by Sherry Kyle
“Tonight is apparently the night of confessions. Go on …”
“I quit medical school and moved out of my apartment.” She winced, ready for his reaction.
Jeremy widened his eyes and leaned forward.
“I moved in with Chloe for the time being and applied to fashion design school. It’s what I’ve always wanted.”
“But why move out of your apartment?”
“My parents are no longer supporting me. I’m on my own.”
Jeremy grinned. “I knew you could do it.”
“Do what, exactly?”
“Make your own decisions. Conquer your fears. Kayla, this is big!”
Kayla sat up a little straighter. “You mean it?”
“There’s only one thing that bothers me.” Jeremy set a credit card on the bill for the waiter.
Kayla’s brows furrowed, and she leaned back in her seat. Here it comes.
“The part about us being friends. That’s good and all, but I have something else in mind.” He reached for her hand again, this time entwining their fingers. “Kayla, I can’t stop thinking about you—about the possibility of us. Would you be willing to try?”
After all she’d told him, he still wanted to be with her? She didn’t know if she could meet Jeremy’s expectations, but she was willing to open her heart—and to share her deepest secret. “Before I answer, I have one more thing to tell you.”
Between Jeremy’s phone call and their date, she found the photo stuck inside one of her journals and slipped it inside her purse. She retrieved it now.
“There’s more? By the look on your face, I’d say it’s something serious.”
“You can say that.” She handed him the photo.
Jeremy shrugged a shoulder. “Cute kids. Who are they?”
“The younger one is me. The older girl is Ashley, my biological sister.”
“But I thought you were an only child—”
“I thought so too until a couple of months ago.”
For the next ten minutes, Kayla and Jeremy went back and forth discussing whether or not she should meet Ashley.
“Kayla, what are you afraid of?”
She’d been wrestling with Jeremy’s question for weeks, ever since that first phone call with Lauren. “Maybe I’m not ready for new relationships, us included—”
“Hold on. How about one new relationship at a time? Me first.” He grinned. “I promise, I’ll leave the decision to connect with your sister up to you. No pressure.”
“Thank you.”
“But I think it’d be a shame if she never got to meet you. You’re worth knowing. You have a good heart.”
She was worth knowing? Tears stung Kayla’s eyes. No one ever put it that way before.
They walked into the cool night air, her hand tucked securely in his. Jeremy was a special guy. And she couldn’t wait to see where their relationship would take them.
33
“What do you mean you don’t have it?” Panic rose in Ashley’s throat, her voice rising with it. When Lauren didn’t show up at dinner the other night, Ashley had left several messages asking for the photo back. Without a response, she did the only thing she thought best—show up at Lauren’s house to surprise her after work.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve given it back to you right away …” Lauren fumbled with her keys as she made her way to the front door. “Ashley, please give me a few more days. I promise I’ll have an answer for you then.”
Ashley’s heart beat hard in her chest. “No, I can’t wait any longer. I need answers now.”
“I have as much at stake as you have.” Lauren’s words came out in a rush.
“What do you mean?” Ashley raised her arms and let them fall by her side. “How could finding the girl in the photo, possibly my own flesh and blood, mean as much to you?”
Lauren stuck the key in the lock and opened the door. “Ashley, if I don’t have an answer for you by next Sunday, I’ll explain. For now, you’re going to have to trust that I have your best interest at heart.”
“Why does everyone walk on eggshells around me? I’m not fragile. I’m not that sick little girl anymore. I wish you and Tori would let me fight my own battles. Discover things on my own. I am capable, you know.”
“Tori? What does Tori have to do with this?” Lauren set her purse on the small table in the entryway and removed her coat before gesturing Ashley inside.
Ashley kept her ground on the front porch. Madi was waiting for her in the car.
“Well? What’s going on?” Lauren’s brows puckered, and she folded her arms.
