Her Secret Daughter

by Ruth Logan Herne

  “No, of course not.”

  Josie’s quiet voice offered support and something else. Longing, perhaps? Funny, he’d have thought her to be career-centric, but maybe his assumption was wrong. “She is making it quite clear that she’s tired of living in apartments.”

  “It’s tough to find an apartment that takes cows,” Josie noted.

  “Impossible, it seems.” He laughed and she laughed, and her mother lifted an eyebrow in question. “Addie wants a cow, and Josie has kindly offered to take us over to the farm on West Lake Road. Your cousin, you said?”

  “Yes. Brian. Addie would love to meet his kids. And see his cows.”

  “Does this Sunday work? We’re free midday, after church, if that’s all right.” He gave a quick look to his watch. He had a few minutes yet, but just a few before he needed to get back to work. He faced her, with the morning sun deepening the auburn tones in her very pretty hair, and waited.

  * * *

  All right?

  Josie didn’t have to think twice because she’d do whatever she needed to do to have time with Addie. To take her daughter over to Brian’s farm, to show her around, to see her pretty green eyes light up when she spotted a pasture full of cows? “Yes, it does, actually. We’re doing some baby shopping with Kimberly on Saturday, so Sunday would be great.” She closed the door on her mother’s back seat and faced him.

  “Is noon all right?”

  “Perfect.”

  And then he gave her heart reason to pause when he asked, “Where shall I pick you up?”

  Nowhere.

  That’s what she should say, she should assure him that it wasn’t the least bit necessary, and that she could meet him and Addie at Bryan’s farm stand at the lake’s southern tip...

  But she didn’t.

  She hesitated for less than a nanosecond and said, “178 Creighton Landing, right behind The Square.”

  “Perfect. Addie will be crazy-excited.” His phone buzzed a timely reminder. “I’ve got to head back to the inn for the call I’m expecting.”

  “Well, thanks for stopping. For helping.” She wasn’t sure what to do with her hands as she spoke. It was kind of him to drive over here. To offer help. And then to set up the farm trip with her, but he was being nice because he didn’t realize who she was, and the unfairness of that struck her as he waved goodbye.

  “This—” her mother watched him go, then faced Josie straight on “—is beyond awkward.”

  “I know.”

  “And Kimberly’s right. He’s quite good-looking and available.”

  He was good-looking. And nice. So nice. If the circumstances were different—but they weren’t. “And he’ll hate me when he finds out who I am.”

  “He’ll be surprised,” said Cissy. “Understandably so. Hate’s a strong word.”

  Was it? In this instance? Josie wasn’t sure, and until she was, or at least until she had more information to go on, she would keep things to herself. At least for a while.

  * * *

  “Will Memaw and Papaw have time to play with me when they’re here?” The promised rain had come and gone, leaving a glorious Saturday in its wake, and Jacob’s precocious daughter seemed to have gotten a dose of spring fever. “I want to show them everything around here, because our town is so very beautiful, isn’t it, Daddy?”

  “Our town? At what point did we adopt Grace Haven, Addie-cakes?” They’d come by the worksite for a two-hour stint of checking in with subcontractors. With the grand opening drawing close, the luxury of a no-work Saturday had disappeared with the advent of nice weather.

  “Well, I love it, so why not adopt it?” She faced him frankly. She liked to choose her own outfits, and today she’d layered herself in some sort of wacky ensemble that suited her just fine but messed with his ordered sensibilities. He was pretty sure that’s why their relationship worked so well. Her eccentricities loosened him up and made him rethink a couple of decades of firm decision-making. “You liked winter here, didn’t you?”

  “I did,” he admitted. “And I’m surprised that I did, but that’s not the point, is it?”

  “I think it’s part of a point, Dad.”

  He almost laughed out loud, but caught himself because she was being utterly sincere and quite rational. “I need to work, honey. And usually I go where the work calls me.”

  “But what if you can work in this town?” she insisted. She perched those hands on her hips and squared up. “Dad, I think there are lots of things to do here, and if we love it so much, and it has cows, why should we leave? Have you looked for a job here?” she wondered, head tilted and her cute little eyebrows drawn up.

