The Switch

by Heather Justesen

  He wished he knew. “Right now I’m running on adrenaline. When I see her I’ll find out what’s up. Then we’ll go from there. This guy, Gavin, asked me to take her back home to Junction City.”

  There was a long pause before Tia spoke again, and her voice had cooled slightly. “You’re not going to be back in time to take us out tomorrow, are you?”

  “No, I’m really sorry. I won’t be back until early Wednesday, or late the night before—Tell Samantha I’ll make it up to you guys next week. I promise.” He hated to cancel their date, but it wasn’t his fault that things were going wrong.

  The sound of a car door opening and closing, and Samantha’s voice filtered through the background on Tia’s end. “Of course,” Tia said.

  “Who is it Mommy?” Samantha’s voice asked.

  “Danny. He said he’s not going to make it tomorrow. Something came up, sweetie.”

  “What? But he promised!”

  Danny’s gut clenched. He hated disappointing people. He wished he had time to wait until Samantha had gotten out of school so he could explain it all in person, but it wouldn’t wait and he was already halfway to the hospital. He heard Tia’s soft murmur, then Samantha’s demand that she be allowed to talk to him.

  A moment later her voice came onto the line. “Hi, Danny. What do you mean you can’t take us?”

  “Sorry, sweet pea. I have a problem.” He searched for the right words, to ease the disappointment as much as possible.

  “What kind of problem?”

  “I have this friend who’s sick and she needs me to pick her up from the hospital and take her home.”

  “But I thought you took sick people to the hospital, not from the hospital to their homes.” Her voice was petulant and he could imagine her slouched in a pout, her free hand fisted and pounding her knee as he’d seen her do before.

  Danny smiled at the image. “This is different. She’s over the border in Kansas and she needs to get home to her parents in Junction City. She’s been away from home a really long time.”

  Her voice turned to a full-out whine. “Why can’t her parents come get her? I want to go to the movie.”

  “I know, sweet pea. I’m sorry. I promise we’ll still do movie and dinner and everything next week when I get back.” He felt like a jerk and wished things were different.

  “When are you coming back?”

  “Not until Wednesday. And then I’ll have to work for a few days. It’ll probably be next Saturday before we can go out.”

  “But, Danny, you promised!” Samantha’s voice rose to a wail and he heard her sniffle.

  “Honey, I’m really sorry.” He grasped for any way to make her understand. “Hey, I want you to think of Casey. What would you do if she was sick?”

  No sounds but sniffling came through the phone, so she was still listening.

  “And what if she was so sick she needed you to help her, because no one else could. If you had to give up something you wanted to do so you could help her, would you help her anyway?”

  Sniffle. “Yeah.”

  “I have to help my friend Laura. When I’ve helped her get home and straighten things around, I’ll be back and we’ll still get to have a fun time together. I’ll explain everything to you then, and I’ll make sure you get to meet her someday.”

  She heaved a deep, put upon sigh. “All right. I’ll see you later.” She didn’t sound happy, but at least she wasn’t throwing a tantrum anymore.

  “Thanks, Samantha. Can you pass me back to your mom?”

  “Yeah. Bye.” Her voice was low and filled with disappointment, making guilt twist in his stomach.

  “Bye, honey.”

  A moment passed before Tia’s voice returned. “Sounds like you worked it out with her.”

  “I am really sorry about all of this. If I’d known—”

  “That’s why they call them emergencies, Danny.” Her words were perfectly sensible, but her voice was clipped. “You can’t schedule them into your week.”

  “Yeah. I guess so.”

  “Have a safe trip.”

  “I will. Take care of yourself, and the girls.” He wanted to say more, but didn’t know what to say. He wanted to tell her what he was feeling, except he wasn’t sure he knew what he felt. A big part of him still thought this was going to turn out to be a wild goose chase.

  “Of course. That’s what I do.”

  “I’ll call you tomorrow.

  “Sure.”

  “Bye.” Danny hung up feeling dissatisfied about the way it had all gone, and unable to figure out how to fix it.

