Haunted Nights, Chapter 33
They were all sitting in the Library when the doorbell rang. In walked
a representative from the DNA Lab. Simone opened her mouth and they took
three samples.
” How long before we have an answer?”, Tanya asked.
” Well, considering that we already have the sample of your daughter’s
DNA on file. To make the most basic of evaluations doesn’t take more than
forty-eight hours. “
” That soon?”
” It’s the beginning profile, but we’ll know if this young lady is your
daughter’s child. The more elaborate profile will be finished in six weeks.”
” Thank you.”, Tanya replied.
Once the man left, Simone turned to her, “ How do you have my mother’s
DNA?”
” And old hairbrush.”
” Oh.”
” Warren kept it, and when they began with DNA, he sent it to the best
lab in the country. They were able to use the sample, and since it was hair,
use a couple of strands at a time, everytime they expanded the process. My
daughter’s on file. So, you heard the man, we’ll know the truth in forty-eight
hours.”
” Good. I don’t want you to have any doubts about me, M’am.” Simone turned
to Warren. “ I’ll go proofread those chapters at the guesthouse.” Simone
left, and Jonah followed.
Tanya sat looking at the fire.
” You’re afraid, Tanya. It’s ok to be afraid.”
” It could all be a scam.”
” I don’t believe that for one moment. From the minute I met that girl,
I had a connection with her. I didn’t know why, but now I do- she’s my grandbaby.”
” How can you be SO SURE?”
” Because, I trust my heart. And, I trust God. I don’t think God would
be cruel enough to answer my longest prayer and for it to be a fake.”
” She could be a con artist.”
” Tanya, she’s no con-woman. She’s our granddaughter.”
” What does she want from us? Money?”
” Tanya, if she does, I’ll give it to her. But, no, it’s not money.”
“ Warren…..what if it’s true, and ….what if she hates us? Ok, she already
adores YOU…what if she hates ME? After all, her mother does.”
Warren went to his wife. “ Tanya, she seems to be a level headed young
woman. She’ll make her own relationship with you. She took those tests,
because she doesn’t want YOU to have any doubts. She wants a relationship
with BOTH her grandparents.”
Tanya shook her head. “ No no no. I’ll just wait for test results.”
Simone and Jonah got back to the guesthouse.
” So.”, Jonah commented.
” I know..I know…I could have handled it ‘differently’. I didn’t need to
just blurt it out like that.”
” Maybe, but you got it out, and now, it’s all set in motion. The DNA tests
are being done, and in forty-eight hours, you’ll know the truth.”
” I KNOW the truth, Jonah. I got it out of my lying mother’s mouth!”
” Ok…YOU know the truth. Mr. J knows the truth. Tanya, on the other hand…”
” Is going to need DNA verification. I have no problem with that, Jonah.
I want her AND Mr. J to have verification. I want there to be NO doubt as
to who I am.” Simone began to cry. Jonah held her.
” Jonah, I have grandparents. I…..don’t even know what to do with them?
What does one do with grandparents?”
” I think they’re supposed to give you all the advice parents give, but
spoil you rotten too?”
Simone laughed a little. “ I already adore Mr. J.”
” And, he you.”
“ Tanya….”
Jonah shook his head. “ I can’t believe I’m saying this, and if you repeat
it, I’ll deny it. She’s high-strung. Bougie to the utmost. But, a smart,
brilliant, tough-as-nails SISTA. It’s a weird contradiction.On the outside,
she seems ‘Diahann Carroll.’, but her mind, and spirit – she’s a fighter.
I think it’s the journalist in her. She’s more reserved than Mr. J, and I
think it’ll be harder with her, Simone, but I can’t think of a better role
model for a young Black woman than Tanya Lincoln Johnston. She’s very fierce
in her own right. “
” I got those vibes too.”
“ Her life has been no less amazing than Mr. J’s. You should get her to
talk about her travels. Her work.”
“ I can’t wait to be able to begin our relationship.”
” I’m happy for you….what about your mother?”
” She’s on her own. “
“ You think she’s telling your family the truth?”
” I don’t know. To be honest, I doubt it. She lied to us all these years.
Why would anything change?”
” You know…it’s probably not as cut and dried as you make it.”
” Jonah, don’t. I know the lies. I know the ones she’s fed me my entire
life. I just feel sorry for my father. He’s gonna be blind-sided by all of
this. He REALLY loves and believes in my mother – completely.”
” Oh.”
” Let me get started on these chapters. You know, I feel like a kid, waiting
for Christmas morning to get here. I KNOW what the DNA tests will say; I
just want them over. “
“ You know, your life will never be the same once the tests come back.”
” Yeah, I know.”
Jonah shook his head. “ No, Simone. I don’t think you know. I don’t think
you’ve thought about the ramifications at all.”
” Ramifications? Jonah, I’ve found my grandparents. There are no ‘ramifications.’
Stop being so melodramatic.”
Jonah went back to his work, but thought about Simone, and how she didn’t
understand the scope of what was about to happen, if the DNA came back as
she thought.
“ TC, Whitney, come to dinner.”
TC and Whitney came into the dining room.
” Chinese, Mom? Great.”, Whitney said, as she sat down, filling her plate.
” I’m with Whitney, Eve. What did we do to deserve this treat?”
Eve filled her own plate, then looked down at it.
” TC…Whitney….we need to talk. I have something to tell you.”