This is chapter 7, the final chapter of the story. If you haven't read chapters 1 through 6, please do so before reading this chapter as events occurring there, effect those that happen here.
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The sun was trying very hard to penetrate the room. The curtains parted only a little, enough for a two-inch-wide strip of sunlight to slowly crawl up the bed towards the face of the sleeping body. Betty woke as it finally reached her eyes and leaked through her closed eyelids. At first, she was confused that this would happen. Her bedroom was on the northwest corner of her house. How could the sun be waking her up? As she became more awake, she remembered she was at her brother's house and laying in her niece's bed.
But remembering that brought back the dilemma of what to do about her niece, Meghan, and her nephew, Matthew. She grabbed her nightgown off the floor where she had discarded it the night before, and then her robe from her suitcase before leaving the room to go to the bathroom. As she sat on the toilet emptying her bladder, she realized she was a little sore though not so much that she couldn't handle it. She was thankful that Matthew had been so gentle as he penetrated her since she wasn't used to so large a member, and that he stopped the minute she had told him to do so. At least she wouldn't have to worry about being asked about the way she was walking.
That brought her thoughts back to the night before when she asked how long he and his sister had been fucking each other. She hadn't gotten a good answer to that question. All she really knew was that last night had not been their first time, and they planned on being together for the rest of their lives. How did they think that was going to work? she wondered.
After finishing on the toilet, she slowly washed her hands, trying to decide whether to tell her brother Vincent or not. On the one hand, he deserved to know. How could she not tell him? She was sure it would be devastating to him and if she didn't tell, when he eventually learned of it, as he would have to at some point, and found that she had knowledge of it and hadn't informed him about it, he would probably never speak to her again.
On the other hand, telling him meant revealing what happened the night before and he would be mad at her for that. No matter what she did, it would probably cost her her brother's trust and friendship. That would be devastating to her and she wanted to avoid that if at all possible.
Then there was her own secret that she had to protect. As progressive as her brother's family was, she knew she couldn't allow them to know about it. Not all of them would understand and, again, it would lead to her having to separate from them.
She turned off the water and left the bathroom still unsure of what to do. While she thought about it, she would say nothing. But she knew she had to make a decision before the weekend was over.
"Hey, Betty," Pam greeted her as she entered the living room. "Sleep well?"
"What time is it?" Betty asked.
"Just after ten."
"Ugh," Betty interjected. "I don't know why I didn't wake up earlier. I must have been really tired. "
"That's alright. Breakfast?"
"Just cereal, " Betty answered. "Too late in the day for anything else. "
"I think we need to talk, Betty, " Pam offered as she rose and led the way to the kitchen. "Will you promise to be honest with me?"
"I guess I can do that. But if I say 'No comment,' you have to accept that. "
"Over the years, we've always been civil with each other, but I think that it's obvious that you don't really like me. Will you tell me why?"
"No comment. "
"Well, that was fast," Pam said. "But it does tell me that I'm right. You do dislike me for some reason. What can I do to try to remedy the situation?"
Betty thought about her question while she poured milk on her cereal. Once she had the carton back in the refrigerator, she was ready to reply. "I don't think there's anything you can do, Pam. You basically trapped my brother into a marriage he didn't want and if you were to correct that mistake, you and I wouldn't have much to do with each other so we still wouldn't be friends."
"I wasn't looking to trap him," Pam replied. "Besides, he's had plenty on the side."
"But you're still there, aren't you? What if there was someone else he was supposed to be with? What if there was someone that he would have stayed with completely. Someone who loves him for him and wouldn't have cheated on him either?"
"I think Vince is pretty happy, Betty. Especially since everything is out in the open. Besides. If I hadn't gotten pregnant, we wouldn't have Matt. He's really a good kid. "
"Uh-huh. Right. Every parent believes that about their kids."
"Are you saying he's not? Just yesterday you were saying he's your favorite nephew. "
"And as he was quick to point out, he's my only nephew. "
"What are you saying, Betty? Do you mean he wouldn't be your favorite if there was another?"
Betty opened her mouth to speak then closed it again as she thought about it a moment. She had the power to hurt her sister-in-law. All she had to do was tell her about what she knew. She could do that and Pam would be devastated. But then there were the repercussions. Pam would likely kick her out right away and she would never be welcomed back to her brother's house. He wouldn't want anything to do with her either. And the two kids in question would be more than a little angry with her and decide not to have her around anymore either. The whole idea of not seeing any of them anymore scared her and she made her decision. She was going to keep her nephew and niece's secret.
"No," she said calmly. "You're right. He's a good kid. And so is his sister. You've done an excellent job raising them. I've always thought you were a good mother and I have to admit you've been a good wife to Vincent." She raised a spoonful of cereal to her mouth as a sadness seemed to come over her. "As long as Vince is happy with it, then that's fine with me."
Pam noticed the change in her sister-in-law's demeanor and heard the resolve in her voice. Something clicked and a realization came to her. Perhaps this wasn't going to be as difficult as she thought it would be, she considered. She had been prepared to wage a battle to push forward her plan. Perhaps not all of it would be necessary.
"Anyway," she began as she changed the subject to press toward her goal. "It seemed that Meghan was really doing a good number on you last night by the sound of it. "
"Wha-what?" Betty fumbled in a bit of panic nearly choking on the cereal in her mouth.
"Your moans were quite noticeable, you know?"
"I, I," the teacher tried unsuccessfully to think of a way to defend herself.