Unraveling the Pieces

by Terri DuLong

  Ben shifted to face me. I saw the expectant look on his face. “Really? How did it go?”

  “Very well. She sounds so nice, and she was thrilled to hear from me. She’s more than willing to talk to me and tell me whatever I want to know.”

  “Oh, Petra. I’m so happy for you. That’s great.”

  “It is. And she invited me to lunch a week from today. Next Saturday at noon. I told her I’d be bringing you, and she’s looking forward to seeing both of us. You can go, can’t you?”

  Ben pulled me into an embrace and kissed the side of my neck. “Absolutely. Thank you for including me.”

  We finished our glasses of champagne before sitting down to a dinner of roast pork, cheese potatoes, and squash.

  “That was just delicious,” I said, wiping my lips with the linen napkin.

  “I helped Miss Betsy with the potatoes,” Jonah said.

  I gave him a smile. “And you did a super job.”

  “Can we have the cake and gifts now, Dad? I’ll help you clear the table.”

  I started to get up, but Ben held up a hand. “Nope. You’re the birthday girl, so no helping. Jonah and I have this covered, don’t we?”

  Jonah nodded his head emphatically. “Yup. We do.”

  I sat there feeling pretty special. I wasn’t used to having two guys fawning over me. And I rather liked it.

  They returned a few minutes later with Ben carrying a beautiful cake, birthday candles glowing, and both of them singing “Happy Birthday.”

  “Oh, what a gorgeous cake,” I said.

  “Miss Betsy made it for you,” Jonah told me.

  “I’ll be sure to thank her.”

  Jonah came to stand beside me. “Blow out the candles. You have to make a wish.”

  I laughed as I followed his instructions.

  “What did you wish for?” he asked.

  “She can’t tell you or it won’t come true,” Ben said and sent me a wink.

  At that moment I couldn’t think of a thing to wish for except to be able to stay in Ben’s and Jonah’s lives.

  Jonah ran to get the presents and placed them in front of me. “You can open them now.”

  He stood next to me again, and this time I felt his body leaning into me. I was beginning to understand the magic of children. They just naturally made everything more fun. The expression “seeing things through a child’s eyes” was taking on new meaning.

  I began to unwrap the first gift, and Jonah said, “Those are from Dad.”

  Removing the last of the paper, I saw two novels. Both had been recently released and the stories centered on dogs.

  “Oh, thank you so much. I had seen these on Amazon and have wanted to read them.”

  “Good,” Ben said. “I hope you’ll enjoy them.”

  “Now mine. Now mine,” Jonah said with excitement as he passed me a box.

  I removed the paper and opened the box to see L’Occitane bath products in the verbena scent I loved. Bubble bath, shower gel, and body lotion.

  “Oh, I love these. Thank you so much, Jonah.” I pulled him to me for a squeeze and he didn’t resist, which meant more to me than the gift.

  “Betsy helped me choose them.”

  I smiled. “Well, she has very good taste. Thank you again. I’ll really enjoy these.”

  The three of us had cake and ice cream, and then we shared a small scoop of the ice cream with Lucy and Ethel.

  By the time I walked in my front door just before ten, I knew this truly had been the best birthday I could remember. And the main reason for that was one particular man and his son.

  Chapter 21

  The following morning I was sitting at the kitchen counter, sipping coffee and reading the Sunday paper, when the doorbell rang. I glanced at the clock and saw it was just before nine. Who would be visiting so early on a Sunday morning? I hoped it wasn’t Ben because I was still in my jammies, no makeup, and my hair was a mess.

  Lotte ran to the door, and I opened it to find Isabelle standing there loaded down with a pastry box, gift bag, and birthday balloons.

  “Hey,” I said, moving aside so she could come in. “What are you doing here so early?”

  “Apologizing for missing your birthday yesterday,” she said, walking to the kitchen and placing the items on the counter.

  She turned around to pull me into an embrace. “Happy birthday, Petra. Can you forgive me for being a day late?”

