Family Pieces

by Misa Rush

  She entered the building, looking around her in amazement. She even double-checked the address to make sure she was in the same place. The lobby, so desolate hours ago, bustled with activity. Daylight allowed the lavish ambiance to emanate through. Marble floors meticulously shined. The black granite reception counter glistened as Karsen approached.

  “Hello. I’m here to see Addison Reynolds.” She felt awkward lugging her travel bag with her.

  “Certainly, Miss. Take the elevator to the thirty-seventh floor. You’ll see the Urbane reception desk. The receptionist will help you from there.”

  “Thank you.”

  Karsen boarded the elevator and squeezed in among a flock of business executives. Her casual dress appeared amiss alongside their stark black suits. As she reached for the console to push the button for the thirty-seventh floor, her bag swung uneasily into the shin of a woman, the zipper snagging her panty hose.

  “Oh, I’m really sorry!” Karsen sputtered, mortified at her klutziness. The woman grimaced, giving Karsen a withering look as the door mercifully opened onto the next floor and she exited.

  Karsen continued to ride up floor by floor, thankfully with no further incidents. The door chimed as it opened into the lobby of Urbane. In front of her, a semi-circular black, granite desk stood. Behind it there was a large glass wall etched with the Urbane logo.

  “Hi. I’m here to see Addison Reynolds.” She told the girl behind desk, who looked younger than she did.

  “Down the hall, third desk on the left is her assistant.”

  Karsen stepped around the entryway and into a vast field of cubicles, quite desolate looking considering the creativeness of the publication. An incessant surge of phone calls penetrated the area, making it sound like the clatter of a casino floor.

  She reeled her way around the floor as the receptionist had directed her and waited for the woman behind the desk to end her call.

  “May I help you?” Marjorie asked, the phone still tucked under her chin.

  “I’m here to see Addison Reynolds, please.”

  Marjorie punched a few strokes on her keyboard. She squinched her nose surveying Addison’s schedule before looking up. “Is she expecting you?”

  “Not exactly.” Karsen wobbled unsteadily on her feet, trying to adjust her bag strap back onto her shoulder.

  “I’m sorry. She’s not in at the moment. I can let her know you were here.” Marjorie said, making a mental note to explain to the new receptionist up front that she is supposed to be the gatekeeper.

  “Oh. Okay.”

  “And you are?”

  Karsen couldn’t help it. The tears welled up over the brims of her eyelids. “Never mind.” Her voice cracked as she turned and ran, retracing her path to the elevator. The door opened and Karsen kept her gaze toward the floor to avoid all of the stares. As one foot stepped across the threshold, a hand grasped her arm, whisking her around slightly. The face staring back at her was graced with the familiar features of her own. Both stood, unmoving.

  “You look like me,” Addison gasped, then stared. She wasn’t expecting Karsen, but an unusual feeling swept through her and she intrinsically knew who she was as soon as she saw her.

  “Addison?”

  “What are you doing here?” Addison asked, knowing for certain to whom she was speaking.

  “I’m sorry. I had to come. Please don’t call the police.”

  “Come on.” Addison stepped into the elevator, pulling Karsen the remainder of the way in. “Not here.”

  They rode silently to the lobby. As they passed the reception desk, Addison took Karsen’s bag from her and handed it to the attendant behind the desk. “Can you watch this for us?” She turned back to Karsen, “Don’t worry, they’ll make sure nothing happens to it.”

  The two walked out onto the sidewalk and Addison hailed a cab. Karsen followed trustingly, zipping her coat the remainder of the way up. Climbing into the cab, she shivered more from anxiety than the cold. She knew Brad would not approve of her climbing into any vehicle with what basically was still a stranger, but she had come too far not to. The cab navigated the congested streets until they arrived at Central Park. Neither spoke along the way. Addison paid the cabbie and led Karsen down a tree-lined pathway. As they walked, Karsen marveled at the size of Central Park. She’d seen only the glimpses of it in movies. The park was more extensive then she could have imagined. Addison stopped at a secluded bench where people were still visible but not close enough to eavesdrop. They sat down facing one another. Karsen’s body tingled with nerves.

