Haunted Nights, Chapter 37
“ Well, well. You’re finally here, Eve.”
“ Yes, Mother.”
Just then, a young woman burst into the room. “ I’m so sorry, Dr. Johnston.
I told her to wait as I went to check to see if you wanted a visitor, but
she was gone when I came back.”
Tanya waved her hand. “ It’s fine. Leave us alone.” The maid left.
“ So, Eve, you finally come back home. I wonder, if your DAUGHTER hadn’t
found us, would we be having this conversation?”
“ No, Mother, we would not.”
“ Well, then, I guess it’s fortunate that your YOUNG daughter, wandering
around the world, BY HERSELF, latched onto your father. She was lucky that
she met up with Warren. What if it had been someone nefarious! What kind
of parent are you?”
“ Watch it, Mother. I’m NOT the kind of parent who abandons their child
in her darkest hour.”
“ No, you’re the kind who lets their child wander the world by herself.”
“ Simone was an adult. I couldn’t stop her.”
“ Hmmf. Sounds familiar.”
“ Well, you’re calling Simone my daughter, so she told you about me.”
“ Yes, she did. Right upon her return from New York. I was skeptical. Your
father, though, believed her immediately.”
“ I see. So, of course, you demanded DNA tests.”
“ Of course.”
“ And, they came back?”
“ The preliminary ones. She’s our granddaughter.”
“ Yes, she is.”
“ Why are YOU here, Eve?”
“ Seeing Simone made me realize that I have to tell my husband and daughter
about you. But, I wanted to see you first. “
“ Why?”
“ I don’t know, Mother. Mainly because the jig is up. I can’t heal my family
without risking it. “
“ DOES your husband really not have a clue? Simone doesn’t think he does.”
“ No, he doesn’t. He’s going to be so hurt.”
“ Simone is a wonderful girl.”, Tanya said quietly. “ She’s very direct.”
Eve laughed. “ She gets that from her father.”
“ What is her sister like?”
“ Whitney?”, Eve sighed. “ I think Whitney is going to be even more mad
at me than TC will be, if that’s possible. No way around it, my life as I
know it is over.”
“ Well, let’s go see your father.”
“ Mr. J, are you sure about this?”
“ Of course, I’m sure. I want my will and trust people in here tomorrow
morning. There are things that must be done. My daughter and my GRANDCHILDREN
are now back in my life. They have to be provided for.”
“ But, Mr. J, don’t you think that you should ask them first?”
“ Ask them about what? There’s nothing to ask. They are my heirs, and they
will be provided for. What have I been working for all these years?”
Just then there was a knock on the door.
“ Come in!”, Warren barked.
“ We have company, Warren Dear.”
“ Company? What com………oh my God.”
“ Hello Daddy.”
Jonah’s mouth opened in shock as he watched Eve go over to Warren, who
hugged his daughter fiercely. He kissed her.
“ Welcome home, Princess.”
Eve looked at her father and could see the sincerity in his eyes. “ Oh
Daddy.”
“ Your baby girl is here. She’s wonderful.”
“ Yes, she is.”, Eve said with tears in her eyes.
“ Speaking of Simone, I think it’s time for a family reunion. Jonah, go
get Simone.”, Tanya ordered.
Eve hadn’t noticed Jonah, but stopped to look at him. Once Jonah left,
“ Is he a friend of Simone’s?”
“ Jonah’s a fine young man.”, Warren replied.
“ He was sleeping on the couch when I first came home.”, Tanya said.
“ Tanya..”
“ Warren doesn’t see any flaws with Jonah.”
“ Whereas you’ve never seen the good in him.”
Eve raised her hand. “ I get it. He may or may not be romantically involved
with Simone. He’s not my problem right now. He’s the least of my worries.”
“ Eve, is my other granddaughter with you? Your husband?”
“ No Daddy.”
“ Eve came to see us alone.”
Simone was working on her latest paper when Jonah came in.
“ You want to proofread my paper so far while I take a break?”
“ You’re going to be taking a break anyway. You’re wanted at the main house.”
“ What’s up?”
“ A new visitor.”
“ A visitor? Who?”
“ Your mother.”
“ Um, excuse me, but I thought I just heard you say that my mother was
at the main house.”
“ That’s exactly what I said.”
“ Wow.”