Tragic Love Friday: Poor, poor, pitiful Kayla

My sincerest apologies for flaking out on last week's TLF. I don't think today's segment is juicy enough to make up for it, but since there's only twenty-two pages left of the sequel, believe me, the action is on its way. I can probably squeeze out three entries after this one, which means we should wrap things up by the end of the month.

In related news, I've made a decision regarding part three; if you guys are up for it, I'd like to give it a whirl and see what happens. However, this fall is going to be super-busy for me, too busy to nurture another new undertaking, so I don't know when it's going to start. The New Year, maybe? Much will depend on how Luke and I are adjusting to life with Freka. In the meantime, having some time to mull over possible storylines will be good for all of us, I think, and if we experience a change of heart and realize we're all over the whole TLF thing, we can scrap it with no hard feelings.

That said, let's watch Kayla make an ass out of herself, shall we?

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CHAPTER FIFTEEN - KAYLA

The rest of the afternoon, Cassie, Kyle, and I talked about everything. The past, the future, the baby.... I thought my son would be furious with me, but he handled it all with astounding maturity and understanding.

[This reminds me: it seems like a few of you were upset about the lack of violence and/or bloodshed in Kayla's big reveal. What can I say? Lil' Frema loves a good mother/son bonding session. Maybe you guys could take a page from her book and celebrate the reunion of a fractured family instead of rooting for its demise. Heartless bastards.]

We were sitting around our little tree eating ice cream when he asked about Michael. "Is he gonna leave Jenna, now that he knows?" he asked softly. I closed my eyes and Michael's image was conjured. I felt Cassie grab my hand.

"I don't know, sweetie. With Kath in the hospital, he might not."

"Does - does she know about you and me?" He swallowed hard, and I could only imagine his pain. It was not going to be easy for him.

"She might not," I replied, "but she's going to have to, soon."

"I'm tired," Kyle commented suddenly. "I'm going to bed." I checked the clock. Six-thirty.

I hugged him tight; Cassie did the same. Her eyes followed his slouched frame. "He's such a good boy, Kayla."

"I nodded. "I know."

[And I know how much ya'll hate him, so go ahead and let it rip, but if you had the proverbial carpet ripped out from under you on Christmas Day, you'd probably sing your rapist boy's praises, too, is all I'm saying.]

I sighed and raised my eyes to the ceiling. "God, Cas. I lost my granddaughter this Christmas. How can my kids face each other now? Will Kath accept me? Will Michael?"

"I don't know. They can't ignore you for long. And Kay." Cassie's voice became gentle. "As much as it hurts, you can't keep referring to Katherine as your daughter. She is, technically, but she only knows Jenna as her mom. Be careful not to offend either one. Although I think it's too late as far as Jenna's concerned."

"I agree. She hates me more than ever. But what can I do? Kath needs to know about me, and you, and Mike needs me now."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes! Cassie--" I fought back tears. "I need him too. I don't know if I can be by myself anymore. He filled up a part of me [snicker] I thought I'd closed off."

"And what are we, chopped liver? You'll never be alone. Kyle and I love you like crazy."

I smiled wistfully. "Thanks, hon, but you know it's not the same."

[I hate when women refer to each other as "honey" or "sweetie." I think it's condescending. In case you care.]

"I know it's not. You don't see me with somebody, do you? That's how it's always been, always gonna be. I've accepted it, though. Maybe that's your only option." I shook my head, not wanting to believe her. "I have to try."

[In other words, Cassie, Kayla would rather rot in Shady Pines then become your Golden Girl partner-in-crime.]

For a while there was quiet. I finally stood up. "I have to go to him." My friend didn't scold or discourage me, just extended her hand. "I'm here if you need to grab onto something." I held it and gave it a squeeze. Then I walked out the door.

[And if you threw a party and invited everyone you knew, you would see the biggest gift would be from me, and the card attached would say...]

* * *

As I rang the Spencers' doorbell, I had no idea what to expect. Would I be welcomed or cast aside?

A girl with blondish-brown hair answered the door. Leigh, I realized. She looked at me first with shock, then disgust. "You want my Dad, don't you." The statement made me blush. "Please?"

