He met them at the self-service ticketing kiosks, where San checked one bag, pleased about dodging the extra bag fee. “First class, baby!” Nothing made his sister happier than the prospect of luxury service.
After the clerk took her bag, San crept close and whispered in his ear, “Don’t look now, but someone’s here.”
“Who?” Nattie asked, displaying her keen sense of hearing. Although Jack didn’t catch San’s meaning, he ignored Nattie’s question and kissed the top of her head.
“Okay, don’t tell me,” Nattie muttered.
San gave him another furtive look, and he glanced around, trying to appear casual, and finally spotted her. Kelly was there, conducting business at the Delta counter, accompanied by an older gentleman with bright white hair and Texan attire, complete with necktie.
Her father? Jack speculated, then remembered her father had passed.
He shrugged toward San, who mouthed, “You sure missed the boat!” He almost laughed at her final dig. Pure San.
Jack picked up her carry-on bag, and they walked across the hall, joining the end of the security line, a line which looked to be longer than usual, leaving them a good twenty-five minutes before San would enter the heart of TSA.
Jack wondered if Kelly would end up joining them in the same line, if only a few feet behind, and he worried how Nattie would respond. She’d probably pull on his shirt. “Kelly’s here! Can I say hi?”
Jack whispered his intentions in San’s ear and mussed Nattie’s hair. He noted she was busy with her spiral notebook. He traced his way back to the ticket counter, keeping an eye peeled for Kelly.
He found her just outside the coffee shop, standing with the gentleman he’d seen earlier. Her eyes lit up when she saw him, greeting him without reservation.
“Kelly,” he said simply, smiling and hugging her as the tall Texan looked on, taking in her scent, remembering the way he felt when she was near. Regret swirled within him like a sickness, and he wished he’d never let her walk out of the house.
Kelly gestured toward the Texan and introduced him as Chet. “He’s like a second father to me.”
Chet shook his hand, giving him a close scrutiny, his bushy eyebrows furrowing.
As if in answer to Jack’s unspoken question, Kelly patted Chet’s arm. “Jack knows everything.”
Chet’s eyebrows climbed his forehead. “Everything?”
Kelly smiled at Jack. “Well . . . not the latest.” She seemed absolutely radiant, and he guessed her news immediately.
“May I?” Chet asked like a southern gentleman, slightly tipping his head toward her in a kind of deference.
“Please.”
Chet fixed him with a dignified expression. “We found Emily.”
Jack wasn’t surprised, but he was taken aback by his own emotions. He felt terribly relieved for her. “Congratulations,” he said, looking at Kelly.
“I’ve just come back to box up the rest of my things. I’m moving to Chicago,” she announced, a wistful sadness now mingled with her obvious joy. “I get to meet her next week.” She looked away, and Jack felt another twinge of regret for how she must feel in his presence. This was her big moment, what she’d waited years for, and here he was, raining on her parade.
“I’m so happy for you,” Jack said, politely backing away. He glanced up the hallway and realized that San and Nattie had barely moved.
Kelly touched Chet’s arm. “Jack’s a pilot.” The admission appeared to raise his estimation in Chet’s eyes, thus preventing Jack’s quick escape. He chatted with them a few minutes longer as Chet peppered him with aviation questions. All the while, Kelly studied him. Apparently Chet had flown years ago and had always wanted to rediscover flight, now that he had the time for it. Their conversation ended when Jack offered his business card.
Chet pulled out his readers, studying the scant information. “So . . . you teach flying?”
Jack nodded.
“Excellent, young man.”
Jack finally managed a good-bye, which he and Kelly did without sharing another hug, although Chet clutched his hand like a good Texan should. “Expect my call.”
“I’ll look forward to it,” Jack replied, backing away, giving Kelly a final nod.
He rejoined San and Nattie in line, glancing back to see Kelly and Chet heading into the coffee shop. With any luck, they wouldn’t be in line when he and Nattie walked out of the airport.
