Haunted Nights, Chapter 30
by SIPort

Julian held Eve, who was crying, in his arms.

” Eve, it will be alright.”

” Julian, how can you say that? It’s all over. My life is over.”

” It’s not over. So Simone knows the truth. She didn’t say that she was going to tell.”

” No, she didn’t. But…”

” So, maybe she’ll keep your secret.”

” No Julian. That’s not the point. Simone meeting me here meant that I have to come clean. I have to tell TC and Whitney the truth.”

” Eve, but that would mean….”

” Yes, I’m risking telling TC the truth. But, I have to. I have no choice. If I have a hope of saving my family, the truth will be it. “

” If you want to risk it.”

” I’m terrified, but have no choice.”

” Eve…..who is this HE that Simone was talking about.”

” He?”

” Yes, she said HE told her everything. That HE still loved you, but was getting old.”

Eve was silent for a few moments. “ My father.”, she replied quietly.

” Your father? But, I thought your family was dead.”

” Just part of my web of lies. My parents are very much alive.”

” But,…”

” Why did I tell everyone they were dead? Well, that goes back to when we were together. When my parents found out about the baby, they were horrified. It was completely unacceptable. They told me that I would have no part in their lives until I gave my baby up for adoption.”

” They wanted you to give our baby away?”

” Ordered was more like it. I told them on the spot to go to hell, and I’ve never spoken to them since.”

” Eve, that’s been decades.”

” I know that, Julian. But, our baby was all I had left. It was the only thing positive from our time together.”

” I’m sorry, Eve. Once again my cowardice cost you something – the relationship with your parents. If I had been a real man back then, and stepped up to the plate, you’d still have them in your life.”

” It’s no big loss.”

” I doubt that.”

” You haven’t met my mother.”, Eve said bitterly.

” Considering who my father is, even the worst parent looks appealing.”

Eve smiled slightly. “ Yeah, I see your point. But, my mother is a piece of work.”

” And, your father?”

Eve was a little quiet. “ My father let my mother run him. To the outside world, he was this take charge guy. But, my mother RAN our house. “

This time it was Julian’s turn to be quiet. He was processing things. Eve looked at him. “ Julian, what’s wrong?”

” Is your father Warren Johnston?”

Eve looked shocked. “ Yes, it is. How did you know?”

”The people I had looking after Simone had traced her to working for Johnston. I didn’t tell you because you said you wanted to give Simone her space.”

Eve sighed. “ Julian, even if you had told me, I don’t know what I would have done considering all the ramifications. “

” So, you’re a rich woman, eh?”

“ That’s HIS money. I’ve never wanted anything to do with it. Julian, talking about my parents and how I grew up doesn’t do anything but upset me.”

” I’m sorry, Eve. What do you want to do.”

“ Can we….take the Staten Island Ferry?”

” The Staten Island Ferry?”

” It’s always been one of my favorite things to do in New York. I’ll think as we go back and forth.”

” The Ferry it is.”

Simone hopped out of the cab at the address Jonah had given her. She rushed to the elevator, and when the doors opened, ran to the suite number of the company he was visiting. Simone was lucky – Jonah was just finishing his meeting and was out in the hallway. Simone spotted him, and ran right past the receptionist’s desk.

” Oh Jonah.”, Simone cried as she flung herself into his arms. Seeing that this was urgent, the man Jonah was speaking with motioned that they go to the empty conference room. Jonah pulled Simone inside and closed the door. He sat her down in a chair and held her hands.

” Simone, what happened?”

” It’s…it’s…”, Simone began crying all over again. Jonah held her for a few minutes, and then Simone stopped crying. She stopped everything. She was so quiet. So still. Jonah lifted her face to meet his.

” We’re going to go. There’s a limo downstairs, and the plane’s ready.” Simone nodded, and Jonah never took his arm from around Simone, as he guided her, first to the limo, then the plane. Once on the plane, he put a blanket around her, and let her fall asleep.

Back in Virginia, he took her back to the cottage and placed her in the bed. Before he could leave the bedroom, she called out to him.

” Please don’t leave me alone.”

” I’ll be downstairs. I’m not going anywhere.”

Jonah ordered himself and Simone some food. He put hers in the warming drawer, and was looking over some business papers, when Simone came downstairs a few hours later. She sat on the edge of the couch, curled up in an almost fetal position.

” It’s all true, Jonah. It’s all true. My mother is nothing but a liar. I can’t believe it.I heard the admission from her own mouth, and yet, I still don’t want to believe it. My poor father. Poor Daddy. Played for a fool from the get go by her She has destroyed us.”

Simone moved to get close to Jonah. He held her in his arms, and they fell asleep on the couch.

“ Well, well, well. What an interesting picture THIS is.”

Simone woke up with a start. Jonah was slower to wake up, and involuntarily groaned when he saw who was talking.

” Morning, Mrs. Johnston.”

Tanya Lincoln Johnston was home.