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The reveal was one that left Trina reeling. Everything she had thought to be real about her life had turned out to be one big lie and she couldn’t even think of forgiving her mother anytime soon for the mess she had made. The only person Trina even felt like she could depend on now was Spencer. He had been by her side, giving her strength throughout this trying day and she couldn’t be more grateful for him! She knew it must be hard, with everyone in her family giving him the side eye, but he never wavered. He refused to let them run him off. He was determined to be by her side and it meant more to her than he’ll ever know.
Right now, he was confused as they entered the gallery. It just didn’t seem like the place to be to deal with such heavy revelations.
“What are we doing at Ava’s art gallery?” He turned to her, his confusion clear.
“I don’t know.”
“I get that. But why here?”
“It’s a place I like. A place I’ve been...mostly happy. You don’t have to stick around.”
He blocked her path as she went to walk deeper into the gallery. He didn’t like this...how down she was. Not even the sight of artwork made her smile. “I’m not going anywhere. Especially now that I know that Esme’s escaped from Spring Ridge.”
There was so much going on in their lives right now, it was literally crazy. From Trina’s paternity disaster to having to deal with Esme yet again!
“I don’t know if Esme’s memory came back or if she never lost it in the first place."
Trina took off her coat and sat it in her chair before turning to face Spencer. “If she was faking all this time, that means that not only is she free. She’s dangerous…”
“Which is why I had to find you and make sure that you were safe.”
“She just escaped from prison. If she was trying to go for me, it would be a good way to get caught.”
“That is a fair point, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t take every precaution that we can.”
Trina stepped up to him, loving his need to keep her safe, no matter what the danger to himself. No matter what or who he had to go through. But he had concerns he should be concentrating on as well, not just her. “I know that you’re worried about Esme’s baby. It’s your little brother or sister.”
Spencer took off his jacket and sat it alongside Trina’s as he began to ramble, wanting to fill the silence of the gallery. “When I saw Esme, she seemed to really care about the child, but maybe that was a con too. I don’t know.”
“I hope it wasn’t.”
“But anyway, there’s nothing I can do about that situation right now, but what I can do is be there for you like you’re always there for me. So please, Trina tell me. What went down tonight.”
“I don’t even know where to start,” She walked away from him, not wanting to see the pity in his eyes. She really couldn’t take that right now. “I just found out that my mother lied to me my entire life.”
He turned to her, taking her hand in his and having her sit with him on a bench. “About what?”
“My dad...might not be my biological father.”
Spencer felt his heart break for her. Trina loved her father so much. He had admired their relationship, wishing that he could have had the same thing with his own father. To find out that it was all a lie...he could only imagine what Trina must be feeling. “So that’s what Stella couldn’t tell us? When we went in to check on her?”
“Somehow, she learned that Curtis could be my biological father.”
“Trina, I am so sorry.”
“So am I. Wow, this is not how I thought that today was going to go.”
“Stella did make it sound like Curtis didn’t know.”
“My mom didn’t tell anyone.”
“Where is your mom now?”
“With Curtis, I guess. I don’t know and I really don’t care. I just had to get out of that room.”
“She must be going through hell.”
Annoyed, Trina snatched her hands out of his. Why was he on her mother’s side? “Who cares what my mother is going through? She deserves it!”
Trina got up and began to pace, her anger not allowing her to stay in one place.
Spencer got up, not liking how Trina now had her back to him. He hadn’t meant to alienate her. “I’m not making excuses for your mom,” He slowly approached her. “But I do know what it’s like to hurt the people that you love.”
She sighed and turned around to face him once again. “I have to admit. I really tried to sympathize with what you were going through with your father. But I never truly related to it. But now, I get it.”
Spencer’s heart hurt at that because he never wanted her to get it. He never wanted her to feel that kind of pain. It killed him to know that she did. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” She took his hands in hers. “This time.”
“This time, right,” Her smile was so pretty and he wanted to make it stay permanently, so he decided to tease. “Hey look at us. Both of us have had our lives ruined by the parents we rely on the most. On the bright side, I know your mother made a huge mistake…”
“That’s an understatement.”
