by Box Set
She called Ellie when she got home and told her about it.
“I’m really sorry that happened. I wish I had answers.”
“Being able to tell you is all I need. I don’t expect you to fix my broken butt.”
“Let’s focus on what we can fix. I’m going out to a movie with Masters, but then I’ll see if I can find where the records of the demolished hospital ended up. You work on Savino.”
“Have fun on your date.”
“Masters is getting on my nerves lately.”
“You’ve been saying that for weeks now.”
“Yeah. Too bad he’s so hot.”
“Like I said, have fun.”
Kate moved to her desk and opened her computer. At first glance, the first twenty pages of Google searches for Savino were in Italian. “I can’t let this stop me,” she said to herself. “I’ll look at every page and see if I can find anything.” She slogged through the first five pages of results before shutting the laptop and falling asleep.
She woke to a bright sun shining in her room. She realized she hadn’t had the dream again. A part of her sort of wished she had so she could hopefully see even more. After taking care of all her family duties, she started on her search with Savino again. It took until that evening after dinner to find something. The articles didn’t even have to be translated. They were in English originally. The third document turned out to be what she needed. The title of the piece was An Angel for Children. It was all about a man named Savino Cremashci, a priest at a catholic church. She looked at the location stamp, Seaside, New Jersey. Her hand flew to her mouth.
She read the whole article again. Savino was being honored for his efforts with easing children’s burdens. He held fundraisers and held free carnivals to help needy children. The article even called him the savior of children. It was claimed that he had helped over a thousand children improve their lives by providing food, jobs, and a place to go and be safe. She looked at the picture of him. He was seated on a bench surrounded by children. He looked about fifty or so, a face of happiness displayed for all to see. She checked the date. The article said he had been the pastor for almost twenty years already. That would mean he would have been the pastor when she had been there. Could he be the Savino mentioned on the green notepaper? She printed the article and taped it into her journal. She texted Ellie. Call me.
* * *
Instead of calling, Ellie showed up on Kate’s doorstep. They rushed to her room where Kate showed Ellie the article.
“You know, Kate. That article really plays into the idea that you were in danger. I mean why else would he have the information about your birth?”
“Maybe he visited everyone who had babies in his parish. He loved children. Maybe he brought a basket of goodies to all new mothers or something.”
“That could be, but this seems like something else. Moms usually know crazy stuff about their kids, and your mom had a feeling you’d been in danger. We should be careful.”
“Yeah, it makes me feel a slight twinge of guilt for how I treated Abrie and Tom. But only a twinge.”
“Don’t go getting all soft on me now, Kate. Don’t go spilling your guts to your parents. They’ll never let you go on the trip.”
“I’m not going to spill my guts. No way.”
“On the matter of the hospital records, it’s like a terrible maze that can never be pieced together. I’m giving up on that angle for now. If we need to revisit it when we get to Jersey, we will.”
“I don’t think we’ll need it, Ellie. I’m putting my bets on Savino. He has our answers. He has to. I was a child then, and he saved kids.”
“I hope so. I really hope so. But the article says stuff about food and shelter and such, not adoptions.”
“I know, but it isn’t that big of a stretch in my mind. Now we definitely have to start our search at the church. If we find Father Cremashci, we’ll find my parents. I can feel it.”
“You’re the boss, and I’ll follow your lead on this one.” Ellie grinned. “I still can’t believe you’re going against your parents in such a huge way. Girl, you do have a rebellious bone in your body and it’s huge.”
They giggled as quietly as they could.
“And guess what?”
“What?”
“I broke up with Masters.”
“Why?”
“Girl solidarity, I guess. This way we are both boyfriend free while in Jersey. That way we can totally live it up. I want to see you let loose while there. You are a gorgeous unattached female and you should celebrate that. Live more than a little on this vacation. Don’t let anything hold you back.”
“I don’t know. That stuff is easy for you. Not for me.”
“Look how you’re breaking free of your little regulated, planned cell here. Don’t let all your effort go to waste by being a party pooper.” She bumped Kate’s elbow. “Okay? Promise you’ll let go.”
“I can promise you I will try.”
Kate sat in plane, the locket and cross hung from her neck and the search journal was tucked neatly away in her messenger bag. Tom and Abrie had said goodbye at the house, blissfully ignorant that their obedient daughter was headed in exactly the opposite direction she claimed. She’d done her job so well in the two weeks of her probation that they’d even apologized to her before she left and told her they hoped she’d have a good time. She wanted to be exuberant and ever so smug about her deceit, but she couldn’t make herself be. She knew that this adventure would change things forever.
9
Kate and Ellie flung themselves onto the fluffy white comforter on the queen sized bed of their own room, a part of the three-bedroom suite. It was always the first thing they did when arriving at the different hotels each year, and there was nothing like honoring tradition. The day of travel had been draining, but the thought that they were finally in Seaside, New Jersey energized them. They’d pulled it off. Colby and Ellie’s parents had headed straight for their rooms to unpack. They always unpacked their luggage, putting the contents away in the closets and drawers in their respective rooms to help make them as comfortable as possible. The first night of vacation for their family was dedicated to relaxation. They would also go to the fanciest restaurant in town, and they would pump and bribe the servers for information on the famous people in the area.
