Blurb:
Two reasons bring Cancer heroine Janine Rhodes to Fern Lake. The first is the Masters and Doctors program at the nearby university. The second is a letter from a dying woman. Since the courses she takes are weekend ones, she finds a job for the Grantlans a writer and a nurse practitioner caring for their toddler niece they recently adopted. While here, she is able to observe the son she gave up for adoption eight years ago and his attorney father. She is content just to watch until tragedy strikes.
When Virgo Nate Quinn learns about his son’s medical condition, he can barely hold on. Just a year ago, he lost his wife to cancer. His adopted son has become his entire family. When the doctor asks him about the child’s birth parents, he has no idea. He agreed to the adoption but only signed papers and took no other part in the process. Now he needs to locate two people.
Then he learns the identity of his son’s birth mother and knows she has been in the periphery of life. He acts rashly and then must find a way to make amends, especially when he learns more about her.
Excerpt:
“Ms. Rhodes, Dr. Chou’s office calling. Could you come to the office at seven this evening?”
Davey. What had gone wrong? Would she have to take the bone marrow test this evening? She stared at her watch. Six forty-five. She could make the appointment. Why had she turned off her phone?
She dashed into the bedroom and changed from jeans into slacks. She took her keys and shoulder bag, grabbed a jacked and headed to the doctor’s office. She parked in the nearly deserted lot and headed inside and upstairs.
“Are you Ms. Rhodes?” the receptionist asked.
“I am.”
The woman rose and opened a door. “Go right in.”
Janine slipped inside and nearly bolted. What was he doing here? Nate sat in one of the chairs facing the desk. Her heart pounded. She grasped the knob. She couldn’t stay here.
Dr. Chou rose. “I’m glad you came. Mr. Quinn and I have some questions.”
“I told you everything the other day.”
Nate stood. Red stained his cheeks. “I was out of line this morning.”
“Yes, you were,” she snapped. “If that’s all you want to say, I’m out of here.” Instead of looking at him, she stared at the diplomas on the wall.
“How can I make this right?” Nate asked.
Janine pressed her back against the door. “You can’t.” Tears threatened. She swallowed. She couldn’t cry.
“You can help us,” Dr. Chou said.
“How? I can’t think of a way.”
Tell us about your parents,” Dr. Chou said.
Her chest ached like a sword had been thrust into her body. Her hands fisted. “I told you before I know nothing about them.”
Nate slumped in the chair and turned to face her. “I have a friend who could trace them. Their names must have been on your birth certificate.”
A bitter laugh escaped. “You know what it says. Mother unknown. Father unknown. Even the date was a guess. I was dumped in a basket on church steps. Wrapped in a blanket that could have been bought anywhere.” She choked back a sob.
Dr. Chou rose from behind his desk. “Did you ever consider doing a DNA search for family connections?”
For a moment a surge of anger kept her from answering. Keep cool. “Why would I want to find them? They threw me away.” Tears edged closer to the surface.
Nate leaned toward her. “What about Davey’s father?”
Anger banished the sadness. “That was a bad time. I don’t want to talk about him.” She bit her lower lip to stop the trembling.
“What was his name?” Nate insisted.
“Why are you doing this? I won’t call him. The selfish SOB would only laugh. He paid me to get an abortion.”
“I’ll call him,” Nate said.
“He’ll know I told you his name.” She reached for the knob.
“Just his name.”
“Chuck Grafe.” She turned the knob and bolted from the office. As she ran into the hall tears blurred her vision. She reached the stairs and stumbled down them. Please no. They would find him and he would come after her. She wouldn’t be beaten and battered again. She grabbed the railing to keep from falling.
* * *
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1 comment:
This sounds like a really intense story. Great excerpt!
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