Home Again

CHAPTER 14- SECRETS

It was the day we'd decided to get Aiden's fingerprints. We had sent Arthur an email a week ago. Arthur's secretary told us that she'd be mailing us the prints. I went to work and within a moment, the woman who took my interview, Tanya, ran up to me and showed me the prints. "We've got it! The prints just got here. Run the tests." She said. "What about the rewards?" I asked. "A hundred dollars," Tanya remarked. "Alright. I'll get everyone in the city to come to Muriel's Hall to test it." "Okay,"

 I went back home to set everything up but to my surprise, instead of being at work, Hugo was in the living room. "Hey, you aren't at work today?" I asked. "No, I've got no appointments today. Also, Hazel's not feeling so well." He replied. "Why?" "She's pregnant again." He said. "OMG! Another pup! I cannot wait!" Hugo chuckled. "What about you, why aren't you at work?" "I've finally got the prints! I'll test them out on the whole city. Hey, you should try it out." I said, jokingly. "Should I?" He asked me. "Yeah, you do have rich habits." We both tittered. I asked him to come to Muriel's Hall at 6 pm too.

Tanya and I set everything up and waited for people to arrive. Soon enough, the hall was filled. We ran the tests but no one's prints matched. "Well, this was a failure," Tanya said. "Not entirely, hey, look, this could be Aiden! His fingerprints match!" I said, re-checking the system. "Who is it?" "H-Hugo Holden," I responded, as pale as mozzarella. "What?! Isn't he-?" "Yeah, he is. I've got to go. Bye."

I got a cab and came home as soon as I could. I had to think about what I was going to say I mean, his parents had lied to him all his life. "Hey, we need to talk," I said, quietly. "What's wrong?" "Your prints matched Aiden's.." "What? How is that possible?" "I-I don't know..." He clapped his palms onto his face. "I'm going to Wales. I need to sort this out with my parents." "I'm coming with you. You'll need some help." "Alright." 

We left on a flight the next day. Hugo stormed into his parent's house. "Why did you do it?!" He raged. "Do what? And what are you doing here?" Paula asked. They were drinking coffee. "I'm adopted, aren't I?" "How'd you find out?" "It doesn't matter. Why?" "Calm down honey," "Don't touch me," Hugo exclaimed. I was honestly scared. "Listen, a couple of men threatened us that if we didn't take you, they'd kill us." "SO YOU KNEW I WAS ARTHUR WALKER'S SON?" He screamed louder than ever. "Wha- No! A-Arthur Walker?" "Yes, I'm his son!" "We didn't know," Bruce said, shocked to the core.  "What do you mean?" "As I told you, two men came to us and threatened us to take you. They said that if we told anyone, they'd find and kill us. Then we took you in and treated you as one of our own." Bruce said. "Will you be to recognize the men if you see them?" I asked. "Yes... Probably. But how will we get to see them?" "We're going to fly to Arthur Walker's mansion." I declared.

"Are you alright?" I asked him when we were going to sleep. It was our first time sleeping in the same bed. "D'you reckon I'm alright? I'm going through a fucking identity crisis right now." He replied frustrated. I didn't let it get to me. I knew it was hard for him, so I kept quiet until- "Hey, hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I'm just so-" "I get it." I slept after that.

The next morning, we called up Arthur's secretary once more to ask when he'd be free to see his long-lost son. We flew in after lunch. I'd never traveled so much in my entire life. The mansion was gigantic. It was white with several rooms. A butler was standing at the to welcome us. "Good evening Mr. and Mrs. Holden, Mr. Holden and Mrs. Thompson. I'll escort you to sire." He said in a snobbish-butlerish accent. We were asked to wait in the living room. More like the living hall. I glanced over at Hugo. He seemed pretty nervous. I gently reached out to hold his hand and squeezed it. It is my way of saying, "Everything's going to be all right." He looked much more reassured. 

After 15 minutes of waiting, we finally met him. He was about the same height as Hugo. He was kind of still blonde but with greyish hair. His eyes were bright emerald green. He was wearing a blue suit with a midnight blue colored tie. He came across as the kind of rich dad or boss in a TV show. His eyes grew wide as he saw Hugo. "A-Aiden? Is that you child?" He stammered. Hugo was silent. Arthur tried to hug him, however, Hugo started, "There is something we must do first. Call out everyone who works for you, Mr. Walker." "Why?" He asked. "We suspect someone working for you might have kidnapped him and asked Mr. and Mrs. Holden to raise him," I spoke. "And who might this charming young lady be?" Arthur asked. "Right, I'm sorry, I've never formally introduced myself. I'm Savannah Thompson. I'm married to Hugo." "Married?" He asked, a bit shocked. He must've wanted to be there for his son's wedding. "Oh right, forgive me, you're the lass who organized the fingerprint matching technique in Muriel's hall in Pennsylvania." He remembered. "Yes sir," I replied quickly. "Alright then, Mr. Blackladder, call out everyone who works for me please." "Yes sire." responded the Butler. 

A lot of men and women came out, looking nervous. However, my eyes were laid on two specific men, who seemed overly nervous and matched Paula's description exactly. "Those two!" Paula pointed at the two men I'd been staring at. "They're the ones who handed Hugo over to us!" She said. "Ralph, Alec, come 'ere," Arthur called them out. "Why'd you kidnap my son?" He asked, with a fiery glow in his eyes. "It was Lady Amissa sire! She asked us to take baby Aiden and chop 'im off! Bu' we gave him to these people because they looked like friendly people!" Alec spoke. "Amissa? But why?" Arthur asked. A brown-haired woman rose from a chair I didn't even notice was there and said, "Because he reminded you of her! O-of Jina, your dead wife. I wanted you to be only mine. But these incompetent men gave him off to live!" "You three are done for. Amissa, you are no longer my wife. Leave my mansion immediately." With that, the woman left. "And as for you two, you're done working for me. You'll get your salary and you are to leave my mansion as well." Arthur's eyes were now filled to the brim with tears. Hugo ran up to him and hugged him. "Father," They both started to cry, embracing each other. 

That night, everything was at peace. "Thank you, Savannah, for everything. I really appreciate it." Hugo said to me. "It was my pleasure. I mean, we are man and wife now, aren't we?" I replied. "We are and I'm glad." 

We then went back to Pennsylvania after spending a week with Arthur. In December, we we even went to Switzerland for our honeymoon which we never got to have. We kept visiting Wales, Boston, and London to visit all of our parents. I eventually made up with Jacob and forgave him. I know that what he did was wrong, but I couldn't hold a grudge forever. And now, as I'm writing the end of this book, I have two beautiful children, my daughter Cassandra(Cassey) age 8, and my son,  Archer(Archie) age 5. Even though Hugo and I weren't supposed to get married that day, fate had a plan for us, and it turned out to be for the best. I had lots of fun writing this, and I hope you enjoyed reading it. 

XOXO

Savannah <33