Did Ashley want to explain how, according to Tori, Drew practically picked a fight with Bryan or how Tori tried to make Bryan’s secret a nonexistent issue? “I don’t want to get into it right now. Let’s just say I’m sick and tired of you and Tori treating me like glass, like I can’t handle life when it gets tough.”
Lauren’s eyes softened, and her voice came out in a hushed tone. “You’ve had your fair share of hard times already.”
“We all have. Tori’s still scared to death about how Max will develop, and you’re still hoping to get pregnant—”
A pained expression crossed Lauren’s face. She looked away. “Life is hard, isn’t it? But why should we be surprised?” Lauren waved a hand. “On Sunday, the pastor reminded us that Jesus promised we’d have trouble in this world, and I can’t stop thinking about it.”
“But do you remember the next sentence of that verse? It says for us to take courage. That’s exactly what I want to do, but you won’t let me. I need that photo.”
“Give me a few more days—until Sunday,” Lauren urged.
“All right, but that’s it.” Ashley sighed. “Then I’m going to hire a private detective.”
Lauren’s eyes widened. “If you can’t afford rent, how will you hire a private detective?”
“I’ll find a way. I have to know who she is.” Ashley rubbed the hem of her jacket with nervous fingers. “I’ll see you Sunday. And please bring the photo.” She turned and strode down the sidewalk without looking back.
When would her sisters realize she was tougher than she looked?
For the past couple of days, Bryan meant to tell Ashley about his previous proposal, the breakup, and Shelly’s miscarriage. Every time he practiced what he was going to say, the words came out stilted and jumbled, and made the situation sound worse.
More than anything, he was ashamed about the intimacy he and Shelly shared and how he had pulled her away from her faith. Maybe deep down he sensed it was wrong all along. Would Ashley understand?
Bryan reached inside his refrigerator for an orange and stood by the sink to peel it, his mind pondering his situation.
If he hadn’t met Ashley, the woman he was more and more certain God had planned for him, he would’ve been jealous over the fact Peter quickly stepped into the role of Shelly’s boyfriend. At least Bryan had a few years to get over the heartbreak before finding his true love—unlike Shelly. And now, it seems, they were having marriage trouble. Not to the extent of Susan and Paul, but struggling in their own way.
He tore off a section of the orange and popped it into his mouth.
If he weren’t careful, his relationship with Ashley would end if he didn’t get himself together and figure out how he was going to share his past. He wiped his hands, opened the kitchen drawer, and pulled out the velvet box with Ashley’s ring. The diamond sparkled in the light. Lord, it would look beautiful on her finger.
His cell phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. He didn’t recognize the number, but curiosity won, and he answered anyway.
“Hi, Bryan. It’s Lauren.”
Not another sister on his case. He played coy. “What’s up?”
“Can you keep a secret? At least for a little while?”
“Not if I have to keep it from Ashley—”
“Before you say no, please hear me out.”
His silence gave her permission to continue.
“Did Ashley
show you the photo?”
“She showed me a lot of photos. Which one are you talking about?”
“The one of her and a smaller girl sitting in a wagon.”
“No. I don’t remember that one.”
“Ashley hasn’t shown you or talked to you about it?”
Had they both been keeping secrets? “Lauren, what’s going on?”
“The picture was taken before her adoption. The smaller girl is Ashley’s sister—her biological sister—and I found her.”
Maybe that’s why his girlfriend had been on edge. “Wow, that’s awesome! Ashley’s going to be so excited. When are you going to tell her?”
“That’s just it. I can’t tell her.”
Did he hear correctly? “Why not?”
“Because Kayla doesn’t want to be found. That’s where I’m hoping you come in. I need your help.”
“I’ll do anything to reconnect Ashley with her sister. What do you have in mind?”