  * * *

  Tia’s grandmother lived in a tiny house in an old, dilapidated neighborhood in east Kansas City. She had raised two sons in the two-bedroom apartment while her husband worked strange hours as a bus driver for the city transit system. When he received a spinal injury in an accident at work, he was unable to return to his job, or any job full time again, and she’d gone to school and received her CAN. Then she worked her tail off in a nursing home while she earned her RN certification. She had spent most of her life working in that nursing home, and had commented to Tia more than once that she feared she would work there until she had to move into it herself.

  Thankfully Ron had been successful enough to pay off the little home she lived in and purchase her a decent car. When her social security benefits had kicked in, Glena was able to quit work and settle back on her 401K and government benefits. In addition to a couple of trips to her hometown in Alabama, she’d even taken a few trips to exotic locals like Florida and Louisiana.

  Tia smiled to herself at the thought of her grandmother stretched out on the beach, trying to get a tan. It would never happen, though it was easy to see her under an enormous umbrella in a light sundress and lounging while she read. She had invited Tia to join her in Florida, had even offered to pay the plane fare a couple of years back, but Tia hadn’t taken her up on the offer. It would have meant leaving the girls with Nichole for several days when Tristi was far too young to be left with someone else, and kicking in for a few expenses, which Tia couldn’t manage financially.

  She pushed the doorbell and smiled at the plastic flowers arranged in a vase beside the door. They were faded and nowhere near realistic, but they made Glena happy, so what could Tia say?

  The door opened, exposing her grandmother’s wrinkled smile and bright blue eyes. “Tia, I’m so glad you stopped by. Where are the girls?”

  Tia entered at her grandma’s behest. “At the neighbors’. I believe the older girls will be making gingerbread houses with graham crackers while the younger girls tip over stacks of blocks. I’ll bring them next time, but I wanted to talk to you without a dozen interruptions for a change.” The house always smelled of pine cleaner and had a warm, comfortable feel.

  Glena’s belly laugh—her laugh was as full out and heartfelt as everything else in her life—filled the room. “Well, I’m glad to see you, anyway. How are things at work?”

  “They’re going well. I’ve been thinking about putting together a cookbook. It’s kind of overwhelming and exciting all at once.”

  “Good for you. How excitin’. I always knew you were the grandchild who would go somewhere, do somethin’. Right there in the hospital I could see it in you.”

  “You’re sweet.” Tia sank into the old gold sofa and accepted the tin of cookies Glena handed her.

  “Not at all. I’ve always felt lucky to have you for my granddaughter.” She bustled to the kitchen for drinks—as she always did when someone arrived. “Now, what else is goin’ on in your life? Any hunky men?” She peered out through the doorway into the living area.

  Tia smiled to herself and took a bite of the rosemary shortbread from the tin. She sighed in appreciation as the flavors hit her tongue. “Is this my recipe?”

  “Of course, honey. Where else would I get a recipe like that?” Glena brought over a couple Cokes, handing one to Tia, who took it gratefully and popped the can open.

  Glena
settled into the chair across from her and opened her own can. “What was that smile? You have yourself a man, don’t you? Come on, child, tell me everythin’.”

  Tia laughed. “I’ve been seeing someone. It’s nothing serious.” Now. And after he ditched us, maybe never. The thought made her uncomfortable, though, so she moved past it. “We’re just enjoying each other’s company. He’s so unlike Lee in so many ways, but in the best ways, they’re very alike.” It surprised her to hear the words, as she hadn’t allowed herself to think about how the men compared and contrasted, but she knew it was true.

  “Is this someone you’ve met since the birthday party? Why haven’t you been over here tellin’ your old grandmother all about him before now?”

  “Actually, we’d met before the dinner, but we didn’t start seeing each other until after.” She ran her finger around the rim of her soda can, a little confused by everything.

  “Well why not? What’s wrong with the man that he can’t look and see my grandbaby is the best thing he’ll ever find? I don’t know if he’s good enough if he didn’t want to snatch you up the moment you met.”

