“I think you should ask your daughter about it directly,” Cindy replied.
“For the record, I disagree,” said Mattheus. “Lynch doesn’t deserve to have his life ruined over something like this. And neither does your daughter.”
“Have his life ruined? Who are you working for?” Aldon was aghast. “What about my daughter? She practically has a stepson she knows nothing about! And if Lynch could lie about this, who knows what else he’s hiding? Who knows what other love children he’d have in the future, with other women, over the years?”
Cindy took a step closer to Aldon who was trembling as he spoke. “Let’s not make this any worse than it is,” she said softly. “Call Tara right away and let her decide.”
*
Aldon flew to the phone, called Tara, told her where he was and demanded that she come to the suite immediately.
“That’s a man of action, if nothing else,” Mattheus murmured as Aldon spoke on the phone.
“She’s on her way here as we speak,” Aldon announced proudly, after he hung up. “I suppose the tone in my voice warned her that something was terribly wrong.”
“She’s quite an obedient daughter,” Cindy remarked.
That quieted Aldon somewhat. “Yes, Tara always was not only obedient, but good natured,” he remembered. “She was well meaning, kind. It wasn’t until her mother died that she became distant towards me. Almost as if she blamed me for her mother’s passing.”
“Could have been her way of grieving,” said Cindy. “It’s not so unusual, people often blame the one’s they are close to when someone they love dies.”
“I heard that from others,” Aldon noted, “But it was terribly hard for me, losing both my wife and daughter at the same time.”
“I am sure it was,” Cindy sympathized, thinking of Clint suddenly. “Loss is never easy.”
“You didn’t lose your daughter,” Mattheus interrupted, “she was just taking some space, building a new relationship with her young man. Look how she cares for you now, how she’s coming running.”
“You could put it that way,” Aldon relented a moment.
“But stop and think a second,” Mattheus’s voice got louder, “if you jump in now and destroy her marriage, you could really lose her forever then.”
Aldon didn’t like that. “Firstly, I am not destroying her marriage,” he objected. “Lynch may have done that all by himself. I am not the one with a child hidden somewhere. And secondly, when Tara sees I care enough to find out the truth, she will only come closer. It’s inevitable.”
“Nothing is inevitable,” Mattheus mumbled in a hushed tone.
Aldon looked strangely at Cindy again then. “Your partner has odd views,” he declared.
“We need to see all sides of a puzzle,” Cindy replied, “I see it one way and Mattheus sees it another. That way nothing gets overlooked.”
Mattheus appreciated Cindy’s comment, got up then and came over. “Okay,” he said softly to her, “now it’s time for us to leave.”
“Would you like us to leave, so you can be alone with your daughter?” Cindy asked Aldon then.
“Absolutely not,” Aldon instantly blocked it. “I need both of you here when Tara arrives. I want you to report the news to her.”
Mattheus backed off. “Sorry, but this is between the two of you,” he said.
“I demand it,” Aldon replied.
“We can stay while you talk to her,” Cindy offered, if that would give you a sense of support.
“It definitely would,” Aldon turned to her briskly. “Otherwise it might look like I’m making up stories in my head.”
“Of course, we’ll stay,” said Cindy.
“Thank you,” said Aldon, as Mattheus turned glumly towards the patio, with his back towards both of them.
*
In a few moments there was a soft knock on the door and Aldon flew over and opened it up. Tara, stunningly beautiful, with long blonde hair, suntanned, and dressed in a white summer, sun dress with hand embroidered flowers, came in and embraced her father warmly.
“What in the world are you doing here?” she asked, incredulous, looking around. “We’re all waiting for you over at the Aupres Hotel.”
“I know, I know,” Aldon said softly, betraying his nervousness as he shuffled back and forth.
Tara’s eyes glanced again over the room and suddenly, startled, fell upon Cindy and Mattheus who stood a few feet away.
“Who are they?” Tara asked, her silky brow furrowing. “What in the world are they doing here in your room?”
Cindy stepped a few feet towards Tara and extended her hand.
“I’m Cindy Blaine,” she introduced herself, “and the man over there is my partner, Mattheus.”
Tara took Cindy’s hand politely, confused. “I’m sorry, do I know you?” she asked.
“Sit down, Tara,” her father demanded.
Frightened by the tone of his voice Tara looked at Cindy beseechingly. Cindy smiled gently in return.