Chapter 11 First Tour Date #4
Greg moved away from Veronica, and followed her line of sight.
He noticed that Katie and Wendy were standing beside a door on the far wall, almost as if they were guarding the entrance.
‘That’s a little strange,’ he thought as he continued to move around Veronica, positioning himself between her and Aunt Janet.
He glanced back over, noticing that the girls were still rigid at attention like Marines guarding the Embassy.
‘Why are they so stiff?’ he thought. Immediately he picked up his scan, observing the entire room as a sense of danger hit him.
‘Those girls grew up in the Mafia according to Keith. What are they afraid of?’ He kept scanning, but didn’t see anything.
‘Maybe I’m just being paranoid,’ he thought.
“Greg?” Veronica asked in a very soft voice. “Is there something wrong? You seem slightly out of sorts.”
“It’s the girls,” he said without pointing. “Do they look alright to you?”
“Well,” Veronica slowly began as she turned toward him.
“Either Cassie or Carry is having a very bad day right now, and they are being extremely protective.” She laid her right hand on his left shoulder.
“Don’t worry about it too much. You know when a woman has that time of the month it can be overwhelming sometimes. ”
“I guess you’re right,” he gently replied. “It just seems off somehow.” He paused as he searched for the right words. “I just don’t want to be the cause for Carry to be embarrassed by my presence.”
“You still love her, Greg. I can see that.” She looked deep into his eyes. “You are so conflicted inside. You want to be here and there at the same time.”
“I admit—that I am worried about Carry. I just don’t know what to do or how to react,” he allowed with slight frustration in his voice. “I feel helpless right now.”
“Well, you needn’t worry. Billy is heading over to check on things.” She kissed his cheek softly. “Let’s take our seats, dear.”
Cassie slowly helped Carry sit upright beside the sinks while Wendy finally eased the restroom door open enough to slip back inside.
Katie followed immediately afterward. Cassie pointed to the purse on Katies arm, waving her over to retrieve the mascara so Cassie could help Carry get her makeup fixed.
Katie realized that the ‘princess’ was commanding her to provide assistance.
“Everything good out there Wendy?” Cassie asked casually, though her eyes stayed fixed on Wendy.
“Nobody suspicious,” Wendy replied quickly. “Billy’s heading this way though.”
Cassie exchanged a brief glance with Katie before helping Carry up to her feet.
Carry immediately moved toward the mirror, stopping cold when she saw her reflection.
Her mascara had streaked badly despite Cassie’s efforts to clean it away.
Her eyes were swollen red. “Wonderful,” Carry muttered weakly.
“You’ve looked worse,” Wendy teased softly, trying unsuccessfully to lighten the mood.
Cassie grabbed fresh towels and began helping Carry clean herself properly while Katie retrieved makeup from her purse. Katie found her mascara and a couple of makeup cleaning wiped. “Here, use these,” she offered, just not with a smile. Katie looked like she was unhappy with the situation.
“Eyes up,” Cassie instructed gently. Katie reacted instinctively and moved back toward the door as Carry steadied herself on the sink.
“Slow breaths. You’re not walking back out there looking hunted.
” Carry closed her eyes briefly and nodded.
A few minutes later, the restroom door opened and the four girls stepped back into the dining hall together.
Billy was already waiting nearby, leaned back against the wall.
The moment he saw Carry’s face, his expression shifted immediately.
He turned off the wall toward the girls. “Carry?” he asked carefully.
“I’m fine,” she answered too quickly. Billy looked directly at Cassie, then Wendy, then Katie. None of them spoke.
“Right,” Billy replied slowly. “Which means you’re absolutely not fine.
” Carry lowered her eyes. Billy stepped closer, lowering his voice.
“You don’t have to explain it right now.
” He glanced toward the banquet room table.
“But you and I should talk about this later tonight. Privately.” Carry hesitated, then gave a faint nod.