“But on the aforementioned bright side, she is no Nikolas Cassadine.”
“That’s a low bar to clear,” Trina couldn’t help but be amused.
“But she cleared! Hey!”
Trina couldn’t help it, she laughed, which made Spencer’s entire evening. There was no better sound than Trina’s laughter.
“No matter how bad things get between you and your mom...she’s never going to abandon you. You know…”
“Yeah. Yeah, you’re right. As bad as she’s screwed up. She’ll always be here for me.”
“So will I.”
Looking into his eyes, Trina knew that what he said was true. He’ll always be here for her. No matter what. Just knowing that made her heart beat a little faster.
Sensing that she was thirsty, Spencer disappeared into the back and then returned with two bottles of water.
“It’s weird, isn’t it? That we’re in the same place that we met and it’s closed now,” He held out the bottle to her.
“For now. Hopefully, Ava will be back in business soon.”
“Well, to the gallery and the many fond...memories,” Spencer opened his water with a grin, causing Trina to again giggle.
“Cheers to that,” Trina smiled, joining in on the toast. “And for the record, getting nostalgic about dousing me in fake blood, is a little bit weird.”
“In fairness, it was not meant for you,” Even though their first meeting was not what he wanted her to remember when thinking about him, he was happy to see that just talking about it lifted some of the heaviness off of her shoulders.
“You do know that doesn’t make it ok, right?” Trina laughed, appreciating Spencer’s efforts. He was such a funny guy when he wanted to be and it made her feel...something nice that he was doing all he could to make sure she didn’t drown in depression.
“Oh I get that, I’m just saying I wouldn’t trade it! Not for the world!” And he wouldn’t. That moment had brought him into Trina’s orbit and he was more than thankful for that.
Trina stood there for a second, for not the first time that day, feeling flattered and pretty. Spencer really did care about her and that meant so much, especially now. Sighing, she sobered a little. “You know...before you found me...I was...um...I was talking to my dad. He was telling me that nothing will change between us...even if we find out that I’m not his biological daughter.”
“You don’t believe him?”
“I believe that he believes it. I mean…how can things not change, Spencer? They already have.”
The hurt was so clear in her eyes and her pain was draped over her like a cloak. He’d do anything to take it all from her.
“Such as?”
“Such as me. I’ve changed! I don’t know who I am anymore!”
Spencer got up, deciding right there and then that he was going to take that pain away from her. He was going to make this right. He got up from the desk that he had settled on and approached her. “I know who you are.”
“And who’s that?” She didn’t believe him. If she didn’t know, how could this troubled, yet handsome and funny and sweet prince know? It didn’t make any sense to her.
“You’re the girl who likes classic sitcoms. And books about guerilla feminist artists. You’re the same Trina that mocks my love of gingersnaps. Who won’t rat me out on the stand, even when her freedom is on the line. You’re blunt. Good god, you’re blunt. But you’re big-hearted. You’re fair and you’re forgiving. You improve the life of everyone who knows you, Trina. You’re the one who always told me that who I am is about a lot more than just my last name or my DNA,” He took her hand in his and met her sweet gaze with his own. “So whoever’s child you are, Trina Robinson, you’re the sweetest, smartest, the bravest person that I know.”
The look in his eyes, the emotion, the sincerity...the pure warm affection went from him right to her and it moved her into doing what she had been dreaming of doing for such a long time now. She kissed him. Afraid that she was overstepping, she stopped and met his gaze. His smile told her the kiss was more than welcomed and together, their lips met again in a deep kiss, telling each other that this was what they had wanted for so long and now...now it was theirs.
As they lost each other in those heady first kisses, they knew that their relationship had once again changed. It once again grew. Grew into something deeper, something long-lasting, something true. Those kisses were just the beginning of true soulmates and a love that will never die...even if one of them was gone. A love that would overcome all crises, just as long as they were together at the end.