"Happy Birthday, Tawny!"

Confetti and noisemakers were set off as Tawny entered the party room of Westinghouse Manor. There, Maddie, Audrey and even Ally gathered to celebrate their friend turning the sweet sixteen.

Cake was served and memories were shared amongst the girls, as they recapped a tumultuous, eventful year.

"Well, here's to getting through it all in one piece," Maddie proclaimed, raising her fork.

"Here, here!" concurred Ally, and everyone touched their cake-filled forks together in some form of impromptu toast.

"Next semester's not gonna be the same..." Audrey said.

Maddie nudged her girlfriend playfully. "Of course it won't; you're graduating this spring!"

"You know what I mean," Audrey said. "We're gonna miss not having you around, Tawny."

Tawny looked down at her plate, still quite full of cake. The elephant of the room had finally been addressed.

"So it's true then," Maddie said. "You're really leaving Ivoree Gates?"

Tawny nodded. "It's a fact."

"But still, Paris, France," swooned Ally. "If I could up and leave my life, travel anywhere in the world, France would be my number one choice. It's so romantic."

"I dunno," Audrey said. "Arrondissement or no, not sure I'd be too keen to clean dirty diapers for the chance to jetset. It's like trading one maid job for another."

"The term is au pair, love," Maddie corrected.

"The term is koo-koo bananas crazy," fired back Audrey. "I mean, you just got here! You're going to give all this up, give up your scholarship, to kick it with your favourite teach and his pregnant wife in another continent? What's your mother think about all this?"

"She...took it quite well," Tawny replied. "In fact, she encouraged me to make my decision."

"Let's change the subject," Maddie said gently. "Audrey and I are going away for summer vacation as well. We'll be backpacking across Peru and checking out Machu Pichu. Then we're going to visit Kenya and scale Mt. Kilimanjaro."

"Wow," Ally said. "I was just going to visit my grandmother in Tampa."

As the girls continued to chat amongst themselves, Tawny was deep in thought. Unbeknownst to the group, Tawny's mother was residing at Westinghouse Manor at that very moment, at the behest of Bryce.

---

Last week, Faye was moved into the west wing of the manor, where the seldom-used in-house infirmary was located.

Tawny visited her mother once she got settled, and was relieved to see she was doing much better health-wise, and looked nothing at all like the emaciated sector from her dream in weeks past.

"That experimental treatment is like a miracle drug," explained Faye. "I feel like I have the strength of ten men now...I definitely have the same appetite!"

"It's amazing that Mr. Westinghouse is funding all of this," Tawny said. "But...I'm just confused. Why would he go through all this trouble for us?"

Faye sighed and shook her head. "Typical, enigmatic Bryce..."

"What?" asked Tawny.

"Tawny, there's something that I never told you," Faye said. "Just a few months ago, I was convinced I'd have to tell you on my deathbed. But now you especially have a right to know."

Tawny took a seat beside her mother's bed and held Faye's extended hand. "Know what?"

"When I told you your father was dead...that was a lie," Faye confessed.

Tawny gasped. "Are you serious?"

"It seemed so much easier to tell you that than the truth," Faye said. "The man I was with when I was pregnant with you? I'm ashamed to admit it now, but I had cheated on him several months prior. When he found out, he became consumed with rage. He traveled overseas with intent to murder the man I was with, but when he couldn't gain access to him, he attacked my lover's wife and killed her in cold blood, then himself."

This sounds so familiar...Tawny thought, then realized she had read about a similar situation that occurred in the magazine she had borrowed from the library. "What are you trying to say?" she asked out loud.

"I'm saying that father is and always has been the owner of this mansion," Faye said. "Bryce Westinghouse.

Tawny let go of her mother's hand.

"In the beginning, he tried to make amends," Faye continued. "When he found out I was pregnant with you, he was determined to make things right, and to set me up comfortably. But, I was bitter and spiteful, angry that he wouldn't leave his wife to be with me, so I refused his help. I suppose the guilt finally ate away at him after all these years, and he used the school as a means to connect with you behind my back. Given recent circumstances, I'm glad that he did."

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Tawny paced back and forth in the room, in front of the bed. "This is...insane. That means Dylan and Sarah..."

"Are your half-brother and half-sister," Faye said. "It also means that as a Westinghouse, you have a stake in the Westinghouse fortune as part of your inheritance. Your blood tie to that family is what's keeping me alive right now. Bryce said we all could live here together, in this house. You, me, Gabby. Or, if you prefer, we could stay in our original home, and I could continue to receive my treatment there."

Tawny mulled both options silently before finally speaking. "I choose...neither," she said.

In her head, Tawny replayed Bryce's words to her. He had ordered her to promise to live a life devoid of fear, shame and regret. She had felt all those things and more when she chose to confess her feelings to her professor. But instead of being faced with rejection, Tawny was surprised when her boldness offered a new option she could've never even imagined.

"I've been asked to live with my English professor and his wife," Tawny said. "In Paris, France. I would act as their au pair while still receiving an education. I've told them yes."

