Chapter 33 Call Me Mommy
Today the Call Me Mommy podcast finally dropped their episode with Apple.
Knox was outside walking Titan, and I used the quiet to go to the bedroom and watch the whole damn thing. One hour of my life I was never getting back.
The host introduced herself with a bright, polished voice. “Hi everyone, I’m Marla, and welcome back to Call Me Mommy.”
The interview started with Apple promising to be honest. She said she had made mistakes, that she was ready to own up to them, but she also wanted to tell her side.
That not everything was black and white.
Then she said she had always struggled because she was the affair baby.
That her whole life had been harder because of it. That she always felt less than.
I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt. “You lying bitch.”
She talked about how she found joy in playing the violin. How it gave her purpose.
The host asked about her achievements, and Apple launched into her Juilliard story, listing competitions, scholarships, accolades. Then she said she had to leave because of her mental health.
Marla cut in. “But you told your followers you wanted new opportunities. Growth. And there were rumors you poisoned someone before a concert.”
Apple gasped softly, all wounded innocence. “Those are cruel rumors. There is no truth to them. I don’t know why people make things like that up. And I didn’t want to burden my followers with my mental health struggles. I wanted to look strong. A survivor.”
Marla nodded sympathetically. “You’ve carried a lot of pain. Tell me about your survival story”
Apple lowered her gaze. “When I was eight, a serial killer kidnapped me from Walmart.”
The host gasped dramatically. “I’ve heard bits of that, but not the whole story. What happened?”
Apple launched into it. She said she had been in the store with her mother and me.
That I had thrown a tantrum, and Mom had to deal with me, leaving Apple behind.
She said she had been looking at a teddy bear she wanted so badly because she never got anything of her own. Because she was the affair baby.
My jaw tightened. Everything was twisted.
Marla interrupted. “Wait, do you and Ashley have the same mother?”
Apple shook her head. “No. Ashley’s mother is dead. Marissa is my mother. But Marissa felt so guilty for having an affair with Ashley’s father that she spent her whole life trying to make it up to Ashley.”
I let out a sharp, disbelieving laugh.
Marla nodded sympathetically. “I see. So what happened next, when you were looking at the bear?”
Apple said a man approached her and offered to buy it. That she was young and alone and followed him. She paused for dramatic effect.
Marla whispered, “And then? Only if you want to share.”
Apple stared into the distance. “He took me to a motel room and raped me.”
My breath caught. She had never told anyone what happened, but I always knew she had not been penetrated. Hearing her say it like this made my stomach twist.
Marla gasped. “And you were only eight?”
Apple nodded, wiping a tear. “Yes. I was with him for twelve hours before the police broke in and saved me.”
Marla murmured sympathy. Apple added that the man had kidnapped other girls before, and some had died. That she was the only one who survived.
I pressed a hand to my forehead. “This is insane. Nobody died.”
Marla said it must have shaped her life. Apple agreed. She said she had become an advocate for victims. That she wanted to use her platform for good.
Then Marla said softly, “You’ve had other tragic losses too.”
Apple sighed dramatically. “Yes. I have.”
Marla leaned forward. “You were very active online years ago when you were pregnant and later had a miscarriage. Can you talk about that?”
Apple nodded sadly. “I was so happy when I found out I was pregnant. I wanted to share it with the world. Finally someone I could love, someone who would love me unconditionally. The pregnancy was unexpected, but very wanted. And when I miscarried… I was devastated. I even thought about ending my life.”
Marla whispered, “Oh my God.”
Apple nodded, eyes glistening. “It was a very dark time. But I somehow made it through.”
I scoffed, shaking my head. You have no idea what dark is.
Marla asked gently, “And the baby’s father?”
Apple went quiet for a moment. “I loved him. I loved him for years. But he didn’t feel the same.”
Marla hesitated. “There were rumors of a love triangle. Between you, your sister, and the baby’s father.”
Apple tilted her head, thinking. “Yes. You could say that. In the end she won. He didn’t want to be with me.”
She was rewriting everything.
Marla continued. “How has your relationship with your sister been over the years?”