Kayla snuggled under the covers on the air mattress in Chloe’s spare bedroom, exhilarated from her date with Jeremy—her second one in the past two days. Yesterday, he’d treated her to a picnic lunch at Golden Gate Park. The trails and gardens were an oasis, diverse and picturesque, a place where they could relax and reconnect with nature—and each other. They held hands during the day and shared a tender kiss when the date was over. She couldn’t believe she ever questioned whether the two of them should date. It was as if they were made for each other. This whole time she didn’t believe she measured up to someone like Jeremy, but his loving gestures and words proved her wrong.
But Jeremy hadn’t been the only one whispering life-affirming things in her ear. When she’d packed up her apartment, she found the small Bible Jeremy had given her under a stack of textbooks and had read the New Testament like a starving child. She was in awe that the God of the universe saw her as a masterpiece, holy and blameless in His sight. Slowly, she was starting to believe she was valuable.
In fact, her whole outlook on life was changing. Gone were the days of doing exactly what her parents expected of her. Instead, she was becoming more independent, more self-assured, and she liked where she was headed despite the uncertainty of her future. Now she had a new career path, a best friend who accepted her the way she was, a boyfriend who made her feel cherished, and a sister who … where did that come from?
Kayla reached for the photo on her nightstand. “Would you think I’m worth knowing?” She talked to the picture, replaying Jeremy’s words.
Another thought crossed her mind. Maybe meeting Ashley wasn’t about Kayla at all but being a caring friend to her sister. What had Lauren said that first time they talked on the phone?
They’d been one and three years old when they were taken from their birthparents and put into separate foster care homes because there were a limited number of families willing to take siblings, let alone one that would take on someone with serious medical issues. Lauren went on to say that when a family offered to adopt Kayla, the social worker jumped at the chance. And like the separate foster homes, the girls were adopted into two families. Lauren never said which one was adopted first, but Kayla had an idea it was her being the younger and healthier child. Why hadn’t her parents adopted Ashley, too? Didn’t they know about her?
At first the news about Ashley’s childhood cancer rattled Kayla, but her concern quickly evaporated once she discovered Ashley had recovered and was healthy. Then after seeing her sister for herself, Kayla’s inquisitiveness turned to jealousy over Ashley’s big family.
Who am I kidding? Ashley didn’t need another sister.
Kayla rolled over in her makeshift bed, pulled the quilt under her chin, and closed her eyes. But as hard as she tried, sleep wouldn’t come.
God, what do you want me to do?
34
Ashley’s car idled as close to the curb as possible. Cars lined both sides of the street. Loud music boomed from inside the ranch-style home. Ashley had questioned Susan’s approval of the pool party, but who was she to argue? Before dropping the teenager off, she told Madi to call her if the party got out of hand or if she wanted to come home before it was over. Madi never called, and Ashley couldn’t wait another minute. By the amount of cars lining the street and sounds coming from the home, it was a good thing she came when she did.
She punched in Madi’s number and waited as the phone rang and went to voicemail. Ashley pulled into the neighbor’s driveway, grabbed her key out of the ignition, marched up to the door, and pounded several times. When no one answered, she pushed her way in.
Teenagers filled every inch of the small home. Kids were in the center of the room dancing, their bodies swaying in suggestive movements. Couples sat on the couches, lips locked, making out in front of everyone. Empty beer cans littered the floor. Where were Brandon’s parents? More importantly, where was Madi?
As Ashley shimmied her way through, she received strange looks, but no one asked her why she was at the house or who she was looking for. Not one helpful soul in the group. She squeezed her way down the hall. All the doors were closed. She peeked into several rooms, discovering more partygoers, but no Madi.
Susan shouldn’t have allowed her daughter to attend. For goodness sake, the girl was only fifteen years old. A strange feeling grabbed at her gut. Ashley wasn’t the girl’s mother, so why did she feel so responsible for putting Madi in this situation?
Before she turned the knob on another door, Madi burst into the hallway from a room farther down the hall, tugging on the hem of her shirt, tears streaming down her face. She momentarily stopped when their eyes met then made a beeline into Ashley’s waiting arms. She pulled the girl close, and the two of them jockeyed their way out the front door and toward the neighbor’s house where Ashley’s car was parked.