  Tia sipped her soda and tamped back her smile. She should have come here sooner. Grandma always made her feel better. “I was having a bit of trouble breathing when I met him—and not because he’s gorgeous and has a gentle touch, though both are true.”

  “Mmmhmm, that’s what I’m talkin’ about, girl, if they make you catch your breath, it’s worth checkin’ into. You been alone too long already.”

  Tia’s objection was automatic. “It hasn’t been that long since Lee died.”

  “You keep sayin’ that, but time passes so fast. One minute it’s here, and the next,” Glena snapped her fingers for emphasis, “it’s gone. Don’t waste your time, honey, or you’ll regret it.”

  Privately, Tia thought she was better off taking her time with this one. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “So what you been up to other than gettin’ yourself a young man—he is young, right? You’re not seein’ someone old enough to be your daddy?”

  Tia laughed. “No, he’s about my age, no worries there.”

  Glena wiped her forehead and shook off her hand as if she had been sweating over the answer. “That’s good then, but what else is goin’ on? Besides the man.”

  Tia nibbled on another cookie. “I’ve spent some time trying to figure out where I came from.”

  “I thought you already figured that out when you found Jesus, honey.” When Tia didn’t respond, Glena’s mouth firmed. “You mean you’ve been lookin’ into that blood-type fiasco. Your momma stepped out on your daddy. There ain’t no other explanation. She always did have a wandering eye, even when they first met. I don’t know what your daddy ever saw in her.”

  Tia played with the cookie, studying it for a moment. She would ignore the slurs on her mother—Glena had hated Mona for as long as Tia could remember. Since long before her parents’ marriage had imploded. “Actually, there is one other explanation for the blood types.”

  “Tia, you don’t want to go there.”

  “We did a DNA test. Mom, Dad and me. All three of us.” She sipped her drink, hoping to get the lump in her throat to slide down, but it didn’t help. She kept her eyes firmly focused on the cookie. “It turns out I’m not their biological daughter.”

  “Hogwash.” Glena waved her hand, as if to bat the notion away. Tia looked up in surprise and saw her grandmother’s red face. “I don’t believe it,” Glena said.

  “It’s true. I’ve been trying to wrap my mind around it, figure out what to do next, but I feel so overwhelmed. I even went to the newspaper office and looked up the births from the day I was born. Did you know there were ten girls all born within twenty-four hours of me? Ten? Do you have any idea how long it’s going to take me to weed through all of them?” She’d spent so many hours already just covering four names, and she still wasn’t sure about a couple of them.

  “Why waste your time, child? Does it matter who your biological parents are? You have that sweet father of yours, and your mother will certainly keep meetin’s from gettin’ boring—she has a flare for drama.” There was censure in her voice, and a bit of pleading.

  Tia smiled at her grandma, though the last thing she felt was mirth. “I know you and Mom don’t get on well.”

  “We haven’t gotten on at all almost since the day I met her. The tramp.” She crossed her arms over her chest and put on a stubborn expression.

  “Grandma,” Tia protested.

  “I’m sorry it pains you to hear it, dear, but you know how she is.”

  There was no question about that. Tia sighed. Fighting about this wouldn’t make anything better. “Yes, I know how she is.”

  “Now, you put all thoughts of search out of your head, and focus on the great life you have. Two adorable girls, a job you love, a cookbook in the works, and a hunk of man who you better be bringin’ to meet me soon.”

  “Grandma!” Tia wasn’t scandalized, Glena had always been outspoken. “If things look like they’re going to keep going between us, I’ll bring Danny by to meet you. No way am I going to have you pick at him to propose when we’ve only seen each other socially a few times.” Okay, way more than a few by now, but she wasn’t going to encourage her grandma.

  “Well how long does it take you? Make your move, girl. Don’t let him get away!”

  Tia felt the laughter bubble up inside of her before it flowed out her mouth. She loved this woman—funny how much more happy and comfortable it was to visit with her was than with Mona.