It would be strange not to be constantly posting on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook while on this vacation. They couldn’t risk Kate’s family somehow hearing the truth of her whereabouts. Besides, it would be nice not to have that social connection with home. Without her phone, she wouldn’t have to worry about the constant bombardment of messages and texts from Braxton. An ache settled in her gut thinking about him being out of her life, but it wasn’t nearly enough to make her seek him out and forgive him. She didn’t know if forgiveness would ever come, no matter his motivations.
The Lamberts’ publicist, Sally Foster, had given the family the taping schedule of the show and it started on Monday. The place was buzzing with excitement even though none of the stars would arrive for two more days.
The girls sat up, slid off the luxury bed, and slipped into their swimsuits to hit the beach. Kate carried the beach bag with towels, sunscreen, and her notebook, pen attached. Only seconds after stepping outside, she had to run her forearm over her forehead to stop sweat from going into her eyes. They claimed a cabana and were about to rush down the beach to the water to get some relief from the heat, but Ellie stopped Kate.
“Uh, you’ll want to take those precious necklaces off before we jump in the water. Can you imagine what would happen to that picture in the locket if it got wet?”
Kate’s hand flew to the locket. “I’m so glad you thought of that. I forget I’m wearing them. It’s like they’re a part of me now.”
Kate put both necklaces into the beach bag. She looked longingly back at the bag before stepping into the sand. “What if Tom and Abrie find out we’re not in Mexico? What if they find out where I am be
fore I have a chance to find my birth parents?”
“It won’t happen. Put that from your mind. You took all the precautions you needed to in order to keep your location from them. My whole family agreed not to post anything online about the trip until we’re home. Your idea of telling them it wasn’t smart to post things that would show we weren’t at home was a brilliant one. Of course, Colby knows the truth. It’ll be like we get to re-live our vacation again when we do post.”
The briny smell of ocean felt heavy in the heat. After a quick dip, they found their way back to the cabana, where they ordered cabana service from a tan, tall server boy. Dinner wouldn’t be until around eight-thirty, and fancy restaurant food was never in abundance.
“We are so in hot guy heaven—and did you hear his accent? He sounds just like the cast of the show.”
“Funny how when you live somewhere you speak like the people there.” Kate laughed through her sarcasm.
“Shut up! It’s different hearing it in real life.” Ellie lay down on a lounger, and Kate did too, but only after grabbing the beach bag with her notebook. She rarely let herself be parted from it since she created it.
“Looks to me like Jersey boys are a bit rough. I’m not sure about the longer hair yet.”
“Rough around the edges is maybe not good for a full time boyfriend, but perfect for vacay.” Ellie pumped her eyebrows.
Kate pulled out the notebook and set it on the side table next to her. She wanted to grab the journal out and look over everything again, but she refrained, trying to be fun for Ellie. Ten minutes later, when both girls were dry of ocean water, but starting to sweat, their food arrived. After taking a big bite of her cheeseburger, Kate opened the notebook and turned to the page the two had used to plan their time while in Jersey. Tomorrow would be here before they knew it. She couldn’t wait a second longer. She needed to do something to stop her mind from going in circles about the possibilities tomorrow.
“Today we relax. Tomorrow we start bright and early.” Kate grinned and then frowned. “The church opens at ten on Saturdays. We’ll need to get up at seven in order to make it there by then.”
“Got it. But listen, when we get to the church—we need to be a bit strategic about what we say. We can’t just come right out about who you are and what you want.”
“Why not?” Kate asked.
“Um, hello? The blood, the intrigue? Your mom’s feelings—”
“Oh, she was just saying that to scare me off.”
“We can’t know for sure. I think we need to approach this carefully,” Ellie insisted. “Just follow my lead.”
Kate couldn’t help but laugh. “Okay, whatever you say.” She grinned at her best friend, “The next two days are going to be epic. Thank you for sacrificing them for me.” Kate couldn’t help but be grateful that no celebrities were at the hotel yet. She knew that once they arrived, she’d be on her own no matter what Ellie promised.
Ellie took a dainty bite of her veggie burger. Once she swallowed, she said, “It’s not a sacrifice actually. I think you’re the one that’s going to be sacrificing on this trip if you don’t find your parents.”
“Nah. I’m sure hanging around the celebs will be a constant party. It’ll be fun.” She tapped her fingers on the open page of the journal and pulled the locket out of the bag.
“Yes, it will,” Ellie said, her eyes twinkling. “I want you to let loose this time, okay? Fall in love for a day or two. See how awesome it is.”
“I don’t know. Pain isn’t my thing.” She sipped her smoothie and turned to the page in the book with the results from the face recognition app Ellie had used to compare the baby picture, the woman, and Kate. She ran her fingers over the numbers. 95%. Her stomach churned, and she set the smoothie down, trying to concentrate on Ellie’s words.
“It will be good practice for you. See if you can tell if the guy is a winner or not. Work on noticing everything.”
“I’ll try. I’m nervous about tomorrow and what this priest is going to say.”
