“What can I do? Even if I won the case, I’d hate the negative publicity. And what if the court forced me to do a DNA test? The press would love that. I can see two full pages and TV shows dedicated to the saga.”
“Can’t wait to meet her,” Tina smiled.
Her parents ignored her.
*
The TV was on and it was loud. The radio was playing some soul music in the background.
“Tanya Hudson and daughter,” Malcolm announced and left.
Mother and daughter stood there, mother in a red dress and daughter in blue denim jeans over her full figure and a white grey V-neck cotton tunic, perhaps in defiance of her mother’s insistence on a dress.
Tina stared at Lavida. Hmmm, full-bodied but pretty good-looking. Tina’s mother stared at Lavida briefly but mostly concentrated on Tanya. “I think I’m better-looking,” she concluded.
“Well, come on and sit down,” Tina’s mother stood up. The visitors joined them.
Chris watched as his wife greeted Tanya and hugged her. He was afraid there might be some animosity, but she played her part well and was dripping with kindness. “I knew of you but I didn’t know you! You know, I’m sorry he broke up with you. You seem like a nice lady.”
Tanya eyed her suspiciously. “You playing mind games?” she smiled, looking at Tina’s mother sideways.
“She likes to joke,” Chris explained. “Please don’t speak too loud. We don’t want word to go beyond these walls...that’s why the TV is loud. Well, I’m glad you are getting along so well.” He turned to Lavida. “Your mother tells me your name is Lavida. I’m so glad to meet you finally.”
Lavida stared at his face. She was trying to seperate the great singer whose music she loved from a father she had never met before, and it was overwhelming and confusing. Suddenly tears ran down her face.
“Oh, come on!” Chris said, looking confused. “It’s a reunion. Happiness is the reaction.”
“How can you ‘reunite’ with a daughter you’ve never met?” Tanya rolled her eyes.
Tina produced a tissue and was wiping Lavida’s eyes. “It’s gonna be fine. I got me a sister now. Come on... we’ll get your face sorted out before you mess it up.”
She led Lavida out towards the stairs.
“Hey!” Tina’s father called. “I don’t know if it’s safe to let you two alone together yet!”
“Let them be,” his wife said. “If anybody needs watching it’s me and Tanya.”
“Do I look like I want to fight? But if your husband ain’t payin’, then I won’t be playin’.”
“Pleasure before business,” Chris said. “Want some wine before dinner?”
“If you are trying to get me high before business...” Tanya began and they laughed. Well, things were going alright so far.
*
It was half past nine P.M.
“Can Lavida spend the night, Mom? We are geting along really well,” Tina spoke from where the two girls sat, away from their parents on a seperate seat beside the TV. They had surprisingly really hit it off right from the start and were amazed at how much they had in common.
Tanya snorted. “I’m not so sure about that. I don’t want my daughter spoiled by the rich.”
“I’m an adult, Mom. I...”
“Honey as long as you are living with me you can’t just spend the night where you please. When you are through with your lawyer course...”
“Lawyer!” Chris exclaimed. “She’s studying to be a lawyer?”
“Marymount Oceanview university then law school,” Lavida said proudly.
Chris groaned. “Lawyer!”
“Just what have you got against lawyers?” his wife inquired. “Lawyers are there to help the good and the bad. It just depends which side you are.”
Tina had surprised Lavida by saying that she was rooting for them to get more than a million dollars out of this. “Dad’s got the money! Besides, I feel sorry you haven’t lived like me. I mean you can’t go to town and blow away ten thousand on clothes.”
“Did I tell you I won a reality show?” Lavida asked, then bit her lip. Was she trying to say that she actually had money?
“Really? What show? Are you serious? I didn’t follow that one, but I usually follow dance shows. I’ll find the DVD. Wow, I got a celebrity sister!”
“You are the one who lives in the celebrity house,” Lavida pointed out.
“So...let’s see the moves.”
Lavida obliged. Tina’s mother found them dancing when she came to check on them in Tina’s bedroom. She wondered if Tina had told Lavida about the video and what it contained, and she frowned. She asked the girls to go back to the living room as it was almost time for dinner and Julia was setting the dining table in the adjacent dining room.
At half past nine Chris excused himself and was soon outside the house, speaking on the phone.