  I laughed. “Hey, I even forgot it was my birthday. So you’re forgiven. Are those pastries from the French bakery?”

  “They are.”

  “Then you’re definitely forgiven. I just brewed the coffee.”

  I poured her a mug and got plates for the pastry.

  “Now I feel really bad,” she said. “So you spent your birthday alone?”

  I reached for the pain au chocolat, took a bite and groaned. “Oh. My. God. This is so good. Thanks, Isabelle. I haven’t had one of these since I visited here last year.”

  She laughed before taking a bite of a raspberry tart. “I know. La Gourmandise is the best French bakery around. We’re lucky to have them right here in Ormond Beach.”

  I nodded. “And no, I didn’t spend my birthday alone.”

  “Oh?” she said, and I saw her arched eyebrows. “Well? Give me the details.”

  “I was invited to dinner at Ben’s home.”

  “Ben? Like in Dr. Ben Wellington?”

  “Yup.”

  “Well, you’re looking mighty smug. I guess this is my own fault for not staying in touch better. But I have all day. So start talking.”

  “Ben and I are friends. We had a bit of a rocky start but things have changed. Jonah has had a lot to do with—”

  “Jonah? His son, right?”

  “Right. He’s a very special little boy.”

  “Hmm. Go on.”

  “Well, before I tell you about Ben, you need to know about my father.”

  “Oh, God! That’s why my mother kept telling me to call you. She said you had a lot going on and I needed to get in touch with you. And of course she refused to tell me a thing.”

  I laughed. “Leave it to Iris. Well, I’d have to say this really all came about because of the animal shelter where I volunteer.”

  I saw the confusion on her face and started at the beginning on the day I went to pick up donations from Elaine Talbot.

  When I finished, Isabelle was sitting with chin on her hand, totally engrossed in my story. I realized she must have been captivated, because she hadn’t interrupted me once.

  She blew out a breath and shook her head. “Wow. Wow, what a story. Who would have thought your mother found the love of her life only to walk away. That’s so sad.”

  I nodded. “Yeah, it is. But I think she truly thought she was doing the best thing for both of them.”

  Isabelle took a sip of coffee, and I could tell she was trying to process all that I had told her. “I’m so sorry that you lost your father, Petra. Before you even had a chance to meet him. So how do you feel about this? Are you okay?” She reached across the counter and squeezed my hand.

  “Yeah, I am. Of course I wish I had found out about all of this sooner, while he was still alive. But I’m grateful that I finally know the story. And the best part . . . I have an aunt.”

  She nodded. “That’s really great. Are you staying in touch?”

  I laughed. “Oh, yeah. Elaine calls me every day and we chat. I like her a lot, and I’m learning more about my father’s side of the family.”

  “So how does Ben factor into all of this?”

  “He’s been there for me right from the beginning when I visited Elaine. I’ve shared all of it with him, and he’s been a good friend. Ben came with me to Jacksonville to get the paintings at my house.”

  “I’ve been a shitty friend, haven’t I? I should have been there for you.”

  I shrugged and rolled my eyes.

  “I know. I have. And I’m sorry for that, Petra. I really am.”


  “Well, on the bright side . . . maybe Ben is the one who was supposed to help me through this.”

  “It sounds like it’s serious.”

  “I’m not sure. I love being with him. And with Jonah. He’s going with me on Saturday to meet Sebine.”

  Isabelle nodded. “I’m happy for you. I really am. And you seem different.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’ve been with you through many boyfriends and relationships. I can’t explain it, but this time . . . you seem involved. As if it really matters whether it works out or not. I always felt when you met a new guy, if it didn’t work out, you were fine with that. But with Ben, I get the feeling you’re investing in a possible relationship.”

  “You could be right, and I have to be honest. I’m surprised at the way I feel. Especially about Jonah. I never thought I could become attached to a child.” I paused a second before saying, “But I think I’m attached to Jonah.”

  Isabelle got up to get the coffeepot and she refilled our cups. “I think that’s a good thing. I always thought you’d make somebody a good mother. Somebody besides a dog.”

