Gothic Desires

They were all gathered in New York to watch. The large Television was tuned in and the union room manager had it being taped. Three weeks had passed since that first preview and all the students had gathered letters of rallying support. They sent them to the studios to forward to Starfyre and Stephanie.

The Studio gladly did so and both girls were thrilled that all of their friends were thinking of them. Of course they didn’t know that the episodes were airing much later than the actual event. They would all have freaked to know that both girls were pregnant by him already. Starfyre at least six to seven weeks and Stephanie nearly four weeks. She was more like three weeks and two days..but she said nearly four to make it sound quicker.

But now, even they were watching the airing of the first episodes. Everyone was it seemed. Everyone except Starfyre’s mother. There were even ranchers wives in Wyoming watching. And that’s where this first episode really caught attention was in the home of one Dimitri Jamison.

A successful rancher. He owned a large ranch and was relatively modern considering his ranch was in the middle of no where. His wife, Maryann always a Reality Television junkie was excitedly flipping to this new program.

“Dimitri!! Hurry up..come and watch this with me.” A woman in her early forties was hopping on the couch. “Dimitri!”

“Coming. What is it Mama?”

A man with White hair and Deep blue eyes entered the room. He was probably in his late forties to early fifties. In truth he was actually forty-nine but he liked to keep people guessing.

“Dimitri..that show..Who wants a prince. I told you about it..come watch it with me.”

“Mama..I have a budget that Need to get out and..I have to work on that harvest schedule..This ranch don’t run it’s self.”

“Dimitri...you promised.”

“Fine, fine..” He sighed sat on the couch next to her. “But you know..I’m not watching every episode that airs.”

“Yes you are.” She laughed and clicked the television a little louder. “Here we go..This is just the first episode. This is the one where all the girls arrive I think.”

“Why would any girl in their right mind want to do something that? Don’t they have more respect for them selves.”

“There’s that angry accent of yours coming out. Just sit down and watch it with me without complaints. It’s not like I ask you to do this ALL the time.”

“I know Mama..” Wrapping his arm her. “So..What’s this thing about again?”

“Well..It’s this Prince In Tovia..and their family has arranged for Who wants to marry a prince to come and..well..he’s the prince.”

“Tovia..Tovia..I know that name.”

“Maybe you heard it on Jeopardy?”

“No..Anyways ..”

“Look..there’s the First girls now..” her excitement showing. “No..he won’t choose her..she’s too...frumpy..and not that hispanic looking one. She looks snoody.”

“You don’t even know these girls.”

“But I know their types. Their smiles are false and..they are nothing but title and status seekers.” She nodded. “You learn after watching so many shows.”

“Hm..” Watching it. It seemed like forever for the last girl to show up but it was that last girl that made Dimitri sit up. “Pause that.” He quickly said.

“What? Oh..The gothic Rose..that’s what they titled her. Isn’t she beautiful? Hey..wait..She’s got..white hair like you do..Wow.”

“No...”

“She’s got an honest smile though. And look at her..she’s..kind hearted..you can tell.”

“Focus in on her face for me, Mama?”

“Don’t tell me you’re..being perverted or something.” Clicking the Tivo remote and the screen in screen to adjust on a close up. “She’s quite lovely. Anyways..can I press play?”

“Not yet..” He stood and walked over to the Television. Kneeling down in front of it, he was looking very closely at this girl. “Maryann..What did they say her name was again?”

“Um..Starfyre Renwal..She’s from New York..” Gasping. “Hey! You went to college in New York, right?”

“Yeah...I did..” He looked shaken as he stood. “I..need to..go make a phone call.”

“Dimitri..you said you’d watch this with me.”

“Something has come up..I think it’s rather important. I’m sorry, Mama..”

“What is it, Dimitri? You look..paler than usual..”

“Well..Mama..I..Rightly don’t know because I don’t want to get you worked up if it’s nothing. But I guarantee you..if I find out what I think it is..I’ll let you know..I promise. And..I’ll make this up to you..by watching..something else on this thing.”

“Dimitri....”

“Trust me, Mama? Please?”

“Alright..” Nodding. “Can I..go ahead and watch it?”

“Sure..I..just need to go..and..sort this out..” He said as he headed towards his back office area. “Be back in a bit.”

The door closing behind him, he went to his filing cabinet and pulled out an photograph album. They were pictures of him from his college years. He flipped to a specific page with him and his girlfriend, Marilyn Renwal.