  Nineteen

  It was almost five when Danny reached the hospital and found the floor where Laura was staying. He felt his feet slow as he approached the room. What if it wasn’t her? What if, after all of this, it ended up being someone else entirely? He steeled himself for disappointment before rounding the open doorway and looking into the room.

  The woman on the bed had the same brown hair, though considerably shorter than before, the same soft, open eyes. She turned her head and looked at him and a smile broke over her face. Something was different there, something in the face, besides the scars running along her brow. The smile, though, it was all Laura.

  She grinned at him. “I should have known it would be you, if I’d remembered you.”

  Danny stood for only a moment staring at her, not sure if he believed what he saw, or what he heard—Laura’s unmistakable voice. Then he took two long steps and scooped her into his arms, his throat clogging, his eyes watering and his heart bursting with relief. It was her. He buried his face in her silken hair, holding her tight. “I thought you were dead. I can’t believe it. When that guy tracked me down at the fire department and said you were alive, I thought he was crazy. I can’t believe it,” he mumbled as he held her close.

  “How could I possibly forget you?”

  “Nothing’s been the same since you died.” He took another moment to study her. Close up, he could see she wore heavy makeup, which nearly covered some scars he had missed before. When he slid his fingers across her cheek, however, he could feel the bumps. “You look really great for a dead woman. Beautiful as always. I love your hair like this.” He flicked a lock back and tried to figure out what else had changed. “I know what’s different—you have a new nose. Cute.” He tapped it with his finger. He preferred her old nose, but who was he to quibble when she was alive?

  He saw her look over his shoulder at the door, and something altered in her face. The excitement shifted to longing. He glanced behind him and saw Gavin watching them, his brow furrowed. He looked at both of them, but didn’t say anything, or return Laura’s smile.

  “Gavin, come in,” she said.

  She extricated herself from Danny’s arms and he turned toward the doorway. “I guess you’ve met. Thank you. I think you picked exactly the right person to take me home.”

  “I’m glad.” Gavin carried a suitcase, his other hand deep in his pocket.

  “He didn’t tell me ho
w you know each other.” Danny studied them both, watching their reactions.

  Laura looked like she was trying to figure out how to explain. “He’s um, a friend. I’ve been working for him for the past few weeks.” She looked as though there was a whole lot more to things than she said. Her right eye twitched, a sure sign she’d left something out.

  When she opened her mouth to try again, Gavin spoke first. “I was starting to think we worked for you, as efficient as you were at keeping us in line.”

  Danny laughed even while wondering what really lay between this man and Laura. Something decidedly more than friendship. “She does tend to be that way. I’m glad to see amnesia didn’t change her too much.”

  “Laura’s been a real asset to our business,” Gavin said and Danny took the bag he held out, his curiosity growing by the second. “As soon as she got home, Megan collected a few more things for you. She wanted me to bring them by. I know they’re Adrianna’s, but,” he shrugged. “It’s not like anyone else will need them.” He mumbled the last bit, as though thinking better of it.

  Laura reached out and took Gavin’s hand. “Tell her and Jake thanks for everything, and please tell him I’m so sorry. I wish I’d had a chance to talk to him, but he’s probably not ready yet.”

  Gavin nodded, then released her hand slowly. “He’s pretty broken up. It’s been an eventful couple of months, hasn’t it?”

  All of the joy was gone from Laura’s eyes now. “Thanks for everything you’ve done. You’ve really helped me through. Take care of yourself and give Aiden a hug for me.”

  “I will. The office won’t be the same without you.” His eyes lingered a while before he turned toward Danny. “Take care of her. She tends to try to do too much at once.” He looked back at Laura. There was a long moment of silence before he spoke. “Megan said to remind you to keep in touch.”

  She nodded slightly. “I will. Everyone’s been so good to me. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. Especially considering . . . everything.”

  The moment lengthened and Danny was about to interrupt the tense silence when Gavin asked, “Where’re you going?”