#fyi: gemma's middle name is delaine

[zosa95]

Jude: (stunned) Edward Langford is your father?

Gemma shrugged and blinked back tears.

Jude rubbed his forehead.

Jude: (hesitantly) Ed is as good as they come. He and Vivi are solid. I can't see him stepping out on her.

Gemma: Lydia said they were separated and almost divorced when their daughters were one and four.

Jude: I would have been too young to remember anything about that.

Gemma turned to face Markus.

Gemma: Lydia said that Edward lived in Strangerville during the separation.

Markus looked as stunned as Gemma felt.

Jude: Shit. I feel so stupid.

Gemma: Why?

Jude: You felt familiar from the first time I met you, and it didn't make sense. Now it's so obvious. You and Chessie are very similar; she's also full of fire and sass.

Markus bristled at Jude's words, describing Gemma in intimate terms.

Gemma: (wistfully) Really? I want to meet her.

Jude: Gemma, you've already met her.

Gemma: When?

Jude pointed at the painting of Tartosa.

Jude: Chessie is Francesca Cantone.

Gemma: Markus, we met my sister! And we saw her husband and kids at the beach. Omigawd. I love her. She was fun! We even took a photo together.

Markus: This is a lot. No wonder you got lightheaded.

Gemma: I haven't even revealed what tipped me over the edge. You both will be box-breathing with me. Jude, did you know Ed was adopted.

Markus put two and two together and came up with four immediately.

Markus: No fucking way.

Jude: I think so? It sounds vaguely familiar.

Gemma: Lydia told me that she and her husband, Delaine, adopted Edward when they lived in Brindleton Bay. He was born in Cavalier Cove. His biological mother was seventeen years old, and her name was Edith.

Jude: Edith? The elderly woman who set the senior home on fire during sex?

Gemma: One and the same.

Jude: (laughing) Shit. Chessie's gonna love that.

Markus: (teasing) It explains so much.

Gemma side-eyed a grinning Markus.