San glanced at him, obviously curious about the conversation, and mouthed the words, “You see her?”
He nodded. “It’s all good.”
Nattie whipped around. “What’s all good?”
“Noo Yawk, baby!” San said, and she tapped Nattie’s head. Nattie gave Jack a suspicious look. I know that’s not what you meant.
There were only three people ahead of them. They had seconds to go when San turned and locked eyes with him. He gave her a tender smile, and another flicker of knowing seemed to pass between them.
Jack touched her arm. “I love you, sis.”
San sighed miserably and reached for him.
Hugging her, Jack patted her back. “I can’t wait to visit you in the Big Apple. Nattie’s already stoked.”
“Thank you for being my brother,” she whispered, and he was about to let her go when she added, “And thank you . . . for the cemetery. It meant a lot to me. What you said, you know?”
He shrugged and was about to release her again, but she still wouldn’t let go.
“I know you forgive Mom, but . . . do you forgive me, too?”
“Of course,” he murmured back.
“It wasn’t a mistake,” she whispered. “Picking you. We always knew you were the best choice.”
Jack patted her back and felt her squeeze him even tighter, and before she broke away, she said, “Take care of our little girl, okay?”
He promised, and she finally let him go, turning to Nattie, who had been eyeing them curiously. San engulfed Nattie in her arms, and Nattie’s eyes watered. Her lip quivered, and San popped her chin gently. “Hey, hey, none of that crying stuff. I’ll see you in two weeks!”
Nattie sniffed and nodded. “Two weeks. Promise?”
“Hope to die.”
Nattie laughed through her tears. “Don’t say that.”
San grinned and Nattie stuck out her hand. “Deal.”
San shook on it. It was official. And by now, she was next in line. San wiped her eyes and extended her ID to the security agent, who examined it with a blue light, peered at the boarding pass, then handed everything back to San, officially clearing her through to the next phase of examination.
Jack and Nattie ducked out of line and watched San as she headed for the conveyer belt. Jack glanced to the right, his eyes sweeping the crowd. Kelly still hadn’t entered the queue.
San placed her shoulder bag in a tray, removing her shoes, and putting them beside the bag. She turned one last time, mouthed “I love you,” and patted her heart.
Jack did the same. And so did Nattie. They watched as San walked through the metal detector, facing the front for a moment before walking out the other side.
Holding Nattie’s hand, Jack steered her toward the escalators, worrying all the while whether Nattie might look back and spot Kelly.
They walked to the truck in silence, and on the way home, Nattie stared out the window, her expression glum but thoughtful, too.
“I saw her, you know,” she finally said, her voice matter-of-fact.
Jack sighed, feeling stupid. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
“I didn’t know what to do,” he offered feebly. “I was afraid you’d be upset.”
“I would have cried.”
Jack swallowed his own remorse.
“She’s moving away, isn’t she?”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t want to say good-bye twice in one day.”
“I understand.”
For the rest of the way home, the miles rushed by, a blur of
memories and brown grass. Jack thought of Kelly and how often she’d traveled that exact route down to see them. He’d never once traveled up to see her. He’d offered a couple times, but she’d always found a way to demur.
Nattie remained subdued but not depressed, not by the sound of her tone, and if anyone could decipher Nattie’s mood, he could.
When they turned off the highway, Nattie whispered softly, “We’re home.”
“We are.”
“It’s just you and me now,” she said.
“Is that okay?”
She looked out the window. “I guess some kids just don’t have mothers, you know.”
Jack nodded.
“It’s okay,” she whispered softly. “Especially when they have cool dads to make up for it.”
Chapter 40
Kelly’s high-rise apartment was located a mere three miles from Megan’s family and only two miles from Kelly’s temporary job with Westin and Westin, a financial management firm—an envelope-stuffing job and a step down, but she didn’t mind.