“I have to admit the suspense of it all is killing me.” Ellie squealed. “What if he tells you exactly where your parents are? Are you going to be brave enough to go right to them? You’re going to have to dress with that in mind. Once the priest tells us their names, we’ll go straight to their house.”
Kate shook her head. “I don’t know what I’ll do. Seriously. This is unbelievable really. I never thought…” she stopped, a golf ball filling her throat. Swallowing wouldn’t dislodge it.
“Ah, Katiekins. It’s going to work out. You’ll see.”
Colby walked in. “Drama? Cute guy got you down?”
“No, Colby,” Ellie said with an exasperated huff. “She could find her birth parents tomorrow. That’s like the best and worst thing ever.”
He nodded and said, “You know, Katiebug, even if they aren’t there for you, it doesn’t change how we feel about you. You are loved, and it would be their loss.”
How did he know that’s what had upset her? How did he know her greatest fear was of rejection? She was finally able to swallow the lump, and he nodded. He really was like the perfect big brother.
“What if they don’t want me? What if they have other kids? What if we don’t find them at all?” She stood up and started to pace.
“They will want you, and having more brothers and sisters wouldn’t be a bad thing. We will find them.”
“But they gave me up. Maybe they thought I was defective in some way. And why would they keep other kids and not me? What does that say about me?” She scrunched up her nose and looked to the top of the cabana in hopes of staving off tears.
“I know you’re scared, but dwelling on all the bad possibilities won’t help.” Kate could feel Colby’s sincerity and she appreciated it, but he’d never understand. Not really. “If you want me to come with tomorrow, I’m happy to. I can be the muscle forcing the priest to give us the information.” He flexed his muscles.
“It’s okay. Ellie and I can handle it, I think.”
“Okay, but if anyone gets up in your grill, call me. I’ll set them straight.”
“I keep telling her she needs to stay optimistic. Things are falling into place.” Ellie put her hand on Kate’s sweaty back. “You are strong and brave.”
“Keep me in the loop, though, really.” Colby grabbed her hand. Kate sniffed and, not wanting to bring a cloud over the evening, said, “You’re right. There’s no use in worrying.”
“I’m dying of the heat,” Colby said. “Last one into the water is a dead sea lion.” He dashed out. After a quick breath, Ellie ran after him. Kate opened the locket and stared at the picture. “Are you here, Mom? Have you been looking for me?”
Blame it on all the sun or the late dinner the day previous, but Kate slept like a rock and when her alarm sounded, she immediately turned it off without really waking up. Two hours later and a bit sunburned, she startled awake. She stared around the room in a frantic search for the familiar. When her eyes lit on a still sleeping Ellie, she was able to catch her breath and relax. A second wave of hysterics pushed through her when she realized it was really light outside. She snatched her charging phone off the side table and moaned when she saw it was already nine. She shook Ellie. “Ellie, we slept through the alarm. It’s already nine.”
“What?” Ellie said, rolling over and snuggling deeper into the covers.
“Get up!” Kate hit Ellie with her pillow. “We’ve lost two hours already. We’ll have to skip the beach run. There’s no time for breakfast. I’m getting in the shower. Maybe you can use Colby’s?”
Ellie grunted, and Kate sent another pillow her way as she plopped onto the floor. She took the fastest shower possible. She’d have to dry her hair and straighten it. It was the fastest style she knew how to do. With a towel wrapped around her, she did her makeup. Once her hair was dry, Ellie opened the bathroom door and joined her. She picked up the straightener and started on Kate’s hair. “I think you should wear that cute purple
flower dress. It’ll show them you’re classy but have a fun, flirty side too. If you wear those nude strappy shoes you brought, it will make your legs look like they never end. Are we leaving your hair down?”
“Yeah. I think so.”
“I’ll add a little wave okay?”
“Sure.” Kate watched their reflection as Ellie ran the straightener over her hair. It was so surreal—going through these motions as if it were any normal day. Kate felt like she might throw up. “I don’t know if I can do this. My heart is going to jump out of my chest. What if the priest tells me my parents are dead? What if they’re alive and do have other kids and don’t want anything to do with me?”
“Deep breaths. You’re working yourself into a frenzy for nothing. You can’t change the past. And if they have other kids that they kept, there will be a good reason why they didn’t keep you. Maybe it’s like your mom thought. Maybe you and your parents were in danger somehow and they had to give you up to save you? Focus on the positive and no more what ifs.”
Kate took deep breaths and stared at herself in the mirror telling herself to be calm, that it would all work out.
“I love your hair. It’s amazing. The sun already made it lighter.” Ellie stopped and looked into the mirror. “Is mine lighter too?”
Kate snorted, trying to calm the hope and anxiety having a battle inside her gut. “You crack me up.” Ellie was not the patient type. Kate knew her hair wasn’t lighter, and Ellie’s wasn’t either.
The conversation turned to what they needed to find out. “The first item of business is going to St. Catharine’s and finding Father Cremashci.”
“And you’re going to let me talk,” Ellie admonished.
“And I’m going to let you do the talking,” Kate said. She continued to breathe deeply
“We’ll find out what he knows, and we’ll deal with it when it comes.”