” And why would she tell me all those years it was a picture of her as a little girl if it wasn’t true?”
” Simone..”
” And, if it IS true that it’s a picture of her as a little girl, then
that
means my mother is Mr. J’s missing daughter!”
” Simone! Let’s sit down.”
Jonah and Simone sat down on the couch. They were silent for a few minutes. Then, Jonah got up and came back with a pen and notepad.
” Ok, tell me what you know about your mother’s childhood?”
” Well, I know what she told us. She was orphaned as a little girl. She
was
raised by elderly aunts who sheltered her. She had a very ‘proper’
upbringing.
Proper was the word of the day when my mother described her upbringing.
The
Aunts died, just as my mother was going
to college, but left her enough money to
get an education.”
“ And that’s all you know about your mother?”
” If what I suspect is true, I don’t know ANYTHING about my mother.”
” Simone, don’t get ahead of yourself. There could be any number of
logical
explanations.”
” Jonah, please. Don’t BS me.”
” I’m not. I’m really not. But, you have to look at the enormity of
what you’re
saying. I’m trying to tell you this not only as Mr. J’s lawyer, but as
his
friend. “
” Ok. I guess my brain’s been on overload ever since where I saw the
picture
actually came to me.”
” I know. I need you to give me 24 hours.
By this time tomorrow, I’ll have information for you. Can you do
that
for me? Can you give me this time?”
” Sure.”
Simone got up from the sofa. “ I’m going to go home. Talk to you later.” Simone kissed Jonah on the cheek and left. The minute she left Jonah was on the telephone.
” Hey, it’s
Ethan saw his party and went over to the table.
” Hey Kay. I was surprised to get a call from you for breakfast. This
place is
a little..um..”
“ Lowbrow for someone who was raised as a Crane?”
” I wasn’t going to say that. It’s a dive, Kay!”
” This is what you call a ‘ hidden gem’, Ethan. This place has THE best
breakfast in town. You’d give away your mother for the omelet/waffle
special. I
ordered you one, by the way.”
” Uh, ok. So, do you want to tell me what this breakfast is about?”
” You need to tell your girlfriend to leave your wife ALONE!”
“ Excuse me?”
“ Tell your girlfriend that your pregnant wife is off-limits.”
” I don’t understand.”
” Theresa barged into Gwen’s home and accused her to clinging onto you.
That Gwen
was standing in the way of her getting ‘ tru wuv’ – meaning you.”
Ethan closed his eyes and shook his head. “ No, she didn’t.”
” Oh, yes, she did. I was there. I saw everything. Theresa was
hysterical.”
“ Define hysterical.”
“ In her best Theresa manner, she managed to bulldoze her way into Gwen’s house and threaten her directly. The girl is unhinged, Ethan, and your wife is pregnant.”
Their food came and Kay dove into hers right away.
“ What am I supposed to do Kay?”
“ Tell that crazy bitch that Gwen is divorcing you. Maybe then, she’ll leave he alone.”
” Good. The sign the divorce papers, Ethan. Let Gwen have her freedom.”
” But, we’re a family. I bought a house for us.”
“ Ethan, you had a chance to be with Gwen. Oh, say, FOUR YEARS. But, you let the disaster known as Theresa come between you. And Gwen’s had enough. She doesn’t want Theresa in her life, and she knows that as long as you draw breath, she would have Theresa in her life. Ethan, just chalk this up to the ‘ I fucked up’ column. Too little, too late.”
“ I just wanted a family.”
” Ethan, I know you’re bummed about not knowing Daddy when you grew up,
but
that’s life. You have your health, and Gwen’s pregnancy is going well.
You’re
going to be a Daddy, and do fine. Why don’t you work on Ethan for
awhile.”
” When did you get so smart?”
” I’m not smart. I’m the poster child for fucking up one’s life. I’m
barely
legal, knocked up by a guy who doesn’t love me and who I’ve loved for
forever.
He hardly acknowledges my pregnancy. I’m not smart at all.”, Kay said
quietly.
Ethan reached out and touched his sister’s hand. “I’ve got an idea. Why don’t you move in with me?”
” What?”
“ I could use the company. You are my sister. We could get to know one another finally. With my job at Crane Industries, I’m going to be traveling more. When I’m away, it would be nice to know that someone’s looking after the house.”
” Ethan, the last thing you need is a pregnant woman around.”
” Kay, you’re wrong. I think you need space too. I know you’re at
Tabitha’s,
but that’s right next door to Dad’s
house. I have a room on the main floor. It’s called the ‘Mother-In-Law
Suite.’
That’s what it is – large bedroom, a sitting room that you could turn
into your
home office, where you can study, and your own bathroom. You’re
attached to the
rest of the living areas of the house.”
” Weren’t you going to take it for yourself?”
” Actually, no. I love the views from the master bedroom upstairs, as
well as
the deck. And, I don’t need a media room.”
” Um…it would be good to have my own space. Tabitha has been great, but
it IS
too close to Dad….I can decorate it the way that I like?”
” Absolutely.”
” Then you’ve got a deal, Ethan. I’ll move in.”
“ Well Simone, how did you like those stories?”
” I thought they were fabulous, Mr. J.”
” You going to be ok while I’m gone? It will only be a few days. My
wife’s
being honored by some women’s group in
” Yes.”
“ Simone, is there something else you want?”
Simone took a deep breath. It was now or never. She hoped this was the right move.
” Mr. J, would you tell me about your daughter?”
| Chapter
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Chapter 25 |
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