WHO: Henry March, Hugh Christian, & Diamond Mayweather WHEN: Sunday, August 26, evening WHERE: Henry's home SUMMARY: Henry has set up a family dinner with the children. And lets the children in on some March family secrets. WARNINGS: Discussion of child death, loss, abandonment
“So then, I think it’s just the greatest idea to take this bike that’s too big for me and try and hop a curb or something. The wheel bounced against the curb and threw the handlebars right into my face. That’s how I got the little scar on the side of my mouth.” She concludes, laughing at her kid-self and how reckless she had been back then. She wiped her hands off on the napkin she’d pulled off her lap, and then set it on the table.
“I’m feeling coffee. Should I make some for us?” The dinner was getting ready to be done - so far they’d been having weekly dinners for a little while now, and though they could be awkward at times, they were generally fun. Tonight was one of those nights that was fun so far, and she didn’t want it to end so quickly. “I brought a tres leches cake this time, it’s perfect with some coffee.”
Henry smiled at the story, even if there was a spike of concern at some far off spectre of pain that Diamond must have been in years ago. It was a strange sensation, almost like a phantom limb or what he imagined one might feel like. The strange sort of what if memories that seemed to arrive whether they were wanted or not. The same memories that kept creeping up despite himself.
“I can make it, unless you’ve already figured out where everything is.” Henry mused, his smile still there. It was a strange sort of thing, people knowing where things were in his house. Only Elvera really did, and even then not many things. “There’s something I wanted to discuss with the both of you, actually. Coffee might go well with it.”
"You know I'm never going to turn down coffee," Hugh cocked an eyebrow at his sister as he straightened slightly. "But how about I'll make the coffee, you get the cake?"
Maybe he didn't know exactly where everything was in Henry's kitchen, but coffee wasn't difficult generally, and perhaps unsurprisingly Henry had decent equipment to make it with. He debated the French Press versus espresso, and in the end decided espresso shots with the cake felt like the perfect mixture of flavors. And of course Henry had espresso cups, which meant three filled, and Hugh took two of them to the table, setting one in Diamond's setting, and one in front of Henry, before returning with his own.
“I know where everything is already.” She was a snoop with a good memory, and she’d been here enough time to know where to find what she needed. Her brow rose slightly at the comment about having something to talk to them about, and at Hugh’s suggestion he make the coffee while she deal with the cake, she smiled and nodded. “Sounds good.”
Following Hugh into the kitchen, she gave him a I wonder what this could be about? sort of look, before busying herself with cutting the cake and putting it on plates. New forks were secured, and she brought two plates out first - one for Hugh, one for Henry, before grabbing her own and taking a seat back at the table. “So what’s up, Henry?”
Cake, coffee, and he didn’t even have to get up to get it himself. It was novel, something he hadn’t experienced in years really. He had been by himself so long it was strange the things forgotten about having other people in the house. “Thank you.” he said to both of them as they took their seats again.
But he had brought up that he needed to speak with them and Henry knew he had to follow through. Between what Jules had uncovered and the letters that Ian had turned over to the police, it was only a matter of time. Especially with the film ongoing, interest was at an all time high. It only took the wrong person getting wind and it’d be out there for them to see, all the speculation.
“I’ve been made aware about some information that’s been passed to the police.” Henry started, his hand to the cup, enjoying the warmth as he paused, trying to figure out how best to move forward. “About my. Our family, in particular about Ed.”
The words failed him for a moment, but he pressed on. “With the film, it’s only a matter of time before it leaks and I didn’t want either of you finding out from the news first. Ed was. Is. Ed is gay.”
The sip of espresso in Hugh's mouth sat for a moment before he swallowed it, and he looked up at Henry. The fleeting thought that he probably hadn't needed to be so nervous about telling Henry that he'd dated men in the past crossed his mind, followed by - he had not expected that. Possibly because Ed had very obviously had a wife, and been in a straight marriage, but. Hugh glanced at Diamond, before back to Henry. "Okay."
There were a zillion questions that sat on that okay, none of them judgemental, just curious because had Ed always known? Before he married Cora? After he married Cora? "I mean, that's…" he hesitated, not sure what the appropriate response was, considering he wasn't certain exactly where Henry was about this, but maybe that didn't matter. "That's a bit of a surprise, but it's okay."
It was a nice feeling, getting things together with Hugh, having dinner and dessert with Henry. Whatever this news was put her on edge, pushing those nicer feelings down into the pit of her stomach. She slowly put a fork through her slice of cake, breaking off a bite-sized piece without actually taking a bite. Good thing, too, because she might have choked on it when the subject matter was brought up.