The day following her initial arrival, when she’d met Michelle Sparks in the hallway of the legal firm, Kelly had also been introduced to Michelle’s husband, Harold, CEO of a pharmaceutical company.
During that particular meeting, Kelly became persuaded that Megan’s parents were innocent of any complicity. At the time of the adoption, they’d had no idea Megan was channeled through a black-market network, although as the years went by and they learned of the adoption agency’s indictment for fraud, their fears had developed. Horrified at the possibility that their daughter might have been stolen, they became determined to uncover the truth. In fact, their attorney had been the one to contact Ernie, having learned of his name through Kelly’s website.
Kelly and Megan’s adoptive parents met a second time to hammer out a slow transition to what would ultimately become something akin to shared custody. Kelly had made a quick return trip to Akron for more of her things, and after a few days to settle into her new place in Chicago, she was quite eager to meet Megan, albeit under pretense.
As far as Megan would know, Kelly was her new baby-sitter.
Their young, ultra-hip chauffeur picked her up and drove her to the Sparkses’ home, where he parked in the circular driveway while Kelly headed for the front door to meet face-to-face the little girl she’d so longed to see.
The home’s exterior was similar to a Tudor-style mansion. When she was ushered inside by a housekeeper, she felt as if she’d stepped into a British castle. The surroundings were more intimidating than she had imagined, and it gradually dawned on her why they were willing to allow her such liberal access to Megan. They’re highly exposed to a potentially expensive wrongful adoption suit.
In a few moments, her daughter wandered down the long staircase, wearing jeans and a frilly pink shirt. With one hand on the banister, she gazed at Kelly somewhat shyly, brown eyes intent.
“This is Kelly,” Michelle Sparks announced awkwardly, standing back a bit.
My Emily. It was hard to keep her breathing steady, but Kelly was determined to make this the best possible moment for the two of them.
Michelle had been quite correct. Megan was the spitting image of Kelly, and if she didn’t mind thinking so, the young brunette was truly beautiful.
“Kelly’s going to spend some time with you, honey, while we go into the city,” Michelle told Megan.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Kelly.” The well-mannered child stepped forward to offer her slight hand, responding as a charm-school student might.
Kelly shook her small hand. Remember me? She wished she might wrap the darling girl in her arms, holding her for all the moments—years—she’d been deprived of her. Oh, the pain . . . and, at last, the joy.
Some time later, before Megan’s adoptive mom left the house, Kelly asked if she might bake some cookies with Megan and was surprised that this would be a first for the girl. It took no time for Megan to get into cookie-making mode, there in the high-ceilinged kitchen, surrounded by hardwood cabinets and marble-topped counters. Especially after Megan had her first taste of raw cookie dough. “Yummy,” she said, licking her fingers. “This tastes better than cookies!”
So the ice was broken, and a friendship forged. And while the cookies baked, Kelly produced a few magic tricks for her spellbound daughter.
“Will you please show me how, Miss Kelly?”
Kelly agreed as they laughed together, and soon Megan was sharing stories about her private school, her friends, and even a couple of nerdy boys—Yuck!
The second visit, the following week, went equally well. Kelly once again arrived in the guise of a sitter, and this time Michelle met Kelly at the door instead of the housekeeper.
“She hasn’t stopped talking about you,” Michelle exclaimed. “You made quite an impression.” Michelle’s voice was upbeat, even optimistic, but Kelly could hear a pensive tone, a tightness to her voice.
This time while Megan’s parents “went into the city,” Kelly and Megan played computer games on a sixty-four-inch screen, in a luxurious space filled with overstuffed couches and chairs, floor to ceiling paneled wood walls, and covered with plush carpeting.
When Megan’s parents returned, Megan hugged Kelly for the first time. “When are you coming back?”
Her parents smiled sweetly at this and the progress Kelly had made so far, but their eyes betrayed them.
For the next visit, a third Saturday, Kelly determined to tone it down further, unwilling to alienate the dear people who had invited her into their lives, although Michelle pulled her aside before Megan came down, and praised Kelly. “You’ve made Megan so happy.”