  “Unfortunately, finishing a megamillion-dollar project has kept me tied up, but I promise I’ll check things out soon.”

  “For real?”

  She didn’t give up easy, that’s for sure. “I’ll include it in my list of possibilities. I promise,” he added when she looked doubtful. He spotted Josie’s car pulling into the parking lot near the kitchen area. “Josie just pulled in. Let’s walk over and see what’s up and we can explain about tomorrow.”

  Addie had come home from school on Friday night with an impromptu invitation to a Sunday afternoon birthday party for a classmate. Addie’s invitation had gotten lost, and when the mother discovered that, she’d emailed Jacob to resend the invite. And, of course, Addie wanted to go, but she longed to visit the farm, too.

  Josie spotted them and waved as they approached. “Hey, guys. Beautiful morning, isn’t it?”

  “The plants got a drink of rain,” Addie told her as she hop-skipped up the walk. “It was just like God planned it all out—the warm sun, the drink of rain and now warm sun again. Did you know that plants and animals all need water? Without water we’d shrivel right up.” She pretended to do just that, curling inward and making a ghastly dying noise. “And die.”

  “Then bring on the rain.” Josie laughed. “I take it you’ve been studying the water cycle in school?”

  “That is exactly what we’re studying, and how did you know that?” Addie half squealed the question in amazement. “Do you know about the water cycle?”

  Josie handed over four slim books, banded together. “For you, kid. I had them in my car for tomorrow, but since I’m seeing you today, here you go.”

  “The Magic School Bus!” Addie slapped a hand to her forehead. “How did you know that I love The Magic School Bus show so much?”

  “Well, I loved these books when I was your age, so I thought they might be just right for you. I’ve got more, too. My mom has a whole crate of them. And speaking of my mom, there she is.” Josie waved toward a car that seemed to be creeping into the cordoned-off lot, unsure where to go. The driver spotted her and parked. Three women exited the car and came their way. “Jacob, you met my mom and Kimberly over at my place. This is Kimberly’s mother, Kate Gallagher, the gal who made Kate & Company one of the biggest and best event coordinating centers in the Finger Lakes.”

  Jacob had heard Kate Gallagher’s name before, essentially being synonymous with her highly regarded business. He extended his hand. “You’ve met with our incoming management team, Mrs. Gallagher, but I haven’t had the pleasure as yet. It’s very nice to meet you. I hope the inn will become one of your most sought-after business partners.”

  “We’ve got seven events lined up so far,” she told him, “including four weddings, a Christmas charity gala and two bridal showers. If those go well, I expect Kimberly and the crew will enjoy a long and happy relationship with the Eastern Shore Inn. Your setup is gorgeous, and the positioning on the hill overlooking the lake is perfect for pictures. I can’t wait to see it all once the landscaping is in place.”

  “It’ll only get better,” he told her, then he turned toward Josie. “We have a scheduling problem for tomorrow.” He palmed Addie’s head as she made an undeniably cute
frowny face toward Josie. “Addie’s been invited to a birthday party for a classmate. The invite got lost, and the mom called last night, apologizing. Addie really wants to go to the farm, but she wants to go to the party, too. Can we do the farm another day?”

  Josie looked about to answer when her cousin offered a suggestion. “Why don’t you guys visit the farm today?” Kimberly asked. “You and I can head up to Eastview Mall during the week since you’ve got a little time off. The weather’s perfect, and I’m sure Brian won’t mind if you come a day early. Once the baby’s here, I’m going to be way less mobile with a newborn and a toddler. Does that work for you, Josie?”

  * * *

  Oh, it definitely worked for her, Josie decided. But while Kimberly’s ploy wasn’t clear to Jacob, Josie got it. And when Kimberly winked, out of sight from Jacob, the event planner’s matchmaking instincts were loud and clear.

  “We don’t want to mess up your plans,” Jacob began, but Josie stopped him.