Apple sighed. “Ashley has always been different. She had a chip on her shoulder. She kept her distance from the family. When she turned eighteen, she moved out and barely spoke to us. Only to her father sometimes. Even though my mother tried for years to be a good mother to her. She even favored Ashley. Over me. Over her biological daughter.”
Marla nodded sympathetically. “So it’s fair to say the relationship is not good?”
Apple shook her head. “We don’t speak right now.”
I scoffed. “Because you are a manipulative psycho.”
Marla paused, then asked, “Is it true your mother is currently in prison?”
Apple lowered her gaze. “It’s true.”
Marla waited. When Apple didn’t continue, she pressed, “I’ve also heard that Ashley believed Marissa was her real mother her whole life. Is that true?”
Apple nodded solemnly. “Yes. My mother and father decided not to tell her until she was ready. They wanted to protect her.”
Marla leaned in. “I imagine that must have caused a lot of shock in your hometown. People not knowing Marissa wasn’t Ashley’s biological mother.”
“It was, but our family wanted to keep those things private.”
Marla nodded sympathetically. “I understand. And now with your mother’s arrest… it must be even harder.”
Apple’s voice softened. “What is happening to our family is tragic.”
Marla waited again. “Well? Did she kill Ashley’s mother?”
Apple’s eyes widened. “Absolutely not. My mother is innocent. I’m sure the justice system will prove that.”
Marla offered a few sympathetic comments about the prison situation, then shifted.
“Let’s talk about some of your controversies. Old tweets resurfacing. Accusations of stealing other people’s ideas. What would you like to say to listeners?”
Apple sighed. “I’ve made mistakes. I’ve admitted them ten times. I’ve apologized. But every year people drag up the same things and demand I apologize again. Why is our society like this? Why can’t people grow and evolve? I learned. I apologized. Why can’t I move on with my life?”
Marla nodded. “That’s the world we live in. People want apologies, but it’s never enough.”
Then she leaned in. “A few weeks ago, a new account posted a video claiming to be from your high school graduation party. There were serious accusations.”
Apple exhaled. “I’m aware. How could I not be, when a hate mob flooded my comments and sent me death threats. The video was fake. A lie. Years ago it was already proven false. Someone is trying to destroy me now that I’m happy again.”
Marla leaned forward, eyes bright. “Oh? So there is someone special in your life? Or is that the reason you’re so happy lately?”
Apple smiled coyly. “You could say that.”
Marla laughed. “Come on, don’t keep the suspense. Tell us.”
Apple placed a hand on her stomach. “In a little more than four months, I will become a mother.”
I sat up straight. “What?”
Marla’s jaw dropped. “I’m sorry, what?!”
Apple lifted her shirt just enough to show a slight curve. “I am five months pregnant.”
My mouth fell open. “You have got to be kidding me.”
Marla squealed. “Congratulations! Who is the baby’s father, if you don’t mind me asking?”
Apple’s expression softened into something tragic. “He is a businessman. We met four years ago and connected instantly. Life pulled us apart, but we reconnected recently, and the result is this little miracle.”
I stared at the screen, stunned.
Marla tilted her head. “I feel like there’s a story there. You don’t seem fully happy. Is the father not excited about the baby?”
Apple sighed. “He doesn’t know. I’ve tried to contact him for months, but nothing.”
Marla blinked. “How is that possible? What happened?”
Apple looked down. “I don’t know what I did wrong. I thought we had something beautiful. I thought it was mutual. But a few months after my sister started working for him…” She stopped abruptly, like she had said too much.
Marla leaned in. “Go on.”
Apple shook her head. “I’d rather not. I don’t want to speak badly about anyone. I love my baby, and I trust that what is meant to happen will happen. God is protecting me.”
Marla didn’t let it go. “Do you think your sister said something to him? Or stole your man?”
Apple folded her hands. “I’d rather not comment.”
The interview ended shortly after, with Marla thanking her and Apple giving one last sad, brave smile.
I sat there for a moment, staring at the blank screen.
Then the anger hit me like a punch.
My hands shook as I marched out of the bedroom, down the hall, and into the living room just as Knox and Titan came back from their walk. Knox was unclipping Titan’s leash when I shoved the phone toward him like it was evidence in a murder trial.
He looked at the screen, then at me.
I glared at him, fury boiling over.
“Did you get my bitch of a sister pregnant!”