meltdown

"So is it true?" She had to see Ben alone. Ellie handed him the picture she'd found of her mother.
Ben just stared at the photograph.

"Yeah, but I'm not suppose to know." He could hardly say it.

"Its a secret?" It was the worst kept secret as far as Ellie was concerned.

"My Dad told me," he nodded with a sigh and backed away in his kitchen. Rex was on the Internet in Ben's living room checking his e-mail. "A while ago before he moved to Florida."

"My Mom and your Dad-" Ellie began.

"No, my real dad, I think he's got a family in Abilene, but I've never really wanted to know him." He shrugged getting out glasses for ice and cold lemon tea.

"Really? You don't want to know him?"

"Not really. I just didn't think it would be right, you know. And everything is all right. I've done just fine." He gave her a drink.

"Good," Ellie took a sip. "So does my Mom know, that you know?"

"I don't think so." Ben squinted.

"You don't want her know?" Ellie didn't understand.

"Why mess something up that's going all right?"

"But things get old, you know, and rusty and bad," she turned from him then. "My parents are splitting up."

"I didn't know."

"They haven't told me yet?"

"Did Rex know?"

"No, I don't think so." Ellie shook her head, no. She had to sit down. "I just found out from a friend."

"So thats what all the phone calls were in the bathroom at Aunt Maggie's were about? She wouldn't shut up about that, you know."

"Aunt Maggie told me about you," Ellie looked up at Ben then who finally sat down across from her.

"She's one crazy woman," Ben almost cracked up. "But she knows a lot of stuff. She told me years ago. I kept thinking, what kind of story is that, you know. Then my dad tells me the truth. Like it was the last thing I ever needed to know. I mean, I knew when I was little I was adopted, but I didn't know who, you know."

"I'm so mad at my Mom right now." Ellie wiped the wet perspiration of her glass. "I don't know why she had to lie like this."

"Well, you know, her parents practically disowned her when they found out about me. They moved away. They won't even contact Aunt Maggie. She doesn't even know where they are. I don't know how somebody could do that. Not when she needed them the most," Ben said. "Remember that, she's afraid, I guess. You just let her tell you in her own good time."

"Own good time?" Ellie stared at him then. "Is that what you're waiting for."

"Yeah, I guess I am." He took a sip of tea.

About that time, Rex was in the kitchen doorway. Ben offered him the iced tea. Rex was the last person Ellie wanted to talk too.