Kelly wasn’t sure how to respond. “I want you to know, Mrs. Sparks—”
“Michelle,” she corrected, gently.
“I’m not trying to win her over or anything . . . or compete with your affections,” Kelly said, touching Michelle’s arm. “I just want to make a good impression.”
Michelle shook her head. “It’s all good, Kelly. We want Megan to like you. We want her to love you.”
Michelle pulled her into Megan’s playroom. The walls were lined with shelves, well-loved picture books competing for space among chapter books and posters of current Christian bands. “You’re free to spend time in here with Megan,” she said. “I think I’ve read a few of these books hundreds of times.” Michelle gestured to the childhood classics that lined the lower shelves.
Kelly looked around at the expanse of educational reading material.
“I taught her to read at three,” Michelle added. “You have a very smart daughter. And I can’t say how glad we were to hear that you are a believer.”
Kelly nodded.
“Megan is learning about the Lord from all of us,” Michelle said, but her throat caught, and her eyes teared up.
Kelly agreed. Another gift from God.
When Megan appeared in the doorway, she ran to Kelly and hugged her. “I heard we are going to the mall!”
Kelly confirmed this, and Megan cheered, pulling on her vest and tan boots.
Once there, they spent most of their time in an apparel store, trying on jeans. After an hour of this and a dozen discarded pairs, Megan finally found something she thought would get her mother’s approval.
“Did you know my mom’s birthday is coming up?”
“Have you bought anything?”
Megan shook her head. “Dad usually buys something to give her.”
Kelly suggested they change it up and pick something out together. While they walked the mall trying to decide, Kelly secretly called Harold Sparks. He answered in a worried tone. “Is everything okay?”
Kelly meekly presented her suggestion, not wanting to step on his plans, but he was pleased. “I haven’t purchased anything yet, so it’s perfect.”
In the end, Megan picked out a card at Hallmark and a glass plaque, which included the words To the Best Mom in the World.
In the food court, they ate
tacos for lunch, sitting across from Baskin-Robbins, eyeing their next plunder.
“Let’s get cookie dough!” Megan announced.
Later, while Megan experienced cookie dough ice cream for the first time, she fixed Kelly with a curious expression. “You’re not a normal sitter, are you?”
“Why do you think that?”
She licked her cone. “Because my parents are at home.”
Kelly made some kind of excuse, following the rules they’d set, a timeline that wouldn’t give Megan the full truth for another month.
“I really like you,” Megan announced.
“I like you, too.”
Having finished their cones, Kelly took Megan to a gift-wrapping kiosk, and they surrounded Michelle’s gift in festive flourish. Thirty minutes later, Kelly dropped Megan off at the stone steps that led to the massive arched oak front door.
Megan turned in her seat. “I can’t wait to see you next week.”
“Me either,” Kelly admitted.
“Can I text you?”
“Let’s ask your parents, and if they agree, I’ll give you my number.” Kelly mussed Megan’s adorable brunette hair.
The fourth week, Kelly took Megan to a movie.
“My mom is sad,” Megan said before the theater went dark.
“Why?”
“I don’t know, but she doesn’t think I know.”
They munched on popcorn and watched the latest Disney release, and Kelly thought of Nattie the entire time. How far toward the top of her favorite list would this movie climb?
They went to a photo booth and had goofy pictures taken together, giggling at the results. Kelly gave them to Megan.
“Do you have another job?” Megan asked suddenly.
Kelly nodded.
“My mom never worked,” Megan announced. “She told me all she ever wanted was to be a mommy, and she said that when she saw me for the first time, her life was finally perfect.”
“I can see why.”
“I’m adopted, you know.”
“Yeah,” Kelly said. “How do you feel about that?”
“Lucky,” Megan said. “My mom picked me out. All the other moms are stuck with what they get.”
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