Once Lost

by Brenda Dugas

  “Oh yes, it was a late night. Sorry I was trying not to wake you.” Leah noticed a flash of light that reflected from Sam’s hand. Suddenly she realized what Sam had been trying to get her to notice.

  “Sam, you have a ring!” The two jumped up and hugged and squealed the same way they had years back when they’d both gotten dates for their senior prom.

  “Can you believe it? I didn’t expect this now, with your wedding so close, but he said he just couldn’t wait any longer! I think he was worried with you moving out, that I’d be tempted to go back to Florida… no way. I’ve never been happier! I asked him to come along with me to look for an apartment this afternoon.”

  “Apartment? Well that doesn’t mean that you have to move too, does it?”

  “I just assumed, since you won’t be living here, that you’ll sell this place?”

  “Actually, I’ve spoken with Slade about this and we’re in complete agreement. I would like to give this house to you and Dustin. I would really hate to sell it to anyone I don’t know. If you live here, I’ll still be able to visit the house Mrs. Mullen left. This house has been such a blessing to both of us! What do you think?”

  Sam’s eyes filled with tears as she thankfully accepted Leah’s gift. “Wow! First I get a permanent job, then a husband, and now… a permanent home! I can’t wait to tell Dustin!” We were going to have to look for a place, since his studio apartment isn’t big enough for us to start a family. But this house will be just perfect!

  They heard Dustin’s truck arrive as they spoke. He greeted his new fiancé with a kiss, and turned to smile at Leah who hugged him excitedly. He too, seemed overwhelmed with appreciation as Sam filled him in on Leah’s surprise.

  “Well, that’s about the best engagement gift anyone could receive!” Dustin hugged Leah again and she realized how great it felt to be able to pass on this blessing. She knew Ma Mullen was smiling down on her.

  “Well, my things are almost moved out. I was hoping you could help me again with this mirror.” As he turned it sideways while lifting it, they heard a metallic sound as the small key once again hit the floor and bounced sideways. It came to rest in front of the wooden box.

  “Hey, did you ever find out what this key belongs to?”

  “No, I had forgotten all about it; but now that you mention it, let me try it on this box. I brought the box and the mirror both from Mrs. Mullen’s house in Florida.

  The key seemed to fit the lock, although at first it didn’t want to budge. “Let me get something to spray inside the lock.” Dustin brought a can from his work truck. After working with it a few seconds, it finally freed up, and opened. “Leah, there’s a newspaper clipping and letter in here!”

  “Wow! I thought it was empty all this time. Let me take a look.”

  Leah gasped. “What is it?” A voice of concern came from the doorway. They hadn’t even heard Slade pull up.

  “It’s the article about my parents’ car wreck!” Leah was stunned. “I’ve tried for years to find out anything I could about their accident, but I didn’t even know where it took place! Helen swore the adoption agency had no background information. I always ran into dead ends. Why wouldn’t Mrs. Mullen have told me she had this?”

  “Isn’t there a letter with it?” Dustin reminded her.

  Tears flowed as Leah read the elderly lady’s frail handwriting:

  My Dear Sweet Leah,

  I hope this letter finds you well. I know that if you are reading this, then I am no longer with you. I have struggled for years with the decision of sharing this news clipping with you, Child. I was in my yard, working on my rose bushes one day when a gentleman came to the Liles’ front door claiming to be your father. I heard Helen threaten to call the police. She told him she had never adopted any little girls, he had to be mistaken.

  I wrote his license plate number down and made a few calls to a friend who worked for years at the police department. Once I got his name, the library helped me find this article.

  Please understand it wasn’t my place to intrude against the wishes of your adoptive parents. I prayed for years seeking wisdom to know the right time to give you this; now is that time! My wish for you is a lifetime of happiness.

  Love Always, Ma Mullen

  Leah sat in silence as tears of both joy and sadness continued to come. The article listed only one fatality in the accident. It mentioned the death of the mother, LeAnn, but the survival of a two year old daughter, Leah, and her father, Stuart Mose.

  “So I do have a father after all, and he’s been looking for me! Stuart. My father’s name is Stuart, and my mother’s name was LeAnn.” Slade held her hand and sat next to her quietly allowing her to absorb all she had just read.

  “We’ll find him Leah, I’ll make sure we find him.”

  Dustin loaded the mirror in the back of his truck, amazed by the secrets that key had unlocked.

  ***

  “It appears you were right. I need to speak with your detective friend as soon as possible.”

  Alaine beamed, quickly responding to Slade’s text message with Mr. Conley’s phone number. “Darling, I knew you’d see that I really was trying to save you from ruining your life. Let me know what you find out. I’m always here for you. So sorry… and the wedding was SO close!”