Faye closed her eyes, absorbing her daughter's words. "I can't say I'm surprised. Bryce predicted that if I told you the truth, you'd need some time to absorb the news. Do you hate me now?"

Tawny returned to her mother's side and retook her hand into her own. "No, never. It's just...finding out I'm a Westinghouse...that comes with a lot of obligation I don't think I'm ready to take on quite yet. I'd much rather continuing living as a Matthews. And that means making decisions with my heart."

"I understand," Faye said. "And you have my blessing. I know this is a journey you'll have to take on your own, to discover what you truly want. I'm just sad that I can't be with you. My little girl is growing up..."

"Oh, mom..." Tawny leaned over and embraced her mother. "I promise I'll make you proud."

---

The McCurdys had left earlier to prepare for the arrival of Rebecca's baby, so Tawny was to travel solo to meet with them in Europe.

It felt surreal to her to leave Ivoree Gates for the last time. After dropping off her textbooks and uniform, she looked back at the massive institution, the very place that for the last several months she had loved and learned with abandon, and felt a bittersweet twinge in the pit of her stomach.

She had arrived in her mom's car as Tawny the girl, she endured many trials and tribulations as Tawny the student, but she came out the other side, confident and mature, as Tawny the woman.

And now it felt as though her journey had come full circle as she re-entered the limo which was now en route to the airport.

Her stomach was in a tight bundle of knots as she sat in the VIP waiting lounge before her flight. She had never left the country, much less flown before, and suddenly all her anxieties and fears were bubbling to the surface. Could she actually do this? Could she actually leave everything she knew behind and pave a new path for herself? The questions raced in her mind even as she tried to focus on her paperback novel.

"Well, well, well," came a voice. "Look who's cool enough to travel first class."

Tawny looked up from her book and was surprised to see Dylan and Sarah.

"Oh my God!" Tawny said, standing up and embracing them both in a hug. "What are you doing here? Are you going to see me off?"

"Actually, we thought you'd might like some company," Sarah said, flashing two boarding passes in her hand. "It's pretty daunting to fly international, so we thought we'd help our baby sister out."

"So you know...." Tawny said.

"I knew for a while," Sarah said. "Who think gave Daddy the bright idea of issuing the scholarship to bring you back to us?"

"I just thought we'd have more time with you," Dylan said. "To get to know you. But that's when Sarah had her brilliant idea..."

"I haven't been to Paris in quite some time," Sarah said. "Might as well take one final epic trip before staying put at home. Only this time, I won't be taking the trip alone. Not anymore, and neither should you."

Flight 16-B to Paris, France is now boarding," came the announcement over the loudspeaker.

"Okay, Matthews," Dylan said. "Looks like it's time. Our chariout awaits."

"Okay," said Tawny. "But you know technically should be calling me Westinghouse, right?"

"I know," Dylan said. "But can't a guy have a cute nickname for his baby sister?"

"Baby sister, my foot," Tawny said. "You're only older by a few weeks!"

"Okay, children let's not fight," Sarah teased. "I promised Daddy we'd all be on our best behaviour."

"Daddy...that is definitely going to take some getting used to..." Tawny said.

"It's been 16 years and counting for me, and I'm still getting used to it," said Dylan, linking his arm with Tawny's. "Trust me, you're doing great so far."

Tawny smiled. Sarah linked with Tawny's other arm, and together, the three of them made their way to their flight.

---

That was 9 months ago. Once arriving in France, Sarah and Dylan continued onward to the next stop on their grand European tour and were en route to Italy.

Tawny, meanwhile, took on her role as au pair to the McCurdy's beautiful baby girl, aptly named Renee.

During the day, she took her studies at the nearby private school while Professor McCurdy taught at the local university. In the afternoons, after finishing her homework, Tawny would assist with housework and help Rebecca cook dinner and care for her newborn. In the evenings, after a long day of school and chores, Tawny would look out the window of their townhouse, out to the beautiful view of the River Seine and the Eiffel Tower in the background.

Tawny was so immersed in the view of the twinkling lights of the city that she didn't notice McCurdy until he was handing her a cup of espresso.

"Apertif?" he asked.

"Merci," replied Tawny.

Rebecca emerged a minute later, blissfully stretching. "Finally, she's down for the night. Little Renee loves to fight sleep."

"She's tenacious, like her mother," Professor McCurdy said, kissing his wife on the forehead as she took her spot beside Tawny to also marvel at their scenic view.

"Tawny, dear, what would you like to do tomorrow?" asked Rebecca.

Tawny took a sip from her espresso and mulled silently, considering. She regarded her reflection in the mirror. In that moment, surrounded by her two compassionate guardians in a foreign land, overlooking the most romantic city in the world, Tawny wanted nothing else than to just be.

She had made her decision for how she chose to live her life. To some, her choice was unhinged - an option predicated on the elite and tawdry, spurred by impulse and passion.

But to her, it was just right. In that moment, Tawny was neither a Matthews nor a Westinghouse, or even a defacto McCurdy.

Tawny was her own person. And she was free.

----------------------------------------

The End

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