Haunted Nights, Chapter 32
by SIPort

“ My Dear, I’m sure you’re sweet, but..”

Ignoring Tanya, Simone continued as she turned to Warren. “ It all began Mr. J, when you gave me that box of pictures. While looking in it, I found one that was familiar.”

” Familiar?”, Warren asked.

” It was the picture of a little girl and her pony Shelby. I knew that picture well.”

” How?”

” It was just like one my mother had. One of the few pictures she ever had from her life before marrying my father.”

” Are you telling me that your mother was one of my daughter’s friends?”, Warren asked.

” No, Warren. I think this little golddigger is trying to sell you that your mother is our daughter! Isn’t that right, you little schemer?” Tanya turned her ire to Jonah. “ YOU! YOU helped her plan this con, didn’t you.”

” Mrs. Johnston..”

“ She couldn’t get the background or the ‘ in’ without you. You’re the mastermind. You and your ‘ partner’ here…thinking that you can butter up Warren. That you can use him for his money. That’s what you’re doing! Well, you can think again. You’ve got 10 seconds to GET OUT of this house before I call the police. “ Simone and Jonah didn’t move. “ I said GET OUT!”

Simone turned to Tanya. “ Lady, you can call the National Guard if you want, but I’m not leaving here until I tell Mr. J my story.”

” Your story? You mean your CON job.”

” You want the truth? YES. I’m trying to tell you that MY mother is YOUR daughter. My mother’s name is Eve. I grew up thinking that her name was Eve JOHNSON Russell. Not Johnston. “ Simone pulled her wallet out of her purse and went over to Warren. “ Here are pictures of my family.”

Warren snatched the wallet from Simone and began looking at the pictures. One by one, he flipped them in the wallet until he got to one of Eve alone. He pulled it out of the wallet and stared at it. Simone could see tears forming in his eyes.

” Th…..this is your mother?”, Warren asked as he grabbed ahold of Simone’s hand. Simone could barely speak, but nodded yes. Warren’s hands grabbed Simone’s face, and he kissed her. “ My grandbaby….my grandbaby…she’s alive…she’s alive.”, he repeated over and over.

Tanya got up from her place at the table and went over to Warren and picked up the picture. Staring at it, Tanya looked as if she were going to pass out, but Jonah was there in time to stop her from falling, and helped Tanya to a chair.

Warren looked at Jonah, “ Did you check it out?”

” As much as I could. The timeline fits.”

Simone looked at Warren and Tanya. “ I’ll take any DNA test that you want. Just arrange it.”

Tanya looked at Simone, “ I’ll call a friend to do it today.”

” Fine.”

Tanya left, and Simone held hands with Warren. He picked up the pictures. “ This is your sister?”

” Whitney.”

“ She’s pretty. So, your father helped Eve raise Whitney? Good man.”

” Mr. J, Whitney is my full sister. She’s not the child that my mother was pregnant with in Boston.”

” Where is that child? Your mother gave him up for adoption after all? Then, why..”

” Mr. J, my mother told me in New York that, up until about a year ago, she believed that her son died.”

” Son? I had a grandson?”

” Have a grandson. My mother found out that the paternal grandfather of my brother had him kidnapped just hours after he was born. My mother was told she was dead.”

” And now she believes he’s alive?”

” She knows he’s alive.”

” Where is he?”

” She doesn’t know that. This same man is keeping the identity of my brother a secret. “

Warren put his head in his hands. “ No….no….. no… I can’t believe this.”

” Mr. J…”

” Don’t you see? Eve was left all alone. When Tanya and I abandoned her, we left her vulnerable to this bastard that stole my grandson. We didn’t protect Eve when she needed us the most. Not only did I lose my daughter because of that night, I lost my grandson.”

” Mr. J, I don’t know. I don’t know if my mother is ever going to see you again.”

” I don’t understand.”

” Mr. J, ALL my life my mother has fed me a parcel full of LIES. I grew up believing I didn’t have grandparents. I grew up thinking my mother had led the perfect life, and was the best role model in the world. My father hasn’t a CLUE that my mother had a baby before they met. And, my father is..well…..old school. It will matter to him. He’s going to think my mother played him for a fool, and to be honest, she did.”

” I don’t care. I want to see my daughter!”

” Mr. J, I don’t know if you will. I do know that you will have a relationship with at least one of your granddaughters. It’s my mother’s responsibility to tell my father and Whitney. I don’t have any control over that.”

” So…you want a relationship with your grandfather?”

” I’d love one. And, one with my grandmother…but, I know that will take some time. First things first with her – the DNA tests.”

” I’ll talk to Tanya..”

” No. I want to do everything her way, because I don’t want her to have ANY doubts about me.”

Just then, Tanya walked back in the room. “ I made some calls. Representatives from 3 labs will be here within the hour.”

Simone smiled. “ Good.”

Tanya went back to her seat and continued on with her brunch…but Simone noticed that she had the picture of Eve right next to her plate.