Ed March - it was weird to think of him as her Uncle, as anything other than The Ed March. Just as it had been with Henry, really. Hearing that he was gay, though? Diamond’s eyes went wide with surprise, but not with any malice or negativity. “Wow, really? How’d - well nevermind, I don’t need to know how that worked out.” She added, shaking her head. Was that really it? That was the news he wanted to break? The tension quickly began to ease from her body. “Kinda sucks that they’re probably going to put that on blast. Who cares if he was - is - gay?”
“People always seem to care about things like that. And if this has been found, who else knows what someone might find that somehow survived the fire.” Henry shrugged slightly, not taking a sip or bite of what his children had brought to him. Because it wasn’t so much about whether Ed was gay, though having suspicions confirmed were certainly something. Not that his brother had ever had a policy of honesty with him.
“But once it comes out, the speculation is going to begin. About him. About Cora.” he paused for a moment, wondering what Alice would have thought of the brother and sister that could have sat here with her. Whether she’d have Cora’s smile at them, wrapping them in all encompassing hugs. Or if it would have been something colder. “About Alice.”
He’d already come this far. And on some level they deserved to have the sort of answers he had never had. Answers that he had unintentionally kept from them their entire lives. “Alice wasn’t Ed’s. She was mine.”
Hugh froze, his face draining of color. In all honesty, he hadn't even considered Alice in the announcement. Gay men could father children, had even, and anyway, wasn't Hugh proof that you really only needed one night with someone to create a child? There were no words that could be found around that pit suddenly forming in his stomach. He'd just barely begun to come to terms with the idea that Alice was his cousin. That he was in this film -
"Oh my god," this was whispered just barely audible, and he moistened his lips. Alice March wasn't his cousin. Alice March was his sister.
Nothing could have prepared her for that. She could remember when they were young - before Alice had died, how she wished Alice was her sister. Not the twins and Sapphire, but Alice. A cool older sister. Then they'd drop Robert after he was mean to Dia. How many times had she thought about that? As a kid?
Never in her wildest dreams had she ever thought that could even possibly be true. Not even after finding out Henry was her father. “W - what?” She finally got out, tears stinging the back of her eyes. She looked away, shocked. Unable to process. She didn't even know what to say, what to do. It wasn't like Diamond to be speechless.
It was a lot for them. It would have to be. It was a lot for him. It had never really gone away, the pain that she was gone. And now he had passed that pain into Diamond and Hugh. “It’s. It wasn’t something that was ever supposed to get out.” his voice caught slightly even as he attempted to keep it steady. “At least, not like this. I’d rather be the one to tell both of you, if it does.”
It seemed like the least he could do after failing each of his children. It didn’t matter the conversations with Cora, the attempts to get her to leave, to bring it all to the surface. Because none of that had happened. Instead there were two graves and emptiness left behind. “I’m sorry.”
Hugh tried to swallow but his mouth was dry, as he tried to make sense of what he was being told. He glanced at Diamond, and almost without thinking he reached out his hand to catch hers, needing to get the touch almost as much as he needed to offer it.
Diamond had known Alice. He remembered her saying that, they'd talked about what Alice was like. Marce had known Alice too. The very first time he'd ever heard her story had been from Marce. He and Alice had been practically the same age, a fact he'd been very aware of from the beginning of starting this project. And - his gaze turned to Henry's trying to find words. Words weren't supposed to be this difficult. Hugh could hardly fathom having carried that all this time - and nobody knew. Nobody could have known or wouldn't it have come out before?
Any sort of appropriate words were still eluding him, so he did the only thing he could think of. He stood up, he walked around the table, and he wrapped his arms around Henry.
She barely registered the squeeze to her hand, though she did squeeze back. There was a part of her that was shouting that sorry wasn’t good enough, that he should apologize a hundred times over and even then, it might not be enough. Diamond felt… so robbed. She had been so young when Alice died, she didn’t register what it meant. Then, Lola and Joel whisked her away right after, she’d forgotten about it so quickly. Would she have, had she known the truth? Could she have avoided this particular feeling of heartbreak had she been able to mourn then? Mourn for the death of a sister she would never even get to know.
It wasn’t something that was ever supposed to get out. Was he saying if everything that was going on now hadn’t been going on, he might not have told them? Her face went from heartbroken to a little disgusted as Hugh wrapped his arms around Henry. Hugh didn’t even know Alice, and Henry - Henry had robbed them all. Why were they hugging? It was selfish, an arrogant and selfish thought and Diamond had always, always been selfish at heart but this was too much.
