Authors: Donna Hill
Scandalous (26 page)
T
he week before Vaughn won her congressional bid in a landslide, she and Justin were married in a quiet, private ceremony with Simone and Chad, Khendra and Sean, Crystal and her new beau, and Vaughn's parents. Her relationship with her parents was still strained, but the healing had begun.
Several weeks later, Justin filed papers to formally adopt Simone and she happily changed her name to Montgomery.
Although the small ceremony didn't make the national news, it did appear in the society section of a local paper in Georgia.
Samantha read the article and then carefully tucked it away with the others that she'd stumbled upon in the attic. The articles that her mother had been keeping from her for years. She put the last of her clothes in her small suitcase, checked her purse for identification and her money, and went downstairs.
Janice stood when Samantha walked into the room. She bit down on her lip to keep it from trembling.
“I'm ready,” Samantha said, not wanting to meet her mother's pain-filled eyes.
“Are you sure this is what you want to do?” her mother asked in a tremulous voice.
“I have to.”
Janice nodded and walked her to the door.
“My cab is here,” Samantha said slowly.
Janice grabbed her daughter in her arms and hugged tightly. “I'm so sorry. I should have told you about your father a long time ago. One day I hope you'll find it in your heart to forgive me. I was so young and foolish and⦔
Samantha blinked back her tears and slipped out of her mother's arms. “I'll call you,” she said, and turned away.
“Tell your father that I'm sorry,” Janice whispered.
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When Samantha reached the airport, she checked her luggage and crossed the terminal to the bank of phones. With shaky fingers, she dug into her purse and pulled out the crumpled piece of paper that had her father's office number scribbled on it. She dialed.
Samantha held her breath as she waited for the phone to be answered.
“Montgomery, Phillips and Michaels,” came the crisp voice.
“Mr. Montgomery, please,” Samantha responded quickly.
“Please hold.”
Moments later, the voice that she'd imagined only in her dreams filled her ears. “Justin Montgomery.”
“Daddyâ¦it's Samantha⦔
ISBN: 978-1-4268-6903-7
SCANDALOUS
First published by BET Publications, LLC. in 1995
© 2010 by Donna Hill
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