Madi’s breath didn’t smell like she’d been drinking, nor did her gait seem altered. Ashley sent a silent prayer of thanks. At least Madi had stood her ground, not easy to do in a roomful of partying teens.
Once inside, Ashley hit the lock button and called 9-1-1. The dispatcher confirmed that the police should arrive momentarily. Ashley wasn’t the first to call. The neighbors must have already complained. She started the engine.
A teenaged boy stood on the front porch, looking up and down the street. “Is that Brandon? I recognize him from the photo.”
Madi slunk down. “Yes, hurry. Let’s get out of here.”
Ashley backed out of the driveway, put the car in drive, and stepped hard on the gas. She shot a quick glance in the rearview mirror. Brandon had spotted them. He ran after the car but quickly gave up.
The whole way home Ashley prayed Madi would open up and tell her what had happened, but she wouldn’t press. She remembered what it was like to be a teenager. Peer pressure and trying to fit in were the two biggest hurdles. Things were crazy at home, too. Life could be overwhelming.
Her heart went out to Bryan’s niece.
Ten minutes later, they came to a stop in front of the beach house, and Madi’s shoulders visibly relaxed. Her grandmother’s words rang true. The beach house was a safe haven—for both of them.
“Do you want to tell me what happened now, or would you rather wait until after your shower? I’ll make you a cup of hot chocolate.”
The teenager agreed to the latter, providing a flicker of hope.
While Madi showered, Ashley heated milk in a saucepan. She opened the cabinet and pulled out two large mugs then scooped two teaspoons of cocoa into each one. As she set marshmallows on top of the hot chocolate, Madi walked into the kitchen, wearing purple flannel pajamas under a fuzzy green robe, her hair smelling of peaches and cream. She sat on a stool by the counter and cradled a mug in her hands. “You and my mom were right.”
“We were, huh?” Ashley sat beside her on a stool. “What were we right about?”
“Brandon is way too old for me.” She took a sip of her hot chocolate and licked her upper lip. “I’m definitely not ready for a serious relatio
nship.”
“It takes maturity to admit you need more time. There’s no shame in that.”
“I almost did something I’d be ashamed of, but I’m glad I walked away when I did.”
“I’m proud of you. Your mom would be, too.”
“Thanks.” Madi smiled and took another sip of her hot chocolate. “Hey, want me to help you work on a scrapbook?”
“Sure. The other night my family helped me organize a box of photos, so they’re ready to go. If you attach them to the pages, I’ll jot down the names of the people in the pictures.”
“How many more scrapbooks do you have to do? Seems like you’ve been working on them a long time.”
“Just a few more boxes. My goal is to have them done in a few weeks. I’m trying to convince my grandma to come for a visit.” They moved to the dining room table. Supplies filled the space.
Madi stopped short. “Does that mean I’ll have to go back home?”
“Don’t you think you’ll be ready by then?” Ashley handed Madi the glue stick and the stack of photos. She opened the scrapbook to the right page and set it in front of Madi. “I’m sure my grandma would like to sleep in her own bed, and this is only a two-bedroom house.”
The girl shrugged. “I guess I don’t have a choice.” The mature attitude from before was replaced with a sullen frown. Madi needed to go home, to get back to her family.
They worked next to each other in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
Ashley missed her former relationship with Bryan before all the troubles with his family. They had been so close, near a proposal, and now? Ashley didn’t know if it was possible. She needed an explanation. Why hadn’t he mentioned his former love? Why did he omit the fact that they’d once been a couple? Was there more to it? Was Shelly the reason Bryan hadn’t proposed? Now that she was married, it didn’t make sense.
It was close to midnight before they’d completed that section of the scrapbook. Ashley covered a yawn. “Time for bed. I’ve got to work tomorrow. I’ll drop you off at Bryan’s house on my way. Be ready at nine thirty, okay?”