She was caught somewhere between needing to go and needing to stay, and did nothing.
The hug was surprising, something Henry hadn't anticipated and wasn't sure what to do necessarily as Hugh's arms wrapped around him. A hand went up, holding onto the arm in front of him as he looked over at his daughter. And an expression that looked far too similar to her mother for Henry to discount. Palpable silence hung around them. He wasn't sure what to say. What could be said.
“There's a lot about my family that isn't public knowledge.” Henry's voice felt weaker, quieter. “And then Cora and Alice died. And Ed was gone. I know you both likely have questions. I'll do my best to answer them.”
With his arm around Henry, Hugh's gaze shifted to Diamond, and for a brief second her expression made him wonder if maybe he should have stayed with her. But he hardly knew her, really, and he really hardly knew Henry. It just felt… he'd lost a daughter, and he'd never been able to grieve her as a daughter. He closed his eyes for a moment.
He had questions. He had a fuck load of questions that he couldn't even begin to get his brain around, but for the moment, he had this family, that fucked up as it was, he'd begun to find home with. Hugh opened his eyes again, and stepped back, a gentle squeeze on Henry's shoulder.
"I do, but. I'm sorry. It's -" he pulled in a shaky breath. He felt like the world's worst son at the moment. Profiting in any way off of his family's history, but particularly off of his sister's death. Which hadn't been accidental. Hugh frowned. The script said Ed did it, and Hugh hadn't bought into that theory, but. "Just. I'm sorry."
It wasn’t in Diamond’s nature, typically, to be forgiving or particularly comforting. She’d never been good at it. She was the big sister of too many younger siblings who fell down and she’d just respond with get over it. Her lips were tightened into a straight line, and she watched Hugh and Henry, far suited to be father-and-son than she was to be his daughter, or Hugh’s sister. Hugh was reacting appropriately, comforting his - their - father who just admitted to having a secret daughter (another one) who had died.
“Did you know? When she died. Did you know Alice was yours? Did you - “ She almost asked if he’d loved Cora. She wondered if he knew about Alice and that’s why he didn’t want to know about Diamond. Would his memories of those times be different now? Would he realize now when he thought of Alice, and Dia would sometimes be in those memories, that he’d seen both his daughters playing together and no one had ever known?
It was a valid question, especially for the little girl Diamond had been. Younger than Alice but still tagging along. Unknowingly reaching out to the sister neither of them could have known they had. His hands folded back on the table.
“Yes.” Henry answered, because he could and would give that honesty. “I’d been... Arguing with Cora to leave. Alice didn't know. As far as she knew I was just her uncle. And that's what Ed and Cora wanted.”
“Oh.” She didn’t know what else to say. This is when she should apologize. He knew he’d lost a daughter and wasn’t able to mourn her publicly as one. It was awful, it really was - but she hadn’t been able to mourn Alice as a sister, barely as a cousin once she’d known. Now she had to mourn her a third time, as the sister she had lost and didn’t know. A whole new series of potential what ifs and what could have beens. She felt like she was drowning in it all.
“I don’t know what you want me to say.” She finally said, unable to keep herself from being rude. “I’m sorry for your loss? I’m sorry now it all has to come out and you have to tell us? Like - would you have ever even said anything if it wasn’t going to come out? Or could potentially come out?” Food forgotten, her hands sat in her lap, balled into little fists. She didn’t move them as the tears brimmed over and slid down her cheeks.
“This is fucked up.”
If Henry had known, Hugh figured there couldn't have been any other answer. Obviously Henry had wanted something different, but Cora and Ed had wanted to hold onto the secret.
He was halfway back to his chair, but he stopped near Diamond, his hand dropping gently onto her shoulder. Right now touch seemed easier than words, but the words were beginning to come back again, peeking up through the shock like flowers through a spring thaw. It was fucked up. It was completely and entirely fucked up, and while Hugh couldn't speak for Diamond, he knew that Henry had tried to warn him: My family is a mess. Hugh hadn't put nearly as much weight on that as it turned out he maybe should have. And yet despite how messed up it was, it didn't change his mind. He'd connected with Henry more in a month without really even trying than he'd connected with Isaac in an entire lifetime of practically begging.
"Ed knew," he tilted his head in the direction of his father. "He knew Alice wasn't his. Was the entire marriage…" he trailed off. It felt rude to ask if it had been a sham or a cover, but Hugh wasn't an idiot. Ed might now be able to get married, but he knew things had been different not so very long ago. He breathed out. "I think I should have made us Irish Coffee."