  I laughed and held up a hand. “Oh, I don’t know about the mother thing. Jonah had a mother and she’ll always be his mother.”

  “Of course, but having another woman in his life who is connected to his dad could have a very positive impact on him.”

  “Hmm. You could be right.”

  “Okay. So have you slept with him yet? How is he in that department?”

  “Geez, Isabelle. We’re not back in high school exchanging boyfriend gossip.”

  She let out a chuckle and nodded. “Right. So. How is he?”

  “I don’t know. We haven’t gotten to that yet.”

  “Yeah, having a child in the mix can make that a bit more difficult.”

  “I think it’s more the fact that we’ve been taking it slow. Getting to know each other. And hey, I remember when you were with Chadwick. You were stalling there too. It took some Victoria’s Secret shopping to stir your sexiness.”

  She laughed and held up her palm. “Touché. Okay, I’ll back off. But if you want to go shopping, I’d be happy to go with you.”

  I smiled. “I’m just fine, thank you. I have two bureau drawers full of those items.”

  “So you and Ben are going to Jacksonville on Saturday to meet Sebine? You don’t remember her at all, do you?”

  I shook my head. “No, I was just turning three when my mother and I moved to Pennsylvania. But when I saw the dogs in the painting, it did create a sense of déjà vu. A black lab and a golden retriever. I felt like I knew them.”

  “Apparently you did. At one time. Gosh, no wonder you’ve always had such a strong love for dogs. Possibly it has to do with these two dogs that you knew from the time you were born.”

  “Could be.”

  “Will you show me the paintings before I leave?”

  “Of course. How’re Chadwick and Haley?” I realized that our entire conversation had centered on me, something that hadn’t happened in quite a while.

  She went on to bring me up to date, and by the time Isabelle left, I felt like we had regained our footing as best friends.

  * * *

  I spent the rest of Sunday lazing around. So when I woke on Monday morning I decided I’d be spending most of the day working on my clients’ accounts.

  I had put in a good five hours when I decided to quit and have lunch. The phone rang as I headed to the kitchen, and I was pleased to hear Elaine’s voice.

  “Petra, how are you?”

  “I’m good. And you?”

  “Very well. I hope you won’t think I’m a nuisance, but I was wondering if you could come by later this afternoon. I have something that I think you might be interested in.”

  She had jolted my curiosity. I said, “Sure. A couple of hours?”

  “That would be fine. I’ll see you then.”

  I hung up the phone, wondering what she could have.

  I arrived at Elaine’s condo just before three. She welcomed me with a warm hug as the dogs scampered around our feet.

  “It’s so nice to see you again,” she said, leading the way to the living room. “Cordelia has prepared coffee and cookies for us.”

  I had only nibbled on a couple slices of turkey breast for lunch so the cookies enticed me.

  “Thanks,” I said, sitting down as she poured coffee into a china cup and passed it to me. “Help yourself to cookies.”

  I leaned over to place two on a small plate.

  “First of all,” she said, passing me a small square box, “happy birthday, Petra. I hope you had a good day on Saturday. I wanted to give you this.”

  I was touched by her thoughtfulness. “Oh, you didn’t have to give me a gift.”

  She smiled. “You’re not going to deprive an aunt of giving her niece a birthday present for the first time, are you?”

  I also smiled, and she said, “Go ahead. Open it.”

  I removed the silver paper and opened the box. Lying inside against black velvet was an unusual bracelet. It had small gold links and interspersed between every few was a charm. One was a boat, one I recognized as the logo of Harvard University—a shield with the word VERITAS embedded in it. Veritas meaning truth. Two others were circular birthstones—one of which I knew was mine. A garnet for January. And the other was an aquamarine for March.

  “It’s just beautiful,” I said.

  “I had it designed. I hoped you would like it. The boat was taken from a pin your father had when he won a boating race. The one from Harvard is your father’s class pin. And I’ve put a birthstone for both you and your father.”

  “His birthday was in March?”

