my ignorance, I placed my anger on Kevin and not the situations he couldn’t control. Like the virus he had nothing to do with.

“Polly did that help you in any way?” Mel asks softly.

“Yes it really did. I wish I’d come here growing up.” Today has been eye opening.

“I wish you had too. Feel free to come back. Here’s a copy of the schedule. We don’t allow pop up guests in the ones with the transplant patients. They must bring you as their guest. But siblings and friends session is open to everyone.” He hands me a paper and I tuck it carefully into my purse. I see Relly talking to Blake. I’m sure she’ll take care of anything his family needs.

I take a deep breath resolving to come back. Coline was right. I need to learn all the ways I broke Kevin’s trust in me before I can apologize for the right things.