The next morning brought a clear blue sky over the city court house.
Eleanor arranged an immediate private meeting with the family estate lawyer in town.
Julian sat on a leather sofa across from the heavy oak desk.
Clara wore her best clean dress while sitting right beside her grandmother.
Lawyer: We have received the fast-track DNA results from the lab today.
Julian: Are you completely sure the results are accurate and fully verified?
Lawyer: The match is ninety-nine point nine percent conclusive for direct lineage match.
Lawyer: Clara is without a doubt the long lost daughter of Henry Vance.
Eleanor let out a long breath of relief and smiled warmly at Clara.
Julian lowered his head into his hands knowing his plan was over.
Eleanor: Now tell us about the trust fund documents my late husband created.
Lawyer: The late Mr. Vance left half the estate to his lost granddaughter.
Lawyer: Since she has returned the estate distribution must take place immediately now.
Julian stood up suddenly from his seat with a dark look on his face.
Julian: I managed the family business for ten hard years without her help.
Eleanor: You also tried to convince me to stop searching for her Julian.
Julian: I believed she was gone forever and wanted our family to move forward.
Clara: Uncle Julian I do not want to take away your hard work.
Clara: I only want to belong to a real family once again now.
Julian looked into Clara's honest eyes and felt his anger melt away slowly.
He realized that she was not greedy or seeking simple personal wealth.
She was just a young girl who suffered through years of cold solitude.
Julian: I am sorry for being so cold to you at the diner.
Julian: I was afraid of losing control of the family business legacy today.
Clara: We can work together to honor the family name from now on.
Eleanor pulled both of them into a tight warm family embrace together.
The long dark shadows of the past were finally replaced by bright hope.