“Please tell me you didn’t do this to me Marilyn.” Sighing, closing the book. He picked up the phone but he stopped. “I don’t know where you are..” Handing it up, he sat at the desk and turned his computer on. “Lets see..Who wants to marry A Prince.”

He typed in the words and clicked enter. Several sites came up. Amongst them, a site with all the girls Pictures on it and their information. It was like a fan site for the show. So he clicked that and went to Starfyre’s Picture.

It took a few minutes for it to load but when it did, he had to smile. Those eyes, that hair. It was her picture of her in the graveyard with the moon behind her that her friends had sent in.

“Starfyre Renwal...Age..Nineteen..” He looked even more disturbed than before. “Mother..Marilyn Renwal..Father, unlisted...” Blinking, he continued to read. “Goes to college at the New York ..This..” He gasped. “This was..our school. She’s..studying to be a veterinarian..” That made him smiled actually. “And..her residence..campus dorm. Huh..About a hundred from her home town..and..her interests are animals, Gothic culture and Medieval studies. And..it sais ..she’s the..site favorite.” He chuckled. “Well..okay. Got what I need.”

Hmming again. A hundred miles from the old school. What town was that? There were two possibilities. But she didn’t look like she was from a large town and he knew that Graveyard. That narrowed it down one place.

“You ran away from me..a hundred miles..”Shaking his head. “Now..” Picking up the phone and dialing information. “Hello..yeah..Kalamath Falls New York please. Marilyn Renwal..”

“Here’s your listing sir.” The operator came back. “Have a nice day.”

He didn’t know if he was ready for this phone call. He hadn’t spoken to his ex in.. twenty years at least. But that would put their time just about right to make his suspicions correct.

“Hello?” came the voice on the other end.

“Marilyn?” He paused. “Uh..Marilyn Renwal?”

“Who is this? Wait..” Marilyn gasped because that accent was unmistakable. “Oh my gods..”

“Don’t hang up..I..just need you to answer..one question.” He quickly spoke.

“What? Make it quick.”

“Marilyn...Do we have a child together?”

Silence on the line. He heard her gasp and she quickly hung the phone up. That confirmed his suspicions. A new sadness formed in his old eyes.

“What do I do now?”

Asking him self as he stood. There was only one person in the world he could talk to now and that was his wife of eighteen years.

“Mama..” His voice solemn as he stepped out of his office. “Can you shut that off for a minute. I think we need to talk.”

“Dimitri?” She turned the television without question. “What is, Papa?”

“I...don’t know how to say but..I have to. You see..I had a girl friend in college and..we were ..together.”

“About like me and my ex..that’s not a bad thing.”

“Well..thing is..That white haired girl..I think..I’m fairly positive..I think she’s the result of that relationship I had back in college and..now I don’t know what to do. I don’t want you mad and..I..just called my ex up. When I asked if we had a child together..she hung up on me very quickly.”

“I see. For one..I’m not angry..That happens sometimes. It’s just not right if that woman didn’t tell you. So..the only option is..you gotta search out the truth. Because if it’s true..That girl needs her daddy. She’s nineteen..and ..goth like my little girl..and you took my little girl in without question.”

“Because she’s my little girl too. That’s how I feel anyways. I know she’s not mine biologically but..my heart claims her.”

“Love..Papa..That’s just the same thing here.”

“Yeah but Mama..what if she doesn’t want to see me? What if her mom told her..I abandoned them. I didn’t...I...I would have..taken care of her.”

“I know Papa..But that girl needs to know the truth. I’m not saying her Mama is a bad person but..I’m saying she might not have done right by..not letting her know about her papa. And..you know..on the slight chance that she’s not..well..You just ..You’ll never know unless you try.”

“So how do you suggest we go about this, Mama?”

“We know where she is. We contact the studio..and..see what happens. Maybe they can..send a communication to her or..arrange a phone call or something.”

“Okay but..I’m not good at that computer like you. Might need your help to look up that studio stuff.”

“Mama’s got that covered, Papa. I done talked to em three or four times about reality show ideas. I know JUST who to talk to. His name is Tom Hunt. And I have a feeling..they gonna like this.”

“When you get that look, Mama..I know you got it handled.”

“It’s exciting...I may have a new daughter. She and my like Nickola..they will get along great.”

“Yea..I believe you’re right, Mama. Nikiola is into that Gothic stuff too.”

“Well..I’m going to make a call..do excuse me Papa bear. I’ll let you know..what’s gonna happen.”

She ran off just as excitedly as when she had been flipping to the show. This was great in her Opinion. Because Her husband might have a daughter and get to see her and..she would get to sell an idea finally.