Devastating Secret™

Family Matters

You still haven't told him yet." Eva whispered in Roland's ear.

"I know. I know."

"What are you waiting for?"

"I think...maybe ...I don't know," Roland replied, running his hand over his face before turning away from the scene before him. Noah had returned from his trip and was running around like he was the same age as his kids. For Roland, it was a sad and joyful thing to see.

"You took too long in the first place." Eva pointed out as she followed him. "I can soften him up for you if you like."

Roland turned to face her with a scowl. "There's no need for that." He told her coldly.

Eva frowned, not understanding why he was upset, but pressed her case anyway, "I hate keeping the secret. I promised him I won't do that anymore."

Roland chuckled darkly, "What's one more, Eva?" Eva frowned, and her eyes narrowed, but before she could speak Roland spoke again, "We both know he doesn't know everything about you. So, keeping my little secret shouldn't bother you so much."

Eva stared at him as if seeing him with new eyes. "You've been checking on me."

"Actually, Roni did," Roland admitted. "She had a few choice things to say about you."

Relaxing, she asked, "And you believed the words of a bitter woman?"

"No," Roland began as he straightened to his full height and looked down at her. "I believed the words of a highly efficient Interpol Agent."

They stayed like that in their silent face off for a few eternal seconds until Eva turned away and said "Suddenly, this is about me. Interesting."

"I'm just saying, Eva..."

"Don't call me that," Eva ordered in a deadly tone. "That nickname is reserved for loved ones."

He wasn't one. The words went without being said, but Roland wanted to know just how far down he had fallen in her eyes, so he asked, "I take it my stay here as a privileged guest is soon to be over?"

"It was over the moment I read the DNA report," Eva confirmed as she walked off.

Eva meant that he was family, not a guest, but Roland took it a different way and packed his bags that night.

He left while they were asleep and informed them of his decision by leaving a note on the nightstand. Nowhere written in the contents he mentioned his relation to Noah.

"Son of a bitch!" Eva cursed as she read the note.

"I guess he finally made a decision," Noah concluded.

Eva narrowed her eyes as she contemplated telling, Noah but the problem with telling him was that it wasn't her secret to tell. "Fucking hell!"

"So, he left. Why are you so angry?" Noah asked as he watched her.

"I just think he should have the decency to speak to us face to face instead of crawling out of our home like a thief in the night!"

It was Noah's turn to frown as he appraised her. "Did something happen between you and Roland?"

"What?" Eva asked, puzzled then blushed as she assured, "No, nothing like that!"

"Why are you blushing then?"

Eva smiled brightly as she replied, "So it just occurred to you that you left your wife home alone with a handsome bachelor."

"Why aren't you answering me, Eva?"