“There isn't anything you have to say.” Henry answered quietly. Not that he could say it was an unintentionally kept secret. He had kept his brothers secrets for decades. In many ways those secrets were all that was left of a family that died and dissolved two decades ago.
“I'd wanted to have us all get to know each other better before I told you.” He answered honestly. “I've already dropped a lot of information on both of you. But now is better if you're hearing it from me instead of some tabloid blog.”
And maybe telling them had shattered this fragile thing they were beginning to have. That potential loss was terrifying. “Cora was Ed’s best friend.” He explained gently to Hugh. “They loved each other just...”
He trailed off. It was fucked up. But at the same time he wasn't sure he all together blamed his brother. Without it all, he'd have never met Cora. There would have been no Alice.
“It's not too late to make it an Irish coffee.” She muttered, her eyes trailing down to the little up in front of her, as if it had the answers. As if staring at it might help her process this information faster, or better. There was the tiniest bit of her that felt bad about her reaction, but she couldn't quell the anger that was boiling inside her.
“Of course she loved him. I'm sure he loved her as a best friend too… But appearances mean everything.” Her voice was flat, like it was an afterthought. One minute and uncomplicated thing to say picked out of the million thoughts running through her head.
With a heavy sigh she finally looked up at Henry, her eyes still wet, still angry. “And now you want us to keep it quiet. To what? Bottle up these feelings and this information and not share it with anyone close to us?” It was more of an accusation than a question.
Appearances. Hugh understood that all too well. Why hadn’t he been told about Henry? Appearances. Why hadn’t Henry been told? Appearances. Mary had wanted the appearance that their family was completely in tact, that Hugh was Isaac’s despite how apparent it was that he wasn’t. He wondered if it would have been equally apparent with Alice. None of them would ever know.
He was torn, with the question asked, if Henry asked them not to he wouldn’t tell anyone - even Marce. He knew that somehow in his bones. But also, there was part of him that was tired of secrets - and that perhaps it was Marceline’s influence - he craved more authenticity than that.
“The more people know, the more likely it leaks out. If it leaks out, then it’s probably a media shit storm,” Hugh’s hands were still on Diamond’s shoulders but it was his Father he was looking at. “Especially with the movie.” Hugh wouldn’t even be surprised if Cecelia utilized that for publicity. It felt within her capabilities easily. He didn’t know if this was an argument in favor or against. He didn’t know if you could even manage that storm if it hit or just survive it. There was no real way of knowing until the match was lit.
“Exactly.” Henry answered Hugh's train of thought. Not that it was necessarily the worst possible situation but it used to have just been him. Now Hugh and Diamond were involved, knew even if the press didn't. Neither of them had asked for this. “I'd rather you not find out from the shitstorm.”
Then his attention turned back to Diamond. “I can't actually stop you from doing anything. Either of you. You don't owe me anything.”. His answer was blunt but honest. There had been a time when all he'd wanted was to have people know that Alice was his. But then she was gone. “I just want the public focus to stay on finding who killed her.”
With Hugh’s hands on her shoulders, she felt a little more calm. A little more steady. Still, the fire was raging inside her and the strange feelings of anger and guilt and mourning sat in the pit of her stomach. She felt sick, she felt dazed. Hugh’s words only vaguely registered with her and Henry’s didn’t register any better.
“No, we don’t. Did you stop to consider maybe this information could help find the killer? That’s a whole new set of information that could be a hundred different motives. I don’t know, I mean - if you think it will only distract, I - I won’t say anything, I guess? But like, if it comes out I’m not going to keep quiet quiet about it. I’m going to talk to my mom or my sister or someone because what the fuck, this is a lot to process. I’m still figuring out how I feel about missing out on years of interaction with you and Hugh - now I’m finding out someone I was friends with who died was actually my sister and I never got the chance to explore that. I could have been an entirely different person and I know, I know all this focus on the what ifs and could haves is not where we need to be but - every time I’m moving past it some more fucking information comes out like this shit and it throws me for a loop so. Excuse me for not being as immediately understanding.” That was a lot of words for Diamond to say and more honesty than she felt Henry deserved, but it was mostly for Hugh. Trying to explain why she wasn’t as level headed about this.
“I think I should go.”
Hugh was used to not experiencing things the same way as his siblings, but that wasn't unexpected because he felt he had so little in common with them. With Diamond, it was a bit more startling, because they had so easily connected. Not that he couldn't understand - it was a lot - his mind was still reeling and Diamond had known Alice as a friend however long ago that had been now. But while he understood Diamond's need for space, he didn't feel an echo of it. His hand squeezed her shoulder gently in support, and he stepped back to allow her space, his gaze flickered to Henry.
