Unexpected Happenings, Chapter 60
by SIPort
Eve looked over at her daughters.
“ You two are fidgeting.”
“ Mom, can you blame us for being nervous?”, Simone asked. “ We’re going
to meet our grandparents. Why won’t you tell us what they’re like?”
“ Because you have to form your own opinions of your grandparents. I haven’t
spoken to my parents in over twenty-five years, Simone. That should tell you
what kind of a relationship that we had. “
“Do…do you think they don’t want to meet us?”, Whitney asked quietly.
“ I think, it would be best for everyone if nobody had any expectations,
good or bad. We’ll just see what happens…ok?”
Whitney and Simone nodded.
“ Ladies, we’ll be on the ground in Boston in fifteen minutes. Please buckle
up.”, the Pilot told them.
Eve tipped the bellhop. She had gotten a two-bedroom suite. Whitney and
Simone came out into the living room.
“ Mom, are you ready?”, Simone asked.
Eve smiled. “ Yes, I am. You both ready to tour Boston?”
The girls nodded and they all got into the elevator. Once they were in the
lobby, Whitney spoke up.
“ Mom, you and Simone should go touring by yourselves. I have some sights
I want to see on my own.”
“ Whitney, what are you talking about?”, Eve asked.
“ I called up a couple of friends from High School who live in Boston. They
told me that they would show me around.”
“ But, Whitney..”
“ Mom, come on. I haven’t seen these guys in a long time. I’d like
to see them. It’s not like you, me, Simone haven’t spent a LOT of time together
over these past few weeks. I want to see my friends.”
Eve sighed. “ Ok. I guess I understand.” She looked at Simone. “ You going
to desert me too?”
Simone smiled as she shook her head. “ Nope. I’m ready to party with you,
Mom.”
“ Ok. Well, Whitney, have a good time with your friends.” Eve gave her a
kiss. “ But, I want you to meet us for dinner at that Italian restaurant at
seven. Ok?”
“ Ok, Mom. I’ll be there.”
Whitney watched her mother and Simone leave. She then found her way to the
train station. She had made appointments alright, but none of them were with
old friends. She didn’t know why she had hid this from her mother, but
she didn’t want to say anything about it unless something positive happened.
Eve sat with Simone at the restaurant.
“ Did you have a good day?”
“ Mom, it was great. I’m glad we got to spend the time alone with one another.”
“ Me too.”
“ I think this vacation has been good for everyone.”
“ Yep.”
“ Simone…”
“ Yes, Mom?”
“ Why haven’t you written your father?”
Simone looked down at her empty plate. “ I just don’t know what to say.”
“ Simone..”
“ Mom, I don’t hate Daddy. I think that should be enough for now. I just
don’t know how I’m going to deal with it all when we get back home. I’m just
beginning to accept that you two won’t be married. Then, I have to accept
Chad as my brother. And, if that wasn’t enough, now I have to accept this
little brother or sister with Mrs. Bennett? Isn’t that a bit too much to ask?”
“ Simone, the baby’s not at fault.”
“ I know that, Mom. But, one step at a time, ok?”
“ Ok.”
Whitney smiled at her mother. She had planned to be a little late, even
though her appointments had been finished hours ago.
“ Hi, Mom. Hi, Simone. How was today?”
“ Fine. And, I guess the meetings with your friends went good?”
“ It was great to see them, but I’m starved! You know, poor college students,
surviving on Ramen noodles.”
Eve laughed and motioned for the waiter to come over.
Eve listened to Whitney and Simone argue over some movie star’s dress in
a magazine. They were waiting in line for the ferry at Woods Hole. The guard
came up to her window.
“ Name of reservation?”
“ Russell, Eve.”
He smiled. “ Yep, you’re right here. Drive on up.”
Eve drove onto the ferry. Once they had found a place to park, she turned
off the car, and called out to her daughters.
“ Come on, girls. Let’s go up top. Bring a jacket; it’s always sort of cool
on the water.”
Whitney and Simone did as they were told, and before long, the three of
them were on the top deck watching the rest of the activity of the ferry.
Eve sat there, watching her daughter behind her big sunglasses, as they
took in their first ferry ride to a place where she had spent every summer
of her life until the year she met Julian. Her heart stopped a couple
of times when she recognized a few people from her past, but they had ignored
her presence. Eve smiled slightly as she took in her daughters’ innocence;
she honestly didn’t know what was going to happen. But, she knew, despite
her warning, that her daughters were nothing but hopeful about meeting their
grandparents. Eve said a silent prayer all the way on the ferry. She wanted
her parents’ hearts to be open to their granddaughters. She wanted that for
her babies.