"C'mon." She led me through a sunny kitchen and into their living room. Jenna was there, looking through papers. Michael just sat on the couch, looking angery.

"Daddy, THAT WOMAN is here." Both of their heads snapped up as Leigh shot me a dirty look and slammed into me as she walked past me and out of the room.

"What the hell do you want?" Jenna snapped sharply. "Haven't you done enough for one day?"

"How's Katherine doing?" I asked Michael, ignoring her.

[Bitch has some nerve showing up unannounced and then not even granting Jenna the courtesy of acknowledging her present. If I were Jen, Kayla's face would've already been kissing the carpet, pregnant or not.]

"She'll be OK; she has to stay in the hospital a while longer," he replied somewhat stiffly. I could tell he was looking me over, searching for a clue that would prove I was not Kay, just Kayla.

"Let's talk," I said. He nodded and glanced at Jenna, who caught his eye. "Don't worry about me; have a ball," she said snidely.

"Grow up," I couldn't help saying. "Not everything revolves around you."

[Insert your own snark here, because seriously.]

"Let's go." I followed Michael outside. "We'll take your car," he added. "Jenna might need ours."

"Whatever." We got in. "Where are we going?" I asked, gripping the wheel tightly.

"I don't care." In silence I drove, and he didn't contribute a word until I came to a stop. "Why did you pick here?" It was the field we had come to on our first date. It was covered in snow.

"No reason." I looked him straight in the eye. "You first."

[Coward!]

"Fine. Why didn't you tell me who you were? How could you do something like this?"

"I couldn't tell you. Nobody was supposed to find out. I just wanted my kids to be together."

"Well, together they certainly are," Mike said sarcastically.

"It's not my fault!"

"Do you think I care? You lied to me! I don't even know who I'm talking to--Kayla or Kay."

I was hurt. "They're the same person. I haven't changed."

[That's true. Selfish? Check. Delusions of self-entitlement? Check. Producing illegimitate children with emotionally unavailable men? Hell to the check.]

"You have in my eyes. To think I loved you! I bet that baby isn't even mine."

[Way to hit your mistress where it hurts, Mikey!]

I slapped him hard. "Get out!" I screamed. He obeyed. "Go to hell, Kayla!" He shouted. I gunned the engine and drove like mad. You'll be OK, you'll be OK, I told myself. Breathe, breathe, get control, don't think about it. I didn't cry as I drove to St. Mary Magdalene's Hospital. I went to the information desk and was relieved to learn Katherine was given a room out of emergency, and she could receive visitors. My hands were clammy as I took the elevator to the third floor and located room 324. I knocked softly and opened the door.

Katherine was in the bed closest to the door. She had an IV dripping into her arm, and blood below the waist of her hospital gown. Her hair looked dull and stringy; her head was turned to the wall.

"Katherine, it's Kay." She moved her head and stared at me but said nothing.

"How are you feelin', sweetie?" I asked tenderly. She gazed at her bloody gown. "Not well," she admitted. Her voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. "Why are you here?" Her tone was edgy.

"You know, don't you," I stated. She nodded. "We have nothing to say to each other. Don't slam the door on your way out."

I was stunned. "What did they tell you?"

"The truth." She looked so fragile, and hurt. "You killed my sister and my father. Then you hurt my mother even more and chased after my dad. You broke up my family." Her eyes filled with tears. "You let me be with Kyle when all along you knew--you knew he was my brother! Then he raped me, and I was left with a baby! I had no other choice!"

"You did!" I whispered. "You could have come to me! I would've helped you!"

"Never!"

"I know I lied, and I'm sorry. I did the best I could."

"Bullshit!"

"Listen to me!" I grabbed her arm [hopefully not the one with the IV in it], and she was too weak to pull away. "I did everything I did because I loved you. I always have. I was no good to you. Jenna and Michael are wonderful to you and love you as their own. It hurt me, but it's been better for you this way."

"Do you think I care? You've ruined my life in just a couple of months! The past doesn't matter to me!" But I looked into her eyes and saw that it did. "How could you keep Kyle and just leave me be?" she blurted.

