*Later that afternoon*
Monika sat with Howie by her side waiting for Nanna to return with her grandfather. She was nervous about seeing him again but had agreed for the sake of Nanna to give him another chance to make things right. She looked up as the door opened and they walked in. Looking at her grandparents she noticed the love they held for one another in their eyes for the first time. She couldn't help but smile and think maybe, just maybe, this could all work out.
"Monika, darling I'm so sorry for everything I've ever done to you. Please give me a chance to make it up to you, let me make it up to you and Howie and help you find your son. I know I had no right to do what I did but I thought I was doing what was best for you. I was wrong, I know that now. Please let me explain. Will you listen?"
"Yes," she whispered.
"See I had a son who I adored and I raised him thinking that one day he would take over the family business like he'd wanted to as a young boy. He'd spent so much time in the vineyards with me wanting to know how everything was done that I just assumed it would be his future. Then he met your mother and changed his mind running off to America when they were both 18. A year later he wrote me that they were married and had a beautiful girl. I resented you and your mother because that meant he wouldn't be coming back, he'd found a new life in America and didn't need me anymore. When you came to live with us I couldn't forget the way I felt so instead I set out to keep you away from me but I found myself caring for you deeply, in my own little way. I couldn't show it to you, I didn't know how. Then when I learned that you were pregnant I feared that it would turn out exactly like it had with your parents, that I would lose you like I lost them so I sent the baby away so I could hold on to you as long as I could. I know now how wrong and stupid I was. That wasn't the way to show you love someone. I'm sorry, more sorry than I could ever say. I hope someday you will be able to forgive me for what I've done. Right now I just hope you will accept my help in finding your son. Here are the papers that show who handled the adoption, that should be a good place to start," he said holding out a packet of papers.
Howie reached out and accepted the papers while Nika sat motionless on the couch, absorbing what she'd just heard. Suddenly she shot from the couch and ran from the room. Howie set the papers on the table and ran after her. Her grandfather sank to a chair, his head in his hands. "I can't do this Stella..."
"Shoosh Henry, you just have to give her time. This is all a surprise to her. In one day she finds you aren't dead and that she can't blame or hate you anymore. It's hard on her. Howie will help her through this I promise."
*Elsewhere*
Howie finally stopped Monika before she reached the elevators. "Nika stop, wait..." he said pulling her into his arms.
"I can't do this Howie. I just can't. How can he come here and tell me this, after I thought he was a cruel heartless man, after I thought he was dead and I was free and expect me to just forgive him?"
"He doesn't Nika. Yes he wants you to forgive him but he knows it's gonna take time. Right now he just wants to help us find our son. Isn't that what's important here?"
"Yes...but..."
"But nothing Nika. If he can help us find our son then we will except his help and deal with everything else later."
"I hate it when you're right you know that?" she said unable to remain angry or hide her laughter. When it came down to it, she was elated to know that her grandfather wasn't as bad as he appeared to be and she could understand why he had done those things she just wasn't ready to tell him that or to forgive him yet.
"Shall we go back and start looking for our son?" he asked.
"Yes!"