He waited a few minutes for the news to sink in. He wanted them to realize the severity of his situation so that they could perhaps forgive him of his past indiscretions and forgive him for what they were about to hear. So that when he met his Maker, he’d have a clean slate. They all sat back, blown away by the fact that Melvin Porter was dying; the strong and callous man was now seeking forgiveness.

“When did you find out,” Kit managed to say, unemotionally.

“I found out the day we last spoke,” he said, and Bette remembered that day. That was the day both her and Kit disowned him.

“I’m so sorry, we didn’t know,” Bette started to say when he held his hand up.

“No need to apologize, that’s my job. I didn’t know either; my appointment was later that afternoon. When I found out I started thinking, thinking about you and Katherine and the life I gave you. We have money and I gave you everything you needed and indulged you in the things you wanted. I let you do what you wanted and yet, I never gave you what you really needed. A father. I realize that now.”

“Daddy, we…” Bette started to say when she was cut off by him again.

“Let me finish while I still have the nerve,” he said and Bette sat back, “I am truly, very sorry that I never told you what I am about to tell you. I got remarried and I have a son.”

“You WHAT,” Kit exclaimed.

“Oh my God,” Tina gasped and Bette sat back stunned.

“Why didn’t you tell us,” Kit asked, angered.

“It was a small ceremony, at a judge friend’s home. It was spur of the moment.”

“Spur of the moment,” Bette spat, “who is she?”

“Jacqueline Clifton, you met her Elizabeth.”

“I don’t remember.”

“She’s the woman I was seeing when you first introduced me to Tina.”

“That gold digging bitch?! How long have you been married?”

“It’ll be ten years next month.”

“Ten fucking years,” Kit said, her anger reaching its boiling point, “how old is this son of yours?”

“He just turned ten.”

“Oh for the love of God, really Melvin? You wanted a son that badly,” Bette said realizing that she never was and never will be good enough for him.