Part VII

Reva is sitting in the living room trying to engage herself in a good book.  She is haunted by thoughts of Josh, however, and can barely keep her focus.

Reva: (sighing and removing her eyes from the page) I have read the same page seven times and I still don't know what it says.

She pauses for a moment in thought.

Reva: (slamming the book down) Oh forget it.

Reva reaches for the remote as she hears the door open and close abruptly.  Marah comes racing in and begins to run up the stairs.

Reva: (getting up from the couch) Marah, sweetie.  What is wrong?

Marah stops her ascent of the stairs to turn and look at her mother.  Her eyes are red from tears.

Reva: (reaching to comfort her) Oh, honey.  What it is?

Marah: (trying desperately to stop her tears) I just… I don't wanna talk about it right now.  Okay?

Reva: Okay, if that's what you want.  But just tell me one thing; tell me what has upset you?  No one hurt you, did they?

Marah: Only Dad!

With those words, Marah runs up the stairs.  Reva remains at the foot of the stairs, agonizing over the mess her family is in.

Reva: (to herself) What have we done to you, Marah?

Reva begins to go after Marah when she hears knocking at the door.  Reva turns toward the door and then stops.

Reva: Whoever you are, you can wait.

Reva runs up the stairs after Marah as the knocking continues.

Marah's door is slightly open as Reva gently peers in.

Reva: Sweetie-pie?

Marah is silent except for some quiet whimpering.  She is lying on her bed with her back to the door.

Reva: (holding onto to the door) Is it okay if I come in?

Marah: (barely audible) I guess.

Reva walks towards the bed where she gently sits down and rubs her daughter's back.  They are both silent for a while until Reva breaks the stillness.

Reva: I wish I knew the right thing to say to you.

Marah: There's nothing you can say.  It's okay, Mama.

Reva: No, it's not okay.  I don't know what happened with your father, but I can only imagine.

Marah: Just forget about it, all right?  Everything is fine; I'm just… I'm fine.

Reva: I think you got your lying genes from me.  You aren't very good at it.

Marah: Neither is Dad.

Reva: No, he's not. (Snickers slightly) I guess that means we should all just keep to telling the truth.

Marah: It wouldn't matter.  I don't know what to believe anymore.

Reva is taken back by her daughter's bitterness.

Reva: Sweetheart, I know things are confusing right now, but we have to stay strong.  We have to try and find the truth.

Marah: (laughs) And just how are we supposed to do that?

Reva pauses.  She then turns her daughter to face her.

Reva: (wiping away Marah's tears) There is only one-way to really know the truth.

Marah: What is it?

Reva: Through your heart.  You have to learn to listen to your heart.  It will never steer you wrong if you truly listen to it.

Marah: I thought I was listening to my heart.

Reva: I think you were listening to your head.  That's something else that runs in the family.  We were blessed with big hearts, but not enough brains to listen to them.

Marah smiles.

Reva: Except for you, of course.  I have faith that you and your brother will break the Lewis - Shayne streak and learn the trick.  It will just take a whole lot of practice.

Marah laughs again.

Reva: That's the smile I was waiting to see.

Marah: Thanks.

Reva: Honey, things are a big mess right now, I'm not going to lie to you.  But if we are honest with each other, all of us, we can get through this.

Marah: That's the problem.

Reva: What is?

Marah: All of us being honest… Dad isn't.

Reva: I'm sure there has just been a misunderstanding.  Your daddy would never lie to you Marah.

Marah: But he did!  He lied about… about…

Reva: What?

Marah: Nothing… I can't… I don't want to hurt you.

Reva: You aren't going to hurt me.  Talk to me. 

Marah: Olivia.  He's with Olivia.

Reva takes a deep breath.  She is being put in the awkward position of trying to convince Marah that Josh has a right to be with Olivia.  Something she doesn't believe herself.

Reva: Well… I don't know what to say.

Marah: I'm sorry, Mama.  I didn't want you to find out.

Reva: It's okay.  I actually…  I already knew.

Marah: You knew?  But why didn't you…

Reva: I thought it was only fair if your Daddy told you.  He is with someone else and I wanted him to have a chance to explain.

Marah: There is nothing to explain… he's still married to you!

Reva grasps for the words to justify Josh's actions.

Reva: Sweetie.  Your daddy… your daddy… I hurt him Marah; I hurt him a lot.

Marah: No, you both hurt each other.

Reva: Well, you are right, we did.  I just think… well I guess… your daddy needed someone to lean on, someone to be his friend.

Marah: They are a whole lot more than friends, mom.

Reva: He needed someone to comfort him.  Something that he didn't think I could do.

Marah: But why not?  He knows you love him.

Reva: Sweetie, I don't know if he does.

Marah: (sitting up in her bed) How could he not know?  How could he think you don't love him?  Mama, that's crazy, the two of you have loved each other forever… how could he think that could just go away?

Reva: Things just get complicated.  For some reason, things are always complicated for your father and I.  It's the way of the world.

Marah: Why does it have to be that way?  I don't get it.  I thought that love could overcome anything.  That's what you and Daddy have always said to us.  How come it's not true now?

Reva: It is true, sweetie.

Marah: How can you say that?  You and Daddy say you love each other, but he's moved out, he's messing around with Olivia and you are here alone.  (Standing up abruptly) Love doesn't mean anything!

Josh: That's not true, Marah.  Please, don't believe that.