  “Kimberly’s right. She and I can go shopping during the week, and this is Aunt Kate’s last free weekend for a long time. She’s stepping in while Kimberly’s out with the baby, so sure.” She aimed a smile down to Addie. “Today would be fine. Let me text Brian, just to be sure.”

  “And we can grab lunch somewhere, too, if that’s all right?”

  “You, sir, have found the way to any Gallagher heart,” Kimberly assured him. “Food is always a great motivator.”

  “I figured anyone who creates a restaurant that shines in such a competitive market has to have a proper appreciation for food. The Carringtons made a smart move inviting Josie on board.”

  “Certainly better than having her open a spot in the backyard.” Cissy pointed to the for-sale sign on the hill overlooking the southern inn entrance.

  “A possibility I pointed out to the COO,” Jacob stage-whispered. “She was pretty mad.”

  “For good reason, all of which has been resolved by good business,” Josie informed both of them. She raised her phone. “Brian says it’s fine for us to come on over.”

  “Awesome!” Addie clapped her hands, then hugged Josie tight around the waist. “I’m so excited to go visit them! Do I look all right?”

  Did Addie look all right? She looked so beyond all right that Josie had to work to find the right words. “You look perfect.”

  “Absolutely darling!” added Cissy, and Josie thought she might have sniffed when she said it, which meant they better hit the road because the last thing any of them needed was Cissy Gallagher dissolving into tears.

  “Cooler than any one kid should be allowed to be,” added Kimberly, and then she high-fived the youngster. “You’ve got your own style, kiddo. I like it.”

  “Thank you.” Twin dimples appeared in Addie’s cheeks, hiking the cute-as-can-be factor to an even higher degree.

  “Let me touch base with Maybelle and the crew inside.”

  Jacob stepped away, withdrew his phone and spoke for a few moments, then rejoined them. “All set. Let’s take my car, her booster’s in the back seat.”

  Josie didn’t make eye contact with her family. She just nodded in response, and when Addie grasped her hand—and then her father’s—Josie knew how it looked. She also knew appearances were deceiving because the nice guy holding Addie’s hand had no idea what was coming his way, and that didn’t just make her feel bad. It made her feel terrible.

  * * *

  “I cannot even believe there are this many cows in the world.” Eyes wide, Addie took in the mixed herd of red and black Angus cattle dotting the spring-green field stretching beyond Brian Gallagher’s farmhouse. “This is so very amazing, Josie!”

  “And your cousin runs the farm stand over there, too?” Jacob jutted his chin toward the Gallagher Farm Market.

  “With the help of a Mennonite woman,” she explained. “Martha watches the kids and does jams and jellies and baked goods for the market.”

  Brian’s daughter Emily grabbed Addie’s hand. “Can I take Addie to see the little goats out back?”

  Josie almost said yes, then realized it wasn’t her place to give permission. She pushed away the sting of realization and let Jacob take the lead. “Sure. Can we come along?”

  “Yeah!” Emily and Addie raced ahead, laughing. The grown-ups followed with no need for speed.

  “She’s loving this, Josie.”

  “I know.” Josie watched the girls duck around the corner of a near barn. “Brian’s planting or he’d be here to say hello.”

  “To everything there is a season...”

  “And a time for every purpose under the heaven.” Josie finished the verse from Ecclesiastes. “I’ve always loved that verse. It speaks to the common-sense side of me.”

  “Me, too. When we lost Addie’s mother, it was like our world turned upside down because no one expects that to happen. It was an ‘out of season’ event.”

  Josie held her breath. She wanted Jacob to talk about what happened, but digging for information felt wrong. “It’s hard to lose someone so young.”

  His expression deepened. “My mom’s still not over it. They’re coming to visit soon, and I hope it helps. They miss Addie, my dad misses working, and they don’t sound happy. When Ginger died, a void opened for them.”

  “Too many changes at once, maybe?”