  Slade rolled his eyes, glad his plan had worked. He wasted no time making the call. Within hours, the detective called back producing her father’s phone number. Leah’s hands trembled as she spoke to him for the first time. She could tell he was thrilled to finally find his daughter. They talked for hours as he apologized tearfully again and again for allowing her to be put up for adoption. He had been told by doctors that he’d never walk again after the injuries sustained in the accident and that he would not be able to provide for a toddler.

  After a very lengthy recovery, he did walk again. He told her of several times he’d attempted to find her, every time being told he had been given the wrong information.

  Leah filled him in on Helen Liles’ deception and how Mrs. Mullen’s letter had led her to the truth. He was crushed to find out he’d been so close to finding her all along. He was remarried now, and as luck would have it, he only lived about three hours away. In fact, he still lived in the same small town where the accident had happened; the town where Leah had been born. No wonder New England felt so much like home!

  “Well, I guess now is as good a time as any to ask. I’m getting married next Saturday and I’d love to have my DAD walk me down the aisle?”

  “I’d love to! You have a sister and a step-mother too. I can’t wait for you to meet them!” She and Slade drove down the very next day.

  Chapter 15

  The beautiful New England day couldn’t have been more perfect. The ground was painted with the colors of fall creating the most incredible scene as Leah was guided by her father… yes father, down the aisle to the most handsome man she had ever loved.

  Slade stood in awe of the beautiful bride before him. The look on his face made her realize that no man had ever looked at her with such genuine love. She turned in time to catch a tear roll down her father’s cheek as he gave her away.

  Sam was stunning in her gown. The color of apricot was a great choice with her red curls. Dustin showed as much pride as if he’d actually been her big brother when they danced at the reception.

  Mrs. Croft out-did herself, the food was heavenly. She must have hugged Leah twenty times that day. It was almost like having Mrs. Mullen there.

  Mr. & Mrs. Coleman had flown in from Paris the evening before, and thankfully they both seemed thrilled with Leah. Mrs. Croft had told them all about her.

  Mrs. Liles didn’t show, but Leah was quite shocked when Latisha appeared, hand in hand with… Tim! And Helen was worried about me stealing her man? Nothing about the Liles family surprised her anymore! Leah had a completely new family now, and they were here to share this wonderful day with her. Her half-sister, Sarah, was a sophomore in college, studying to be a teacher
. Her step-mother was a nurse; she had met Leah’s father during his lengthy hospital stay after the accident.

  It felt as if the whole world had stopped to celebrate this day with them. The reception went late into the evening. Many employees of C & A Enterprises showed up to congratulate the happy newlyweds… with the exception of two!

  The party was winding down, and the crowd had thinned to a few close friends and family. Leah’s step-mother and sister had wished the newlyweds well and were walking out toward their car. Leah hugged her father, “I’m so glad we found each other in time for you to enjoy this day with us! I’ll see you again soon?”

  “Of course you will.” He took a small jewelry case out of his coat pocket and handed it to Leah. “This was an heirloom item that was passed down to your mother. You’ll want to keep it in a safe while you’re away, it’s quite valuable.” Leah looked down at the jeweled locket.

  “It’s beautiful!” Leah exclaimed. “Are you sure you want to give it to me?”

  “Your mother couldn’t be here for your wedding day, so it’s the perfect time to give it to you. It’s all I was able to keep of her belongings. Everything else of any value had to be sold off to pay medical bills, but I’ve saved this locket all these years, hoping someday I’d find you. It has pictures of your mother on one side and you on the other.” Leah gasped as she opened the locket and looked down at the photo of a woman who looked very similar to herself…and the photo of a smiling baby girl. Tears filled her eyes as she hugged her father. “This is the best wedding gift I could ever hope to get!”

  “Looks like I’ll have to tear you away so these two can go on their honeymoon!” Leah’s step-sister suddenly appeared, smiling. There was a brief awkward silence as she saw Leah’s eyes filled with tears, clutching the small jewelry case. She continued leading her father toward the door. “We have a long drive ahead. Please stay in touch.”

  “Give me a call after your honeymoon. I have a copy of your birth certificate and a few of your baby pictures. I have a few more photos of your mother. That’s about all I have left.” Her father’s voice broke slightly as he turned away.

  Night had fallen, and the happy couple was now several hours into their honeymoon flight. Leah reflected on her past life with the Liles family… on the young woman whose photo in the locket smiled up at her… on her father and her new step-family, and finally, on her new husband who dozed in the seat next to hers. She marveled over all that had been lost - and all that had been found.

  As she closed her eyes and rested her head on Slade’s shoulder, she thought about dear Mrs. Mullen. Leah now realized what a dark, lonely path she had been walking before moving to Rockport. She hoped that somewhere in heaven, Mrs. Mullen knew… Leah had found the key that unlocked the secrets of her past, and the Lord had indeed opened up a bright new path she couldn’t wait to explore; one that promised a future full of happiness and love. She hoped that Sam had found it too.

  The End

  “when his lamp shone on my head and by His light I walked through darkness!” (Job 29:3 NIV)