Henry's jaw tightened just slightly at the mention of Lola. The venom he could only imagine she would pull out for a little girl who was long dead. But what was he to do? Tell Diamond not to talk to her mother? He could, but Lola seemed bent on the idea of creating whatever wedge she could between the tenuous relationship that she had decided to kick off between him and Diamond. Whatever he did would be more ammo either way.
It would be a strange feeling, losing a daughter again but this time she was still here. It wasn't as if he wasn't used to the loss. He did wonder if it ever got easier.
“I didn't kill her, and I don't think Cora or Ed did either.” Henry added quietly, even as he had his own questions on Ed. Whatever anyone else might think, he knew Ed had loved Cora and Alice. More than his brother had ever loved him at the very least. “I know this is a lot. If it's too much for you, I understand that too.”
“I just need to think.” Hugh had let go, and while she did need space, his calm presence had been helpful. She frowned, staring down at the uneaten cake and the untouched espresso and the table, remnants of a happy dinner still there, the lingering smell of the food they had had hanging heavier in the air than it had moments ago. “I need to think without Hugh being so understanding and you being so… so.” She stopped, her face set in a perfect imitation of Lola’s - judging, pitying, but with a hint of pain, a little bit of understanding.
She stood up, grabbing her sweater and heading for the door. She lingered, just at the edge of view. “I don’t want this to be over. I’m coming for dinner next week. I need to process. That’s all.” She said - like a vicious, angry promise. A threat. Diamond wasn’t going to let this all go so easily, so fast. It was so pure and good, before all this complication. “And I’m setting up a meeting with a writer in the near future, Hugh, so give me your availability. It’s a good script.” She hesitated just long enough to see their faces, hear whatever they had to say, before she left.
There was the unsettled edge that maybe he'd responded wrong somehow, but Hugh wasn't certain how else he was supposed to respond, and to pay too much attention to that feeling, would lead nowhere good.
Thankfully Diamond had thrown him something else to catch his attention and he shook his head quickly. "Um… I'll text you?" He offered. He would have anyway, probably. To check in.
And despite everything he almost smiled. He had a sister to check in with and who would want him to. And maybe that was unwarranted, and would shift - after all she didn't really know him - but Hugh chose to think it wasn't going to.
This seemed like a strange way to let her go, to just watch Diamond walk off to whatever turmoil he had just accidentally unleashed. Which to be fair was one of the few things he had been consistently good at in his life.
Henry got to his feet, ignoring the nagging feeling of doubt and inadequacy in himself. He avoided his own hesitation, reaching out to touch her shoulder before pulling Diamond, his daughter, into a hug before letting go to let her go.
“Sure sure.” She responded to Hugh, the smile she gave him a little more genuine this time. Before she was able to leave, Henry had gotten up and come towards her, pulling Diamond into an unexpected hug. Wrapping her arms around him after a little bit if hesitation she hugged him back hard, tears springing easily to her eyes and sliding down her cheeks.
Tears were unexpected but Henry was beginning to wonder if fatherhood was just the unexpected over and over again. There had been a bit of that with Alice, but now he had another little girl with her arms wrapped around him and tears in her eyes. A hand reached up to catch the tears on her cheek against his thumb.
He took the chance, leaning forward to kiss the top of her head. “If you. I’m here to talk with too. If you need someone.”
“I know, Henry.” She replied, giving him a big squeeze and a small smile. “I'll call you. Both of you.” Feeling just slightly less angry than she had been, Diamond waved goodbye at them both before taking her leave.
Hugh watched them both as the uncertainty of whether or not he should take his leave or stay tore at him. A smile and a wave at Diamond as she left and he knew he'd call her, or probably even text her before the evening was over. He already felt like he talked to her more than he did the siblings he'd grown up with.
He stepped back towards his place at the table and lifted the coffee to his lips, it was a bit cooler than it had been, and when he sat it back down again, his gaze found Henry's face. "I don't know if I'm being understanding, or if I just haven't figured out how I feel yet," he heard himself saying, almost feeling as if he needed to apologize for Diamond's accusation, although that felt ridiculous when framed like that. Maybe it was just a lifetime of feeling as if he needed to apologize for who he was. He hesitated. "Can I stay for a while? I can help with dishes."
Henry watched his daughter go and then turned to his son. Stepping back to the table, he took his seat. Lifting the cup of coffee to his lips, he nodded. “You can stay as long as you like, Hugh.”