  “Wow.” Addison spoke first. She scanned Karsen meticulously. The once-over would have been considered rude in any other situation, but Addison couldn’t help herself. She felt as if she were looking into a mirror that took her back eighteen years.

  Karsen hesitated to speak. She stared back at her sister in disbelief. She didn’t know what to expect. At least Addison hadn’t thrown her out. Maybe there was a chance for them to connect or to at least hear her out.

  “I was going to e-mail you back,” Addison finally said. “I’m sorry if I came off harshly before. It wasn’t my intention.”

  “It’s okay. I guess I understand.”

  “I can’t believe how much you look like me. I’m gobsmacked.”

  Karsen couldn’t help but smile. “You could imagine my thoughts at realizing you were my sister.”

  “How did you find me anyway?”

  Karsen reached into her purse and pulled out the magazine photo of Addison.

  “I saw this.”

  Then she reached in and pulled the chain out from under her shirt. She held her charm for Addison to see.

  “Oh, I see.” Addison paused. Her posture relaxed as the reality set in. She looked less like a businesswoman and more like a friend. She slid the glove off of her right hand and pulled her own charm out from around her neck. “Why now? Why you?” She felt a sudden surge of confused emotions envelop her. Here she was sitting in front of her sister. A sibling she always wished she’d had. But also the sister her mother chose to keep when she had been given away.

  “She never told us,” Karsen said. “My mom. She never told us about you.”

  “Oh.” Addison’s face reflected her disappointment. Her mother hadn’t been interested in finding her after all.

  Karsen sensed her distress. “If I had known.” Her voice shook. “If I had known I had a sister, I would have found you. I’m sure she would have wanted to find you, too. I believe she thought she was protecting everyone, Addison. My mom, our mom,” she corrected, “was the most compassionate person…”

  “Was?” Addison interrupted.

  Karsen felt her eyes well up. “She passed away in January.”

  “I see… I’m sorry” Addison didn’t know what to say. She felt deflated. She laid her hand on Karsen’s. Her heart ached with longing for the mother she’d never have an opportunity to meet. The mother Karsen had obviously deeply loved.

  “Me, too,” Karsen said. She explained the details of the accident, how she discovered the missing charm, and the subsequent journey that had brought her to New York.

  Addison no longer felt guarded. She justified her prior actions to Karsen. She shared her fear of hurting her adoptive parents. “I went back to find her once, when I was fourteen. I saw her…Katherine. I saw her with the two of you. You were all playing in the yard and looked like the picture-perfect family. I suppose I felt rejected. She could love you, but not me. I couldn’t bring myself to approach her.” Addison felt more tears emerge. “And now, I’ve lost my chance.”

  Karsen listened intently. She could hear the pain in Addison’s voice. One she couldn’t imagine until the day of her mother’s accident.

  “Karsen, I love my life. I love my family, but the money, the work. It all took away from the closeness,” Addison continued. “My dad worked fourteen-hour days. I was in bed before he came home. He was gone before I got up. My mom loved me. But she was involved in so many activit
ies. Charity events. Luncheons. I dreamed of trading it all for a chance to have what I saw that day.”

  Both sniffled as their tears faded. Karsen felt the connection between Addison and herself building as they talked. She had found her sister and within her lay the answers she needed to help make her choice. She vacillated about whether to disclose her pregnancy. She worried Addison would misinterpret her actions as an attempt for a handout. She didn’t want her money. All she wanted was to know that Addison felt her life was worth living. If that were true, she could give her child a chance at life even if that meant she wasn’t in it.

  Hanna stared out the window as their flight made its descent into JFK. She had never visited New York and was a bit disappointed this trip would not allow for some sightseeing. They were on a strict mission: Find Karsen and take her home.

  Hanna squeezed Brad’s hand as the loud swoosh of the brakes subsided and the plane lulled to a halt. She didn’t know what to say to ease his anxiety or brighten his mood.

