"What?" All three said at the same time, looking at her as if she were nuts.
"Just hear me out," Willow said, they nodded, and she continued, "It all started when I turned 21. I received a letter from my parents lawyer, they were killed when I was 5, this letter said that I was adopted. Later they found out that the adoption was illegal and that I was stolen from my birth parents. This came as quite a shock to them but they didn't know who my biological parents were and frankly they didn't want to give me back." Willow paused to judge their reaction. Natalie seemed to be thinking it over while John and Michael looked disbelieving.
"Then my parents were killed before they could tell anyone and I ended up in foster care till I was 14," Willow started again. "I went to college then started this business with out knowing this. Then I got the letter. I started my own investigation into it and found out where I was born. I was born in Atlantic City on the week of April 13th. In the hospital where I was born there were only 2 baby girls born and both were stillborn according to the hospital records your mother was one of the mothers. I believe that I was stolen from my biological mom and she was told I was still born, I have already tested my DNA against the mother of the 1st baby and it didn't match, so I must have been your mothers child."
John and Michael exchanged a look and John asked, "Then why didn't you go see our mom and talk to her?" sounding disbelieving, though in truth he was starting to believe that what she was saying could be possible. " I want to see this letter." He said. Willow pushed it over and as John picked it up to read she said, "I didn't go to your mother first because it would be cruel to give her hope if I am wrong. I have spent the last 2 years looking for my biological family and I didn't want to say anything till I was almost positive I was right."
"So, what do you want from us?" Michael asked, thinking that this made just a little bit of sense, though still very shocked.
"I purpose we take DNA samples and find out if I am correct. Then if they come back positive we take it from there." Willow said hopefully. She was really hoping that she had found her family. If the McBains were her family she was planing on moving to Lanview. This Natalie looked like she could be an interesting person, clearly John was in love with her, so maybe they could be friends.
John finished reading the letter and passed it to Michael who looked at it as well. John asked, "What other evidence do you have?" Willow handed all the documents that she had and sat silently while John looked it all over. As John looked over all the papers he was starting to see that Willow might be right. It all made sense except for one thing, he couldn't remember his mother being pregnant after Michael. He was looking at a document right now that said that she had been, and if she had been told it was stillborn that would be a reason she never spoke of it. He finally stopped looking through the papers and looked up, Natalie took hold of his hand and smiled reassuringly at him.
"Will you do a DNA test?" asked Willow looking at him pleadingly and again John was struck by her familiarity. It was her eyes John suddenly realized. She had his mother's eyes! At that observation John realized that Willow could indeed be his sister. "Sister," he thought, "that had a nice ring to it."
"Can we talk about it for a minute? This is a lot for us to take in right now." Michael asked, a little over whelmed, and Willow nodded then said, "I'll leave you alone while you talk. When you have decided please knock on the door," indicating the door to the adjoining room then left the room.
"So what do you think?" asked Michael. John looked at him and said, "It seems possible but we need a test to be sure."
"Do you think she is your sister?" Natalie asked, "I think she has your mothers eyes," she said.
"I thought the same thing," John replied. "So do we do the test? We have to both agree."
"I think you should." Natalie said, "its fun having a sister. But Mikey you might want to watch them do the test to make sure its done right, I know hospitals sometimes mess up the tests."
"I think we should do it too." Michael replied, "I always wanted a sister."
"Hey, what's wrong with a brother?" John said indignantly then laughed. "I always wanted one too. I mean we have Shannon but it's not the same."
"So you want to tell her now?" Natalie asked getting up to knock on the door to let Willow know their decision.
"Yes" they replied and Natalie knocked on the door. Willow came back in looking hopeful. She looked at them silently with a questioning gaze.
"We decided to do a DNA test." John said, taken off guard when Willow squealed, jumped up, and hugged him and Michael.
"Thank you, thank you." She said happily then sobered up and reached for the phone. "Paige send in Dr. Hawkins please."
"Dr. Hawkins will draw our blood. Which one of you will be giving the sample?" Willow asked
"Since I am the oldest I will do it," John replied. "Plus Michael is afraid of needles." He said with a laugh while Michael rolled his eyes. Natalie and Willow exchanged an indulgent look. "Michael is going to over see the test though," John said. Willow nodded and the doctor came in and drew the blood. Willow had to look away, "I hate needles too," she said. They agreed to meet here the next day to find out the results.
The next day Natalie, John, and Willow waited of Michael and Dr. Hawkins to arrive with the results. While they were waiting Willow said, "I think you should know if the test is positive I plan on moving to Lanview. I would like to get to know you and Michael, as well as Eve." She said to John. "I also would like it if you and I could be friends Natalie."
"I would like that too," Natalie said. She already liked Willow, she was friendly and confident not to mention very successful. Willow seemed to genuinely want to get to know John, Michael, and their mother, plus John and Michael really wanted her to be their sister. John seemed a bit in awe of her actually. So did Michael and if she was honest with her self so was she. Natalie had never meet anyone like Willow, plus if what she said were true she could be the only person to understand what Natalie felt about her own kidnapping.
Michael and Dr. Hawkins came in the room and everyone but Dr. Hawkins sat down. Willow motioned for him to read the results.
"Dr. McBain over saw the results, are you satisfied that they were done correctly?" Dr Hawkins asked
"Yes," Michael said.
"To a degree of 99.9 the two blood samples are from immediate siblings." Dr. Hawkins announced.
Willow smiled and thanked Dr. Hawkins as he left 2 copies of the results on the desk and left the room.
Willow, John, and Michael looked at each other awkwardly until Natalie said, "What are you waiting for? So hug already." They laughed then hugged for a minute.
