CHAPTER 57
Evangeline and Adriana waited in the chamber where they usually held meetings. Their parents were yet to come down and the sisters were getting worked up. Evan stood up going back and forth. "Are we seriously not going to their room?" she asked her sister who turned away instead.
Mrs. Swiss walked in then. Trust Evan to push her sister into this again, she thought. "Good morning" she greeted both ladies and went to sit down, "Your father will be here shortly."
"Good morning, mom." The two chorused in almost a whisper.
Their mother instantly knew what that meant; her kids wanted answers. But they have all the answers, so what else did they want to know? She didn't need to know who instigated the move this time, they both had something to say.
Robert walked into the tense room. He dragged his feet hoping to delay the time it took him to settle down. He had finally settled with his wife and was in a good place. He didn't want anyone ruining the mood this morning. As he walked by his wife, she gave him a stiff smile. That wasn't good. He expected a bright smile. Whatever had happened the night before between them last night seemed to have vanish the instant they woke up this morning. His wife had dashed out of the room as soon as she was awake. He sat down stiffly on the chair. He was barely seated when his first daughter attacked him.
"Dad? Why would you say something so nasty that got your grandchild that worked up?" Adriana queried as soon as he was seated.
Mrs. Swiss looked at her daughter, surprised her first daughter was the one to get this rude. What was going on here? She would have bet Evan wanted this more than her. Now, with the grandkids involved, perhaps this was all Adriana. She didn't even greet their father. Mrs. Swiss was about to point this out when Robert speak up.
Robert seeing his wife about to respond quickly said, "A good morning to you too." Then he looking at Evan who was leaning on the wall, her stomach a little big, he said, "Why don't you sit."
He was being evasive, Evangeline noted with annoyance. She moved away and went to sit beside her sister. That way, the children were sitting facing the parents. It was funny to watch them. "Would you please tell us why I had to go with Ethan to his school to pacify him that he heard you wrong?" She stressed the 'you' while pointedly looking at her father
Mrs. Swiss decided to butt in "We still have no idea what you are saying. What did Ethan heard that got him upset?"
"The better question is what are you both keeping from us?" Adriana threw at her mother.
Her mother looked at her again, surprised "We haven't been keeping anything from you..." Then remembering something, she quickly added, "At least not deliberately." She started to suspect this had to do with the meeting with Noah. Had the kids heard something?
Just about then, Robert also realized his grandchildren had been playing outside while he and his wife discussed the meeting he had with Noah as they watched them play. Ethan did leave to do something in the room. Which was odd because he looked angry. But then, he had assumed his sister won the game, hence the anger.
He heard! "I don't want us all worked up over this. Ad, you know I wouldn't entirely hurt those kids. They are as well mine as they are yours. They are my first grand kid." looking at Evan, he added, "With some others, coming."
Evangeline instinctively robbed her stomach. "Then we need answers." She said softly, a small smile played at the corner of her mouth which she forced away. "I had thought I would be coming here for something else."
'I knew it' Mrs. Swiss smiled triumphantly, Evan had been the one all along. Ethan only fueled Adriana's resolve. She said nothing but let her second child finish off before saying her mind.
"But this here? It's annoying and also confirms it. You both haven't been keeping us detailed about everything. Why would you meet with Noah? We all agreed he is the enemy. Didn't we?" Evan asked, "So, why meet him without us knowing. Especially Ad. And what if it was some sort of twisted set up?"
"First, you have it wrong." Their mother said, "We didn't call for the meeting. Noah did"
Robert quickly added too, "We didn't even know it was him until I walked there and saw him. Trust me." he turned to Evan, "I was armed. I didn't go in blind."
"What did he want?" Adriana asked feeling hurt. Why had Noah contacted her parents rather than speaking with her? "Did he say anything?"
"Nothing important." Their mother said.
Evangeline knew better, "Mother?"
"He claims he didn't do it. Said someone else did it." She replied spitefully.
"Then I assumed that made you say he was better off where he was? Ethan heard that." Adriana looked at them both sadly. "How could you?"
"Do you believe him? With all the evidence we have. Surely you don't?" Mrs. Swiss challenged.
Adriana was upset. "Look, all I'm saying is, the kids are here with you. I didn't want that. Both of you put our lives in danger with this family wars going on. The least you could do is be considerate."
"Yes. Please be conscious of the words you throw around. The boy was upset." Evan said. Their father apologized and so did their mother.
"I'll make it up to him." Robert promised, "What does he like?"
"Chocolate." Evan said, "Cartoon costume." Adriana said. Both ladies giggled happily and said, "Maybe both."
"Okay." Robert agreed.
"And in the mood of gifts." Evan suddenly said, "Jason told me his parents were murdered." The expression on their faces was anything but surprised. They knew. This dampened her mood, "Why didn't you say something?"
Robert replied, "We just found out too."
"This is way too complicated," Evangeline complained bitterly.
