"Wow, Whit, this information creates a whole new list of suspects. Not to mention how Ginny and your Dad are going to react and your Mom, she must be a nervous wreck! How in the world did she keep this all to herself for so long?"
"Ma is an ace secret keeper, she never once let any of us find our birthday presents ahead of time. But this one? this one must have been a really heavy secret to carry. My heart goes out to her. But you're right, this does kind of create a problem doesn't it?" Whitney sighed and looked at Ben. "Ben, as far as I know my parents have never kept a secret from each other in their lives, besides maybe one they got each other for birtthdays and their anniversary, stuff like that. I have to be honest, I'm a little worried what this will do to them."
Ben looked back at her and put took her hand in his. "Whit, your parents have the strongest relationship I've ever known. Don't worry, I am sure they will be ok. I've seen them fuss at each other and I've seen the looks in their eyes just minutes after. This might make things a little bumpy for them, but they'll be ok, you just watch and see. I'm more worried about how Ginny is going to take this. She hasn't said a word since your Mom told us the first part of the story. I see a storm brewing in her heart. You haven't seen it because you were talking with Mom C, but trust me the volcano named Ginny just might blow this time."
Before she could reply there was a knock at the door. The security guard followed procedure and in just a few minutes Whitney, Ben, Ginny, Mom C, Sean, (Whitney's father) and Sammy were settled in the living room, the boys back in their bedroom, and the truth was told.
When Mom C was done telling everything and apologizing to Sean and Ginny for not telling them the truth before, they all sat in silence a few minutes.
Whitney and Ben kept a close eye on both Sean and Ginny.
Finally Sean looked over at Mom C and put his arm around her. "Celia, I already knew. I admire you trying to keep Deli's secret all these years. That just proves I married the most loyal and trustworthy person I've ever known. I'm the one who should say I'm sorry, for letting you carry this secret by yourself for so long."
They all gasped a little, but Mom C more than any of them. Then she wrapped her arms around Sean, buried her head in his neck, and when he wrapped his arms all the way around her, the tears just flowed.
Whitney and Ben immediately looked at Ginny to see what her reaction would be. What they saw was not what they expected. Instead of the anger or confusion they expected. They saw her head bowed and lips moving, and a little smile on her face.
Whitney waited until Ginny's lips stopped moving for a few seconds, then reached over and toucned her hand, "Ginny, are you ok? Can I get you anything?"
At the sound of Whitney's voice Mom C remembered this was all new news to Ginny and left the comfort of Sean's arms to go to Ginny and hug her. "Ginny girl, I'm sorry, I should have told you long ago. I guess I just never thought about it much, like it was another life, someone else's life. I'm so sorry"
Ginny finally opened her eyes and smiled at Mom C, "Thank you, but it's ok really. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my chest. I always knew there was something odd about the story behind my birth and my arrival to your family. I never once doubted your love for me and I knew you were protecting me from something or someone. Just knowing, finally knowing, I feel like I can breathe. I think there was always a part of me, holding my breath. Waiting, afraid, of what the real story was. My imagination just ran away with me sometimes. But now, now I can breathe. And let me tell you the truth is so not nearly as bad as what I imagined!" Ginny even laughed a little bit.
They all released a little nervous chuckle. Suddenly Whitney found tears escaping down her cheeks.
Her mother saw them at the same time Whitney realized she was crying. "Whitney dear, why are you crying?" She reached over and hugged her daughter.
"Oh Ma! I just love seeing so much love and forgiveness in one room! You too never cease to amaze me! And I know we are no where near solving this murder, but I feel like we have a little mini happy ending right here and now!"
They all laughed a little more & a little louder this time, including the guard by the door.
Sammy was the first to bring them back to the moment and problem at hand. "Ok, so what do we do now, we have at least one new suspect, maybe even have to add his whole family to this list!", he tapped the pad of paper on the coffee table with his pen.
Ben cleared his throat, "I think what we need to do now is gather all the information we have and set up a suspect board. Sammy, can I get you to go to the office and pick up some supplies? Make sure you aren't followed of course. Maybe even change cars while you're there? Mom C, I know you don't like computers, but can I get you to tell me or maybe Whit your story and we'll type up all the information?"
She looked at Ben like he had 3 heads. "Can't I just write it down on one of your note pads? I really don't want to say all that out loud 3 times today. Besides, maybe I'll remember more details if I'm writing it down on paper, like when I write out my lists, I always remember more that way."
Ben smiled and nodded at her, "Sure Mom C, whatever is going to work best for you."
Sean looked at Sammy just as he was about to walk out the door, "Hold on there Sam, let me ride back with you and we can pick up some supper on the way back. That ok with you Celia? Ben?"
Celia patted Sean's hand and smiled, "Of course it is Darl'n, what a wonderful idea."
Ben was less agreeable, "I don't know, I don't want to take any chances that the murder is looking for any of you. Besides, we have plenty of food here."
Sean cleared his throat a little, "Ben, I don't think any of us wants to be cooking for this many people in that little kitchen tonight, lunch and snacks are one thing, but a nice big hot dinner? Nope, this is my treat, and you can trust me and Sammy, we'll be extra cautious, won't we Sammy boy?" Sean elbowed Sammy a little bit.