  Grabbing their single carry-on, they exited the plane. Brad led Hanna by the hand through the maze of the terminal and outside where they hopped into the first available taxi. Uncertain where to begin, Brad handed the driver the address for Urbane.

  “You okay?” Hanna asked. He had been withdrawn since they landed. Brad attempted a smile and raised her hand to his lips. The kiss warmed her but his expression reflected otherwise.

  His concern grew. He had tried Karsen’s cell four times since they landed, and she had not answered. He had not spoken to her since the night before. Rationally, he knew she was an adult who, for all practical purposes, should be able to take care of herself. Emotionally, she was his baby sister once again in need of protection.

  Arriving at Urbane, Brad and Hanna entered the lobby and were directed as Karsen had been just a few hours earlier. Hanna felt more than a little self-conscious as she found herself at the center of the world’s leading fashion magazine, knowing she must look a sight after flying all night.

  “We’re here to see Addison Reynolds, please,” Brad said.

  Perplexed by the odd recurrence of strangers looking for Addison, Marjorie wasn’t sure what to think. “I’m sorry, she’s not available at the moment.”

  “When will she be?” Brad asked.

  “I’m sorry, but I’m not at liberty to give out her schedule. Perhaps you’d like to schedule an appointment?”

  “Urghhhh.” Brad’s frustration rose.

  “I’m sorry, it’s been a long day,” Hanna interjected. Which in reality, it had been. So long, that Hanna’s stomach growled, sustained by only a black cup of coffee and a small bag of pretzels she’d eaten on the plane.

  Three lines rang simultaneously. “Excuse me,” Marjorie said quickly, picking up the receiver.

  “She’s not here,” Hanna whispered to Brad, pulling at his arm to go. “We can try again later.”

  “Do you realize how large this city is? I don’t even know where to start looking for her,” Brad practically hissed, his voice filled with urgency.

  “Try her cell again,” Hanna said. He pulled out his phone and dialed. The line clicked straight to voice mail.

  “Maybe her battery died?”

  “Great. So we won’t have any way to find her.” He tapped his fist on Marjorie’s desk.

  “Yes, sir. Certainly. I will have her call you. Goodbye.” Marjorie’s voice pleasantly ended the phone conversation. Fueled with frustration, her tone immediately reversed.

  “Look, I’m sorry Ms. Reynolds is not available. You really are going to need to come back another time. I can let her know that you were here and she’ll contact you if she so chooses.” She grabbed her pen to note his pertinent information. “You are?”

  “Apparently, I’m her brother. I’m looking for my sister. Actually, I’m looking for both of them. The sister I’ve never met and the sister who ran off to find her.”

  Marjorie stared blankly at him, processing his claim. Her long-standing history as Bryce’s assistant had left her privy to information most were unaware of. She knew Addison had been adopted. She recalled the seemingly unending chain of futile fertility appointments interrupting his work schedule. Marjorie had promised her lips were sealed.

  Hanna cringed at Brad’s bluntness. His behavior was uncharacteristic of his usual well-mannered nature. Before anyone had a chance to speak, a tiny voice billowed behind Hanna.

  “Mar-zie! Mar-zie!” Adelaide’s smile was graced with a large gap between her two tiny front teeth. She rested her chin between her hands on the desk, peering over.

  “Marjorie is busy, honey.” Emily said asshepulled her back and attempted to lift her onto her hip. Adie struggled for freedom. “No, Mommy!”

  “Fine, Adie. Stay right here.” Emily set her squirming daughter back on the floor.

  “Hi, Emily. Addison isn’t here. Was she supposed to meet you today?” Marjorie knew they had a rather consistent play date set up every Friday, but today was Thursday.

  “Yes, we rescheduled because Adie has a doctor’s appointment tomorrow. She hadn’t said otherwise, so I assumed we were still on.” She tried to recall any conversation where Addison rearranged when to meet again, but to her dismay she could hardly remember what she had for breakfast. Adelaide had been frequently waking up in the middle of the night, leaving her in a brain fog.

  Marjorie redirected her attention back to Brad. “I can have her call you when she returns.”