Willow broke away first and said, "I meant what I said earlier. I intend to move to Lanview. I really want to get to know my family."
"I'm glad," Michael said, smiling, "It would be kind of hard getting to know each other with you living in New York."
"How are you going to run your business from Lanview?" Natalie asked, concerned.
"That's the beauty of owning your own business." Willow said, "I can open up a branch anywhere. Know anyone in Lanview that wants to be a PI?" She asked
Natalie looked at John and laughed. "Actually my brother Rex has been talking about becoming a PI" Natalie said still laughing.
John was just about to say something when his cell phone rang, he looked at it and saw it was Eve. He wondered how they were going to tell her that the baby she thought was dead was alive and standing right next to him. Heck he still hadn't processed it all.
"Hi Mom," John said, looking at Willow. She looked up with an interested expression on her face. John listened to the phone for a minute then said, "Yes Mom, Michael will come down and visit you soon. In fact we will come down tonight. And we are bringing a special guest… No it's not Natalie… Yes Natalie is coming too, but she isn't the special guest I was talking about…Ok we will see you at 6pm. Bye Mom." As John hung up the phone Willow asked hesitantly "Was that my mother?" and John nodded.
"We are going to tell her about you tonight." he said. Seeing the happy expression on her face John smiled and took Natalie's hand in his. Natalie turned and hugged him giving him a sweet kiss on the mouth. Michael rolled his eyes and took out his phone to call Marcie to invite her to dinner with them all.
Willow was very nervous about this dinner; she looked at Natalie and asked her, "what do I wear?"
Michael and John laughed. Natalie knew exactly how Willow was feeling. She had done this before, so she understood the need to make the best first impression. "What do you got?" Natalie asked, wanting to help. Willow said "Not much here but I have quite a bit at my apartment."
"Well, lets go," Natalie said and Willow looked at her as if Natalie had just given her a million dollars, "Seriously?" she asked Natalie nodded and Willow hugged her. "Thank You!
"You will have to come to my place, it's not far from here." Willow said. "You are all welcome to come." She said nodding to John and Michael.
John and Michael looked at each other, they were curious about where she lived, they said ok, "but just for a little while. We have to be in AC by 6" John said. "You will have to show us where it is."
"No, problem." Willow said, excited about having brothers. She wanted to show them where she lived. She wanted to make a good impression. Willow couldn't remember ever being so nervous and giddy at the same time. She got her car keys and they left the building. As they approached the parking lot John asked, "Which one is yours?" in response Willow clicked the automatic unlock on her key chain and one of the cars beeped, it was the cherry red Dodge Viper convertible. Michael whistled, "Wow" he said "Nice." Even Natalie looked at it appreciatively. "Want to drive it," Willow asked Michael and John. John looked at Michael and motioned for Michael to take a turn. "Hell yeah" said Michael. Willow laughed and handed him the keys.
"Just follow us" Willow said to Natalie and John and went to her car getting in the passenger seat. As Michael pulled out and started to drive she gave him instructions on how to get to her place. When they reached the building Michael was disappointed; he loved car and didn't want to stop driving it.
He and Willow had also had a chance to talk as well. He had found out that she was fascinated with the inner workings of the human body, but didn't have the interest to become a doctor, a weak stomach she said. She spoke 5 other languages besides English (Spanish, German, Chinese, French, and Italian) She could cook but didn't like to. Willow had told him she had always wanted brothers. Her adoptive parents didn't have any other children and she intimidated her foster brothers because she was so smart.
She hadn't told him that he parents had been murdered though, she just said that they died. Michael understood that it was a painful memory and she probably didn't want to talk about it, at least not till she knew him better. So far she fascinated Michael. She seemed like a blending of himself and John. She didn't talk much that was for sure.
On the way over Willow was very nervous. She answered Michael's questions but was very quiet for the most part. She was having a hard time believing all that had happened. She had spent the better part of 2 years waiting for this moment and now that it was here it seemed unreal.
Willow and Michael got out of the car when John and Natalie pulled up behind them. Willow led the way to the apartment building. Her apartment was on the top floor. When they got out of the elevator and to her room door Willow said, "its not that big but please make yourselves at home." She opened the door and let them in.
John looked around as the 2 women went into the bedroom in search of clothes He had expected lavish surroundings, like her car, but this was modest if somewhat on the small side. It looked homey though. The apartment looked to have about 5 rooms and was very nicely decorated. The main focal point of the first room seemed to be the 52-inch wide screen TV. There were what looked to be over 100 DVD's along side the TV, black leather couch, and a cherry end table. In the kitchen the only furniture was a small table 2 chairs and a microwave cart, but the room that held his attention was what looked like a workout room. It was bare except for 2 stools set about 6 feet apart and a punching bag hanging in the middle of the room. Obviously Willow like to keep in shape.
They had been there for about 30 minutes when Natalie and Willow declared they found the perfect outfit. They seemed to have struck up an immediate friendship. Willow was now wearing black slacks, a dark purple sleeveless sweater, a black leather jacket, and a diamond heart necklace on a 20-inch chain. Her hair was also braided now. Natalie declared she looked hot and was ready to meet their mother. Willow looked very nervous.
As they left the apartment John pulled Natalie aside and said, "Thank you for being here, I don't know how I would have handled this with out you."
"It's not a big deal, I really like her, I thought she would be stuck up or arrogant but she is really down to earth. In fact the only extravagant thing she has is her car, which Michael loves by the way." Natalie said.
John nodded and gave her a kiss before following the other 2 down to the cars. Once they were to their car's Willow said. "You will have to show me the way." John nodded and they all got in their cars and headed for Atlantic City with John in the lead.