"You got it Ben, extra cautious. What's for supper?"
Ginny was the first one to speak up, "Not pizza please, or any fast food? if that's ok with you Da?"
"I'm with Ginny, no fast food. What does everyone want? Chinese, Italian, Steak?"
Sean looked at them waiting for an answer, when no one could decide he came up with his own answer, "Ok, I'll just surprise you!" He laughed a little and walked out the door with Sammy.
"Ok, what can I help with in the meantime?" Ginny was always the helper, always the "get it done" girl.
Whitney signed and looked around the living room, then looked at Ben. "Well for one thing, this place is a mess, let's get it cleaned up and then we can sit down and relax a little. Ma, why don't you take that notepad in my room, it will be quiet in there and we won't disturb you. Do you want a soda or some tea or coffee or anything?"
Her mother patted her hand, picked up the pad and a pen, "Yes Whitney, some tea would lovely, see if you can find a little bit of honey?" Then she went in the other room and shut the door.
Ginny went in the kitchen to start the tea, Ben and Whitney started picking up trash and dishes in the living room. They just got done with that when Whitney heard the tea kettle start to whistle. She found the honey and took the tea pot of hot water, 2 teabags, honey, cup & spoon on a tray into her mother. She left it quietly on the bed beside her mother, who barely noticed she had come in the room, and walked back out again. Just as she was closing the door her mother whispered, "thank you my girl" and went back to writing.
Since it looked like it was a livable space again, Ginny excused herself to go check on the boys, Whitney and Ben sat at the kitchen table with some coffee.
"I know I probably shouldn't be drinking coffee right now Ben, I probably won't sleep at it is, and this won't help."
Ben looked at her & laughed a little, she always did this when she was nervous, drink coffee or soda when she really didn't want any, "Then don't drink it Whit, you want me to get you some water or tea or something instead?"
"No, no, that's ok, I'll just hold it" Whitney thought to herself, 'why am I so nervous, what's wrong with me?', "the heat feels good in my hands, it's calming. Espescially after everything we learned today, I guess I just need to hold on to something warm."
Ben reached out, took her hand and scooted closer to her, "You could hold me Whit, I'm warm."
She looked up at him and saw him smiling half serious and half not. She laughed with him. "Why Chief! There is a guard in the other room, whatever are you thinking?" Then she reached over and snuggled into his arms for whatever few minutes they could steal before anyone came back into the kitchen. Not a word passed between them, no looks, they just sat there, hugging each other.
Finally Whitney sighed a little and loosened her grip on Ben, "Ben, I just want you to know, I thank God you are here with me right now. I don't think I, or any of us could get through this without you. I know I couldn't. I just am so glad to know you are here, not just because you're the chief and I know you, we, will get to the bottom of this murder, but because you are YOU, and well, I just, I just want you to know I'm glad you are here with me."
"You mean that don't you." He wasn't so much asking as he was confirming what he saw in her eyes, "Whit, when this is all over with, you and I are going to have a little talk. We need, no, I need to settle something. I hope you know how much I love you, but I need to know where we are going with our relationship. And after what I saw with your Mom and Dad, I don't want to wait much longer. I want what they have, for you and me, for us. You don't have to answer me now, I know, or at least I think I know, you feel the same way. But at some point, we have to make a public declaration, no more hiding it."
Whitney's eyes glistened with tears, happy tears. "Ben, I know I've been a little cautious in letting anyone besides family know, but you're right, I do feel the same way, and you're right, it's time we stop hiding. Besides, if what Sammy tells me is the truth, everyone already knows anyway." She smiled and even blushed a little as she looked up at Ben.
Ben leaned over and kissed her, he whispered "I love you Whit!"
She whispered, "I love you too Ben" and she kissed him right back.
A few moments passed and they heard the door to the boys bedroom close and they started to separate. They both looked at each other, smiled and stayed right where they were.
Ginny came in the kitchen, looked at them sitting together and smiling at each other, "Well, it's about time you too!!!" and she laughed, "It's definitely about time!"
Before they could continue their conversation the bedroom door banged open and the boys came running into the kitchen, both talking at once.
"Mom, Ben, we just remembered something! There was another man at the school the other day, right after the dead guy, we saw him out by the play yard and we remember it seemed wierd 'cus he seemed to be watching us!"
Ginny's face turned from one of laughter to fright in a second and she grabbed up both boys and hugged them tight.
Ben kept his cool, gave her a minute to do her mom thing, "Ok boys, you first Kaci, start from the beginning" Ben didn't let go of Whitney's hand, he saw the startled look on her face too, "C'mon Kaci, tell me exactly what you saw" He pulled out the chair on the other side of him and patted it for Kaci to have a seat. Then he nodded at Ginny for her and Neil to sit down at the table too.
Ben looked at her to help her relax and gave Whitney's hand a gentle squeeze, "Ok Kaci, start from the beginning, what did you see and what makes you think this other guy was watching you boys?"
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