  “Fine. Brad. My name is Brad Woods.” He recited his number as Marjorie scribbled it down.

  “Let’s go. We can try to call Karsen again.” Hanna squeezed Brad’s hand.

  “Did you say Karsen?” Marjorie asked.

  “Karsen?” Emily repeated. She knew immediately that Addison’s brother was standing before her. Addison had not known his name, but he was looking for Karsen and Emily knew that Karsen was her sister’s name. Not a common name to be showing up at Addison’s office.

  “Yes. Why?” Hanna asked.

  The day was finally starting to make sense to Marjorie. She remembered the name from Addison’s calls. “That must have been her here earlier. Addison wasn’t here though. Actually, I don’t know where Addison is. She left earlier this morning and never returned.”

  “Addy? Wer ar u Addy?” Lost among the fracas, Adelaide wandered. She first peered into Addison’s office. Not seeing her, she shuffled her shoes adorned with big pink and black polka dot bows along as she headed into the maze of cubicles. The adults were oblivious.

  “She, Karsen, ran off before I had gotten her name. She seemed extremely upset,” Marjorie added.

  “Where did she go?” Brad asked exasperated.

  “I have no idea,” Marjorie shrugged. “I didn’t know who she was.”

  Just then a siren blared throughout the building. Hanna shielded her ears with her hands. “What the hell?” she asked. A flood of people rose from behind their desks and scattered toward the doors.

  “Fire alarm,” Marjorie yelled. “Probably a drill.”

  “You got to be fucking kidding me?” Brad yelled over the pandemonium.

  Emily scanned the area. “Where’s Adie?” she screamed. Her throat clenched with fright as she didn’t see her anywhere. “Adie! Where are you?”

  “Emily, I’m sure she’s close. No worries. I’m sure it’s just a drill,” Marjorie tried to calm her.

  Emily didn’t stop. Her motherly instinct wouldn’t allow it. “Adelaide! She’s hiding. She’s probably scared. I know she’s hiding. Adelaide!”

  The room went black except for the flashing lights of the alarm.

  “ADELAIDE! ADELAIDE!” Emily screamed again.

  26

  Addison ignored her phone the first time it rang. By the third, she knew it must be something urgent. Marjorie knew not to bother her more than once.

  “Excuse me, Karsen. It’s the office.”

  “Of course, go ahead.” Karsen said. She was content to wait all day.

 
“Hello?”

  “Addison! Thank God! Where are you?” The distress in Marjorie’s voice caught Addison off guard. Her breath labored to get the words out. “The office…it’s on fire! Where are you?”

  “What?” Addison stood in shock. The call dropped. “Damn it!” Frantically, she dialed the number back.

  All circuits are busy now.

  “Shit!” Addison hit redial again.

  While Addison tried to reach Marjorie, Karsen powered up her own cell phone and scrolled through the call log. There were five missed calls, all from Brad. She called voice mail and started to listen to his messages. She only partially heard the first message, too preoccupied by Addy’s sudden mood change. By the second, she disconnected the line.

  “Addison, is everything okay?”

  “Come on! We have to go NOW!” Addison grabbed Karsen’s arm and started running toward Fifth Avenue. “There’s a fire at my office!” Karsen stumbled as she ran to keep up.

  “What?” Karsen’s face went white instantly a she gasped. “Brad is there!”

  “What?”

  Her words sped together in panic. “Brad left me a message. He’s at the office with Hanna. They came looking for me. Oh my God! Oh my God, Addison! How bad is it?”

  “I don’t know yet. Marjorie sounded frantic. The call dropped before she could give any details.” She flagged down a cab and they hurried in. “I’m sure it will turn out to be nothing.” Addison lied unconvincingly. She had never heard Marjorie sound so distraught. She tried to hide her distress for Karsen’s sake. She could tell she was worried and maybe this all would turn out to be nothing. She could only hope.

  Don’t panic. Everything will be okay, Karsen told herself as the cab crawled through the midday traffic. It had to be. She couldn’t take any more.