  He nodded. “And too little faith. When the lawyer said Ginger had left me custody of Addie, I couldn’t believe it. My parents had raised us, they weren’t elderly by any means, and they seemed insulted by the fact that a single guy was given custody of their only grandchild. But Ginger had left me a letter, explaining why she did it. And it made sense. I hated that my parents were hurt, but taking care of Addie was the least I could do for my sister. Addie had already survived so much...” He paused, thoughtful, watching the girls as they offered hay nuggets to the goats. “I owed it to her to do my best, and that’s what I’ve done. And honestly?” Satisfaction marked his gaze. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  Josie picked her words carefully. “You said Addie survived so much...?”

  He nodded. “She developed cancer as a toddler and had to have a liver transplant. Thankfully, the folks at Emory were able to find a match.”

  Emory hadn’t found the match. Ginger did. Which meant she’d shaded the truth with Jacob, and that made Josie wonder what else his sister had lied about. “After the surgery she underwent follow-up treatments, none of which she really remembers, except for the farm animal murals on the walls of the children’s rooms.”

  “Hence the love for cows, maybe?”

  He acknowledged that possibility with a nod. “Could be. She was given up for adoption by a drug-using mother, but she’s never shown a sign of problems, so we dodged a bullet on that one.”

  Drug-using mother?

  Josie’s chest went tight. Her throat followed. “She was adopted?”

  “Yes. My sister said she was willing to take an at-risk baby for Addie’s sake.”

  “She told you this?” Keeping her voice calm took every bit of strength Josie could muster.

  He folded his hands on the top rail of the fencing as he watched the girls play. “Yes. I thought she was crazy because her marriage was falling apart, and I couldn’t imagine why she wanted to bring a baby into all that drama, but in the end it worked out okay. In the short time they had together, she was a wonderful mother to Addie.”

  Anger didn’t just pulse up Josie’s spine, it thrummed a high, tight beat. He’d just confirmed her suspicions, that Ginger misrepresented their marriage to adopt Addie. And then to lie about Josie and call her a drug-using mother? Why would she do that?

  Josie had been honest about her misguided experimentation with drugs after she lost her dad, but she’d been clean for a long time before Addie was conceived.

  Her hands curled. Her palms went moist. She had to work
to keep her face placid and pretend his story wasn’t breaking her heart.

  He believed his sister. Losing Ginger caused a lot of grief, but if she hadn’t lied to the agency to begin with, none of this would have happened. Maybe she wouldn’t have even been on that particular road that day... Who knew?

  Ginger’s misrepresentation began a chain of events that brought them to this moment, and while Josie loved the chance to see her daughter in person, she couldn’t negate the truth. She and the agency had been intentionally duped. “Being a single parent isn’t easy, I’m sure.”

  “It’s the best thing that ever happened to me, actually.” He faced her and flashed that sweet, endearing smile. “I used to bury myself in work, much like my father did. I’d gotten pretty one-dimensional. Then she came into my life.” He grinned as Addie blew kisses to the crowd of goats, all begging for a treat. “She changed everything. I made a promise to myself and to God that I was going to make sure she had the most delightfully normal childhood any kid could have. And it’s been good for both of us. She makes me remember to stop and smell the roses. Although in her case it’s more like attending teddy bear picnics and teas and falling down while ice skating and going to the zoo on cold days to see if the Arctic animals are happy.”

  “I used to do that.”

  “Yeah?” He slanted a look her way, but she kept her gaze on Addie. Too much eye contact with Jacob deepened the conflict. Better to maintain a distance, but his caring nature made that difficult.

  “My dad would take me into Rochester to check out the polar bears and seals and penguins. Everybody goes to the zoo in the summer, and the Arctic animals just kind of lay there, wondering what’s going on. But in the winter, they seem so happy. So content.”

  “Dad!” Addie called his name in a bright voice laced with excitement. “Do you see this little brown-and-white goat? She likes me so much!”

  “Well, you’re quite lovable, so I’m not surprised.”

  Addie had climbed the lowest rung of fencing, just like Emily, and when she turned to look at Jacob, love and appreciation deepened her smile. “You too, Dad!”