"Oh, baby, I--"

"Shut up! I don't need you, I'll be fine with the family I've got. Just go away!"

She was shaking uncontrollably, and I released my hold on her. "Please understand what I've gone through to get to this moment with you. I need you in my life," I begged.

"I don't give a damn. Go to hell."

That was the second time that phrase had been thrown in my face. I fled from the room.

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If there was any chapter I could rewrite in the sequel, my first choice would be the one with the rape. But this one's definitely second, because lil' Frema really missed some great opportunities for stellar dialogue. Especially since it's the last time that Jenna, Michael, and Kayla will ever be in the same room alive.

Dun dun dun!

Why don't you pick one of the confrontations and give it your own spin in the comments? I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.

Comments

[Silly Hily]

I'll come back later with my own confrontation.
First, I have to say that Oops, I say "honey" all the time. I'll blame it on being southern. Just like I say "Bless your heart." I don't think I say "sweetie" though.
Second, that [snicker] after "He filled up a part of me..." was the best [snicker] yet.
Third, I think lil' Frema hit a homerun with Katherine's dialogue. She really handed it to Kayla. Rightfully so.
Fourth, "dun dun dun" is right. I said it in my head before I even read it. Oh my!
Fifth, "Grow up...not everything revolves around you."???? Oh no bitch didn't!
Sixth, ....thank you for being a friend.

[David McNelis]

I think I loved this the best:
Producing illegimitate children with emotionally unavailable men? Hell to the check.

Hell to the check! Woo hoo!

[Rachel]

"And what are wee, chopped liver?" Am I the only on who heard this in a Brooklyn accent?

And, since when is Cassie so concerned about how Jenna feels?

I would have kicked Kayla's ass just for setting her whore ass foot on my porch if I was Jenna, but that's just me.

...thank you for being a friend.

[Isabel]

What's with Kayla calling everyone by nicknames...like she's so close to them all that she can call them "Mike" and "Kath".

(I heard on NPR this weekend that there is a new Golden Girls erotic art show on display. Can you just imagine Rose's boobies done with oil on canvas?)

And dude, Kayla does have some damn nerve. While everything might NOT revolve around Jenna....it does revolve around her IN HER OWN HOUSE!

What was Katharyn doing at the hospital without her parents by her side? The girl could do to have some support right now. And just sitting there in her bloody gown? Nurse, can we get this girl a fresh gown? STAT.

I'll have to think about a rewrite and come back.

Have a great weekend!!!

[Jackie]

Favorite line: "I know I lied, and I'm sorry. I did the best I could." Yeah, lying is the best I could muster, given the circumstances I created...

Isabel, I busted a gut thinking about GG erotic art. Now, that's an oxymoron!

And I'm goint to incorporate "hell to the check" into conversations at least once a day. New fave phrase!

[wolfbaby]

heloooooo she skiped right over the your son raped me part? hell if i'd have heard that i'd been WTF? my son did wha????

then theres the the world dosn't revolve around you? come on she's talking to her self with this one right? please say yes cause man im with you i'd don put her face in the carpet.. ugh

i think i love to hate her

[Molly]

I can't believe we're getting down to the end already! Also, I can't believe poor Katherine couldn't get a CNA into her room for a clean gown. It's Christmas, for Pete's sakes!

[VirginiaGal]

Kayla to Katherine: "I did everything I did because I loved you. I always have."

-So, killing Katherine's real father (Kayla's Baby-Daddy) and then whoring around with the man Katherine thought was her father count as things Kayla did because she loved Katherine? Jeez, what's she gonna be like when she really wants to hurt someone?

"I was no good to you."

-Apparently you still aren't, see above plus letting her son (Katherine's half-brother!) get away with rape!

"Jenna and Michael are wonderful to you and love you as their own."

-Apparently her dictionary includes baby-napping under the definition of wonderful.

"It hurt me, but it's been better for you this way."

-Yeah, better until she showed up. Maybe if she had focused less on finding Katherine and more on Kyle he wouldn't have turned out the way he has ... just because he is respectful to her and Cassie doesn't mean he doesn't have some issues with respect to other women. (there, showing the hate!)