After 10 minutes or so Ginny offered Celia a cup of coffee, she took a few sips, aware they were letting her take her time before she spoke.
Celia shuddered slightly then there was a big sigh, finally she felt strong enough to speak.
"I know this won't make much sense at first, but please, just hear me out before you ask your questions." She looked at each of them for agreement & when they all nodded yes, she started.
"Ben, when your guys came to pick up Ginny & the boys the other day, they had a picture of that man on one of their cell phones & I just happen to see it. Don't blame them, I was being myself, snoopy & managed to bring them some coffee when they were looking at the picture. I knew as soon as I saw the picture, that the truth was going to have to come out. I couldn't wait any longer. I can't tell you how difficult this was. Your Da & I were hoping to take this secret to our graves. Your Da wouldn't know the man in the picture, because he only knew his sister, Adelia Dobbins. Adelia & I were best friends before grade school, into high school & college, until the day she died." Ginny & Whitney both gasped a little, & Celia had to take another few minutes as the tears returned. Another sip of coffee and she was ready to continue.
We were in our Senior Year at University when Adelia met Quinton O'Hara. Same year I met your Da Whitney. Adelia & Quinton fell for each other hard, they were stuck to each other like glue. Quint's family adored Adelia & Adelia's family thought so highly of Quint. They respected & admired him for how he was putting himself through college, for how he treated their daughter and sister Adelia. All of them 'cept one. Harrison Dobbins did not like Quint. Truth be told, I don't think Harrison liked anyone but himself. He was always jealous of his siblings, Martin, Adelia, Maryann & Caroline. Harrison was the oldest of the 5, then Martin and then the 3 girls. Harrison was always so bossy & thought it was his place to direct their lives after Mr Dobbins Sr passed. A few years later, when Adelia & Quint discovered they were expecting, they went to Mrs Dobbins & told her the truth. She wasn't happy that they weren't married, but that only lasted a moment & then she was delighted she was going to become a grandmother. They had been together for so long, they had just never got around to getting married, not that they didn't want to, they just could never set a date that worked for everyone & they were so in love, it made no difference to them. They even thought about eloping once, but she didn't want to upset her mother. So they kept waiting for the perfect time. Anyway, when they told her mother, hat's when the real trouble started. She & the girls started helping Adelia to plan a quick wedding. Quint was beam'n from ear to ear, he was so happy. One day soon after she took the boys, Harrison, Martin & Quint into the study & explained what she was going to do. She was adding Quint & the baby into the will. The way Quint told it was that Harrison's eyes went dead cold, then the next minute they were filled with rage, he got up and stormed out of the study. the wedding plans continued, but what they didn't know was that Adelia was further along that what she told anyone and 2 months later, just a few days before the wedding, Adelia gave birth 2 months prematurely, to you Ginny. the wedding was put on hold & delayed until a month later when mother & baby were both safely out of the hospital. the wedding was back on for a week after they got out, but 3 days later, Quint & Adelia were dead, and Ginny was safely tucked away in the nursery at our house."
The room was so silent, it seemed everyone had stopped breathing for a few minutes.
"I'm sorry, could I get some more coffee, please?"
Amy got up and got the coffee pot & poured some into everyone's cup, including her own.
"thank you dear" Celia smiled at Amy and looked around the room at each of their faces. They tried to smile, but they were in shock, waiting for her to continue.
"Quint & Adelia, & you Ginny dear," Celia patted Ginny's arm, "they had to come see me & your Da. They had asked us to be your God parents & they needed to pick up the signed papers, including their will regarding you Ginny, to take to their minister before the wedding & your baptism. They were going to be on the same day." We had agreed to meet them at one of the little coffee houses we enjoyed going to occasionally." Celia sighed & cried a little some more. They were all trying to be so patient, but sitting on pins and needles as this astonishing story seeped out of her.
"I was holding you Ginny, your Da was sitting there beside me," this time she looked at Whitney, as if she were looking for forgiveness for something which Whitney was sure wasn't her fault. Whitney touched here hand softly & left it there until she got a smile from her mother & she continued with her story. "Quint & Adelia asked if we could watch you for just a few minutes, they wanted to run down to the florist a few blocks down & check on the flowers for the wedding. To be honest, as tired as Adelia looked, I'm pretty sure she just needed a little alone time. She told us how nasty Harrison was being towards her & Quint & the baby. He wouldn't even look at the wee little babe, let alone hold her or say a pleasant word 'bout her. He made it very obvious how disappointed he was in his sister and how very much he resented now there was not 4 other heirs, but 6, since Mrs Dobbins had dealt very generously with Quint even before they were married. Anyway, we of course told them we'd be more than happy to watch the wee one. We'd already had enough of our own to know what to do. They got in their car, and a minute later we heard the explosion. Your Da and I looked at each other, with knowing in our eyes. I got up to go with him & he told me no, to stay & wait. He was only gone a few minutes & when he came back in the door of the coffee shop, I knew. I knew they were gone. I held you close Ginny dear & I just sat there & I cried & rocked you back & forth. We also knew that one way or another Harrison had a hand in it. Because Harrison didn't know us, he never came look'n for you. Because your sciency cop stuff wasn't what it is now, they just assumed all 3 of them were in the car when it "mysteriously" blew up. They found your little car carrier & some of your clothes & toys, the whole thing was just such a mangled mess. We took you home straight away & tucked you in our nursery. His family had never met me or your Da, they only new us by our first names. Anyways, it didn't make any difference, nobody ever came looking for you. We told the boys that a young lady had asked us to care for you when she got in the family way. Which was the truth. If anyone ever pushed it, we had all the papers that had been signed. They were left there on the table while they went to check the flowers. Legally, you were ours anyway Ginny dear. And we couldn't love you more if I'd born you myself. When Mike got shot & I heard a little of the case, I wondered then if Harrison had come looking again, but no one ever came again so we just left it be. Until a few days ago. I got a call form Prissy Parkins at the school who said there was man there showing pictures of a boy who looked an awful lot like Neil & was asking if she'd ever heard of Adelia Dobbins. She of course told him no, but since she'd been chum's with us also, she did recognize the name. She never knew the real story, but being my best friend, she knew enough & called me right away to warn me. Then when I saw the picture of that Dobbin's boy, I knew they'd come looking again. I knew it was Martin, he was the kind one, always trying to protect his little sisters & mother from Harrison's ruthlessness & general bad attitude. I don't know how he did it, but I know that I know that I know. Harrison did this. and that means you & my boys are not safe Ginny."
Now she was sounded more like her mother, Whitney didn't know what to say. She was simply astounded not just at the story she was hearing, but that her mother had kept it a secret all these years!
Celia turned to Ben with both determination & a look searching for reassurance on her face, "Ben, you cannot let my girls go back home until you figure out how he did this. Ask me any questions you want, but you have to fix this! You have to nail that little weasel to the wall!!!"
Ben cleared his throat and looked at her with the kindest eyes, "You know I love your daughter and will never let anything hurt her, that goes for Ginny & the boys too of course. But we do or say anything else, I want you to know, I'm amazed at how strong you are, and now I need you to be strong a little while longer." He looked at all of them, then at the guard, "Amy, I need you to radio to have Whitney's Dad picked up & brought over here, as discretely as possible, in an unmarked vehicle & make sure they aren't followed." He looked back at the 3 ladies & Sammy sitting there in their little huddle. "We are going to pray, I think right now we need His wisdom & direction more than anything else. Then we are going to put together all the evidence we have & come up with a game plan. To quote you Mom C, we're going to nail that little weasel to the wall!" He then his best Ben smile ever & that's when Whitney knew, she was hopelessly in love with him.
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