“Good,” Billy said softly. “Now let’s get through dinner first.”
The group made their way back to the dining tables and found their assigned seats.
They settled in, adjusting their seats to the table.
Before anyone could say anything else, James’ amplified voice suddenly echoed from inside the banquet room.
“Ladies and gentlemen, before we begin tonight’s meal,” James announced warmly, “Veronica has someone very special joining us this evening.” Everyone was now focused on James, standing at a small podium behind and to the right of the table as seen from the end.
“This person has travelled a very long and difficult road to join us tonight.”
“Who do you think that is?” Carry whispered to Cassie, sitting to her immediate right.
“I haven’t a clue,” she whispered back, shaking her head.
Veronica turned in her chair, looking directly at Greg on her left, then over to James at the podium and back to Greg.
She gave him a knowing look, probing him for the information she knew he had.
Greg just smiled back. “You are going to love this,” he assured her with a soft smile, placing his right hand on her left thigh. “Trust me.”
“Alright, dear,” she replied then gave him a strong wink with her right eye which Cassie and Carry could clearly see from only a few seats away on the right side of the table.
Veronica spun completely to her left now, facing James.
“Do please continue before the suspense of the moment fades,” she said melodramatically.
“Aww, c’mon V. Let me enjoy this, just a little bit. Greg and I worked so hard to accomplish this for you.”
“Greg?” she asked incredulously as she turned back to him. “I knew you’d have something to do with this.”
“It was James’s idea. I just assisted in the transportation,” he eeked out slowly. “I think we should let him finish.”
“Indeed.” She turned back to James. “Do continue,” she said, folding her arms across her chest now.
“Thank you, V.” James straightened up fully. “Now, this special person has known you for your entire life.” She sat up, arms dropping to her side. “Aunt Janet!” he announced with a happy voice and broad smile. “Please step into the light!”
Aunt Janet had been standing there, fidgeting nervously, watching everything.
Now that the time had come, she felt so nervous she could barely move.
It took about ten seconds for her body to respond, but finally she started walking forward out of the shadow just fifteen feet away from the podium.
“Hello, daughter,” she called as the light started to reflect on her face while her hand reached forward.
Her movement wasn’t graceful or elegant, but it continued forward until she was fully in the light. “I’m so happy to see you, my child.”
Veronica dropped her arms down to her side; her expression shifted from distrust to surprise.
Her jaw dropped open and shock set in. She closed her mouth as she leaned forward, watching in disbelief as Janet Reed emerged fully into the light in front of her very eyes.
She jumped up and ran to Aunt Janet, gleefully sounding as she moved.
“Aunt Janet!” she cried aloud with a joyous voice. “I can’t believe that you are here.”
“I have desired to be here for so long, my child,” Janet said soothingly as they embraced in a tight hug. “It’s been a dream of mine for a while. I told Greg about it and then he and James conspired this whole setup for tonight.”
Veronica spun around and looked directly at Greg. “Thank you so much for this,” she said, tears starting to form in her eyes. “This means so much to me.”
“It’s the least we could do, after everything the two of you have been through in your lives,” Greg said. “Isn’t that right James?”
“Absolutely Greg,” James confirmed. “But, the question remains now. Why is she such a special guest?” The table suddenly buzzed with conversations as they speculated about the specialness of Aunt Janet.
Carry looked at Greg, saw the smile at the corner of his mouth and realized this was so much more than anyone would have expected.
“Tonight—it is my privilege to rejoin a mother to her daughter after a lifetime of separation. Welcome home, Janet. Where you truly belong.”
Veronica was stunned. ‘Mother and daughter,’ raced through her head. ‘Did James just say mother and daughter?’ Perplexed she looked at James who gave her a nod, telling her that it was finally time for the truth to come out before it was discovered by the media. “Mom?” Veronica barely got out.
“Yes, daughter. Mom.” They embraced again, warmly. “I am your true mother.”