Chapter 34 - Falling apart

The air was thick with tension in the household as Trixie and her mother Lucille sat on her room couch, tears streaming down their faces. They had been keeping a secret for years - a secret that Trixie was not actually the daughter of Delta Marlton, Lucille's husband.
Trixie sniffed and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "I don't know what to do, Mom. What if Dad finds out the truth? He'll be devastated."
Lucille placed a comforting hand on her daughter's shoulder. "I know, sweetheart. But we have to be strong. No one can ever know about this." She took a deep, shaky breath. "It would destroy him."
Just then, they heard the sound of the front door opening. Trixie and Lucille both froze, their hearts pounding. Delta Marlton entered the living room, his brow furrowed with concern.
"Trixie? Lucille? What's going on? You both look so distraught," he said, his voice laced with worry.
Trixie and Lucille exchanged a quick glance, then forced smiles onto their faces. "Oh, nothing, Dad. We're fine," Trixie replied, her voice wavering slightly.
Delta narrowed his eyes, unconvinced. "I know you two better than that. What's the matter?" He moved closer, his gaze darting between his wife and daughter.
Lucille cleared her throat, her hands trembling. "It's just... been a long day, that's all. We're both a little tired, that's all." She gave him a reassuring smile, but it didn't reach her eyes.
Delta frowned, his suspicion evident. "Well, if there's something wrong, you know you can tell me. I'm here for you, both of you." He sat down on the chair across from them, his elbows resting on his knees as he leaned forward.
Trixie and Lucille exchanged another weighted glance, their hearts racing. They had to be careful, had to keep their secret hidden. The thought of Delta finding out the truth was too much to bear.
"Really, Dad, it's nothing. We're just... a little stressed, that's all," Trixie said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Delta's brow furrowed even deeper. "Stressed? About what? Is there something going on that I should know about?"
Lucille's hands tightened around the fabric of her skirt. "No, no, it's nothing like that. We're just... dealing with some personal matters, that's all." She gave him a tremulous smile, hoping he would let the subject drop.
But Delta was not one to be easily deterred. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he studied his wife and daughter. "Personal matters, huh? Care to elaborate?"
Trixie felt her heart jump into her throat. She couldn't hold his gaze, instead staring down at her lap, her fingers twisting nervously.
Lucille took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. "It's just... family stuff, that's all. Nothing for you to worry about, dear."
Delta's brow furrowed even deeper, and Trixie could see the worry and frustration etched on his face. "Family stuff? What kind of family stuff? Lucille, Trixie, you're both acting so strange. I'm your husband and father, respectively. I deserve to know what's going on."
Trixie felt a lump form in her throat, and she swallowed hard. She couldn't bear the thought of betraying the man she loved dearly, the man she had always called "Dad." But the secret they had kept for so long was threatening to unravel, and she didn't know what to do.
Lucille reached out and placed a trembling hand on Delta's arm. "Please, darling, it's really nothing. We're just a little stressed, that's all. There's no need to worry."
Delta's gaze softened slightly, and he covered Lucille's hand with his own. "Lucille, Trixie, you know you can tell me anything. I'm here for you, no matter what. Whatever it is, we'll get through it together."
Trixie felt a surge of guilt wash over her. She loved her father so much, and the thought of hurting him was almost too much to bear. She looked up, her eyes meeting his, and for a moment, she considered telling him the truth.
But then she saw the trust and affection in his gaze, and she knew she couldn't do it. She couldn't bear to see the devastation and betrayal in his eyes when he learned the truth. So, she mustered up all her courage and forced a smile.
"It's really nothing, Dad. We're just being silly, that's all. You don't need to worry about us." She reached out and squeezed his hand, trying to reassure him.
Delta studied her for a moment, his eyes searching her face, and Trixie held her breath, praying that he would believe her. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he nodded slowly.
"Alright, if you say so. But remember, I'm here for you, both of you, no matter what. Don't ever forget that."
Trixie and Lucille exchanged a relieved glance, and Trixie felt a weight lift from her shoulders. For now, their secret was safe. But she knew that it couldn't stay that way forever. Sooner or later, the truth would come out, and she dreaded the day when it did.
As Delta stood up and left the room, Trixie turned to her mother, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and determination.
"Mom, we have to tell him the truth. I can't keep living with this secret. It's destroying me."
Lucille sighed and pulled her daughter into a tight embrace. "I know, sweetheart. I know. But we have to be so careful. Delta's heart will be shattered if he finds out."
Trixie nodded, her tears wetting her mother's shirt. "I know, Mom. I know. But we have to do something. I can't keep living with this guilt. Dad, love me and treat me as his princess, could he despite me and throw us away?"
The two women sat there, holding each other, as the weight of their secret threatened to consume them. They knew that the day of reckoning was coming, and they would have to face it, no matter how painful it might be.