  She nodded. “March eighteenth. I wanted you to always have a remembrance of him. I wanted to be sure that you know he will always be with you.”

  I clutched the bracelet in my hand as I got up to hug my aunt. I blinked as tears blurred my vision. “Thank you. I hope you know how much this means to me. I will always treasure it.”

  She returned my hug and kissed my cheek. “I’m glad you like it. And I have a little surprise for you,” she said, getting up. She walked to the dining room table and came back with a flat package wrapped in white paper.

  “After you came here a couple of weeks ago, I began going through Peter’s things. I still have some boxes of items that belonged to him, and when you’re ready I’d like you to go through them and take what you’d like. But I found something that I thought you might want to have now.”

  I pulled away the paper to reveal an eight-by-ten black-and-white photograph of a couple standing on a boat, arms wrapped around each other, smiling at the photographer as if they didn’t have a care in the world because love consumed them. And even staring at the first photo I’d ever seen of my parents, I saw and felt that love. My mother was so young, wearing white shorts with a pullover top. Her long brunette hair hung to her shoulders, and it was easy to understand why Peter Maxwell must have thought her so beautiful. He stood beside her, about six inches taller, and was very handsome with dark hair and smiling dark eyes.

  I shook my head. “They made quite a striking couple, didn’t they? Their love almost comes through the photograph.”

  Elaine nodded. “I thought the same thing. I found the snapshot tucked away in Peter’s things. So I took it to be restored and enlarged. I think they’d both be very happy that their daughter now has this photograph.”

  And I knew she was right.

  Chapter 22

  When Saturday morning arrived and Ben picked me up at ten, I found I was both excited and nervous to be meeting Sebine LeBlanc. I was wearing the beautiful bracelet that Elaine had given me and I had brought the framed photograph with me to show Sebine, along with the snapshot of the mysterious fellow on the beach.

  I saw the sign for Palm Coast on I-95 and let out a sigh.

  Ben reached over to hold my hand. “Nervous?”

  I nodded. “Yeah. I have no
reason to be, but I’m beginning to feel like Alice going through the looking glass.”

  He laughed and squeezed my hand. “You’ve certainly been hit with a lot of information over the past few weeks.”

  “I know, but it’s all been good. It’s just beginning to feel surreal. Going back to where my mother ran when she was pregnant with me. She must have been scared, uncertain what her future held, and the thing is . . . she had at least one other choice.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Adoption. Abortion wasn’t legal, but she could have put me up for adoption. And yet, despite all the difficulties, she didn’t.”

  “Which proves how much she loved you.”

  I nodded. “I never doubted that. Ever. But I don’t think I knew just how much. It’s a shame we find out things in life after the people involved are gone.”

  “Yeah, but I guess that’s what makes life so interesting.”

  We pulled off of I-95 and followed the directions to Sebine’s house. A short time later, we turned into the driveway and I stared at the gray brick two-story home with black shutters and a detached art studio.

  “It’s very pretty,” I said, trying to imagine what my mother thought the first time she saw this house, which would become her home for three years.

  I reached into the backseat for the bouquet of flowers that I’d asked Maddie to arrange and walked to the front door with Ben beside me. As soon as I rang the bell, the door was opened by an elderly woman. For a split second she looked vaguely familiar to me. This woman was of medium height, with wrinkles that gave her face character, and she wore her chin-length hair in a fashionable style. She struck me as a trendy woman, wearing black silk slacks, a white silk blouse, and black ballet slippers. Had I not known her age, I never would have taken her for ninety years old.

  “Petra,” she said softly, and immediately pulled me into a tight embrace. “I wasn’t sure I’d ever see you again. Come in. You’ve grown into a beautiful woman.”

  I returned her hug and said, “This is Ben. My friend. And these are for you.”

  I looked behind her to see a beautiful labradoodle with a curly coat the color of cinnamon. “Oh, what a pretty dog.”

  Sebine laughed. “Ah, yes. This is Hannah. She’s my constant companion. Come on in to the living room. Thank you so much for the beautiful flowers. Have a seat while I put these into a vase.”