After the dark of sadness comes the glory of happiness!

An unexpected visit!

Steffy and Thomas quickly got used to the idea of their parents back together. For Steffy a dream came true. She had never given up her hope that her parents would one day get reunited. Thomas had also given up his remaining doubts. During the video chats and phone calls, it was impossible to miss how happy their parents were together.

It was quite difficult for both of them to keep it a secret. They had promised not to tell anyone about the relationship and that became a real challenge for both of them. It would have been such a satisfaction to rub it under Brooke's nose or share the whole story with their grandparents. Not wanting to lie too much, Steffy and Thomas had told their grandparents about the family dinner and the day they had spent together. It was all too obvious that their grandmother was dying to know what Ridge and Taylor's relationship was like and that she still prayed her son would find his way back to Taylor. Steffy and Thomas found it very difficult to keep their grandmother in the dark, but on the other hand, they could also understand their parents' reasons for not wanting to make their relationship public at this time. It was obvious that once this news started making the rounds, there would be a lot of discussion and turmoil. So it was probably wise to put it off as long as possible.

At any rate, Taylor and Ridge felt no urge to tell the family about their relationship yet. They enjoyed the undisturbed togetherness. That evening, they had made themselves comfortable at home. Actually, they had planned to go out for dinner. Ridge had even made reservations for a table, but by the time they were both winding down with a drink after work, they were so relaxed and cozy that neither of them felt a desire to get up and get ready. Instead, they had heated up some leftover pasta. They were lounging on the couch. Taylor was giving Ridge a massage, and he was lying there completely relaxed, enjoying the treatment. That's when the house phone rang. They both looked at each other in surprise; this could only be security, who guarded the building at night.

Taylor scrambled to her feet and answered the call. When Ridge joined her as well, he noticed Taylor had an astonished and partly frightened face.
"No, no that's right! You can send him up." Visibly irritated, Taylor hung up.
"Who's coming for a visit at this time?" Ridge was getting more curious.
"You're not going to believe it. It's my father!"
"Jack?! I thought he was in South Africa?"
"That's what I thought, too. He wasn't supposed to be home for another month, but apparently he's on his way to see us right now."
"And he didn't announce himself at all?"
"No! I would have told you that. I'm as surprised as you are!" Ridge noticed how nervous and frantic Taylor was.
"You don't seem too excited about it?!"
"Yes, I am! Of course I'm excited to see him, it's just that... he has no idea about us. He doesn't even know we're in touch. I wanted to tell him all this in person." Ridge gave her a stunned look.
"You never gave him the slightest hint?"
"No, we just wrote each other a few short emails now and then, and he was often unreachable for days. Besides...I mean...you can't just explain something like that in an email." Ridge understood what she was getting at.
"Well, I guess he'll find out now." He was far more relaxed about the situation.

As if on cue, the apartment doorbell was already ringing. Taylor hurried before opening it, taking another deep breath.
"Hey Dad! Good to see you."
"Hello my girl! I hope I did a good job with the surprise!"
"Indeed, I would have expected anything, but not you!"
"I missed you! I have so much to tell you, but now let me look at you, we haven't seen each other for so long. You look good! San Francisco still seems to be doing you well."
"Yes, but that's not all! Because I have something very important to tell you..." But Jack was already on his way to the living area and there he couldn't trust his eyes. There stood his former son-in-law, whom he had thought to be out of his daughter's life for good. Ridge extended his hand to him.
"Jack, nice to see you again! How are you?" Jack ignored his greeting. He just gave him an icy look. He turned to his daughter.